SACC-USA internship agreement
The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce
A special agreement between SACC-USA and Lund University makes it possible for students from Lund University to do an internship with a SACC Regional Chamber as part of your academic study programme.
Two internships per semester
Two internships for Lund University students are made available in the spring semester, two during the summer semester, and two in the fall semester. The internships will be published at our application page.
Student stories
Over the years, LUSEM students have had great experiences with SACC throughout the U.S. On this page they will share their experiences.
Name: Claudia Lyckler
Currently studying: BSc in Business and Economics, majoring in Management and Organisation
Internship at: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce New England
Duration of the internship: Autumn semester of 2022
Claudia’s story
After three years of academic studies, I wanted to get practical experiences within the field of study that interested me the most. When given the opportunity to expand my Bachelor’s by one semester to complete an international internship, I did not hesitate to apply. I wanted to enhance my international experiences, which was the main reason for choosing to conduct the internship at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce. Today, I consider this to be the best decision of my studies because the internship at SACC-NE provided me with hands-on experiences of working in an international environment. In addition, I learned about the American business culture and how to maintain relationships in a multinational setting.
As the Member Services and Community intern, my main focus was to sustain and develop relationships with the members of the chamber, which enriched my interpersonal and communicational skills. I worked closely with the corporate members of the chamber and developed action plans in order to provide value for their membership. Further, I ran internal processes for the management of the members and the usage of the chamber's CRM system.
The internship offered a high level of personal responsibility and the opportunity to prioritise my work based on what I wanted to practice. I believe that the best thing about SACC-NE is the 'start-up' environment where business development initiatives were highly appreciated which allowed me to try new ideas and push my professional development. This role was the perfect fit for my future career aspirations, which was one reason for choosing the chamber in Boston.
The best thing about living in Boston is that there is always something to do. I will never forget the feeling of watching the Celtics at TD Garden. However, if you are not into sports, you can instead visit one of the many museums or enjoy a beautiful walk around Boston Common. The U.S. is in many ways different from Sweden but moving to Boston was not as different as I thought. There are both public transportation, sidewalks and shifting seasons, just like Lund.
Boston is an international city with many different nationalities. People from all over the world move to Boston for its great education at universities such as Harvard and MIT. The city is also a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, where companies within the field of life science and biotech gather and collaborate. You are guaranteed to meet many interesting entrepreneurs during your daily work.
The internship at SACC-NE has helped me develop my professional identity and realise my next career step. If you are interested in an international career and want to learn the American way of working, then this is truly the intership for you. It is the perfect chance to explore a profession while having so much fun!
Name: Smilla McCormac
Currently studying: BSc in Business and Economics, majoring in Management and Organisation
Internship at: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce New England
Duration of the internship: Autumn semester of 2022
Smilla’s story
During the pandemic, I studied my Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics here in Lund, which unfortunately resulted in the forfeiture of an overseas exchange term. Once restrictions were lifted, I explored the option of doing an international internship instead and was immediately captivated by the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce (SACC). As a half-American, I have long desired to gain work experience in the country. I applied for the Business Development Internship position at SACC New England, located in Boston. Known for its cutting-edge advancements in life sciences and prestigious universities, as well as its iconic sports teams, Boston really interested me.
Boston is a premier destination for residents and visitors alike. The city offers recreational, cultural, and sporting events, making it a hub of activity. Visitors can delve into the rich history of the city by exploring its museums, taking a stroll along the iconic Freedom Trail, or savouring the famous New England lobster rolls. In addition to its thriving cultural and culinary scenes, Boston is renowned for its entrepreneurial and investment community, and its status as a leading innovation center. With close ties to renowned universities such as Harvard University, the city offers a unique blend of intellectual and commercial opportunities.
As a Business Development Intern, my primary area of tasks was event and marketing. I was responsible for the organisation's internal and external communication and project planning as well as managing the website, newsletters and podcast. Given the relatively small size of the organisation, I was able to gain invaluable, hands-on experience in transactional business operations. I was fortunate to network with a diverse range of professionals across a broad spectrum of industries. These connections not only expanded my knowledge of the business landscape, but also provided me with valuable insights into the inner workings of various organisations. One of my highlights during the internship was the SACC-Summit, where all Swedish-American Chambers gathered in Fort Lauderdale for a two day conference.
The internship at SACC-NE was an extremely valuable and formative experience. The small organisational structure fostered a dynamic work environment that emphasised the importance of multitasking and managing multiple, diverse projects simultaneously. Given the level of responsibility assigned from the outset, I was able to develop my accountability and honed my ability to meet internal deadlines effectively. These skills will undoubtedly be transferable as I continue my academic pursuits. The internship provided me with a unique opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience, enhance my business acumen, and build a robust professional network in one of the world's most influential regions for life science, technology, and clean-tech industries. It was a singular chance to gain a significant competitive advantage, both domestically and on an international scale.
During my time in Boston, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and insights through my internship at SACC-NE. The vibrant working environment, combined with a diverse range of professional and personal growth opportunities, allowed me to develop my skills and broaden my perspectives. I can recommend Boston and SACC-NE highly!
Name: Zakarias Grönkvist
Currently studying: BSc in Business and Economics, majoring in Corporate Finance. Starting the MSc in Finance at LUSEM 2022
Internship at: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of the Carolinas
Duration of the internship: Spring semester of 2022
Zakarias' story
During my programme, we have the opportunity to have an internship. When it was time for me to apply there was one company that caught my attention – SACC-Carolinas. My interest for the United States began to take shape at a young age, and I have known for a long time that it is something I want to explore more. The affection for the US, combined with my fascination for business and trade resulted in an immediate application.
A month later, I received a phone call, from the president of the organisation, saying: “We want you!”. The internship was within business development and even though I knew it would be a virtual one, I had high expectations. It all began with a meeting where I got to meet the other intern, the president of the organization and his secretary. They were all very kind and went through everything about the chamber and what my role would entail.
This internship is for someone who is very dedicated, disciplined and eager to learn. Since the internships at SACC-Carolinas are virtual and you most likely will work in another time zone, you have to be autonomous in many of your tasks. There were not many instructions, but on the other hand there were defined goals to work towards. For example, a task could be “host a webinar with another chamber”. I loved this way of working, because it gave us interns a lot of freedom to create the events in our own way. Whenever we got stuck, there was always help to get.
My main goal was to create value for our members and try to improve the chamber in any way. To name a few of my tasks I hosted webinars, updated the website, updated social media, wrote newsletters, created movies, was in contact with members and other chambers.
This has been a very rewarding and enriching experience. I have experienced the American culture, widened my network and tried new things. My three key take aways are:
- Adaptation, which is so important in all companies. During your career you will experience different settings and cultures, and it will always be crucial to adapt.
- Autonomy, during this internship I have been taught how to work by myself and handle tricky situations with some grit and patience. You cannot always expect to find easily accessible answers, sometimes you must out things on your own.
- Networking, which is the key everywhere. People in the US love to meet new people, exchange information and broaden their networks. This is something to take after, because it can be one way to get further in your career.
If you are interested in the US, how business is done there and want to gain an international experience from wherever in the world you bring your laptop – then this experience is for you!
Name: Thea Wadell
Currently studying: BSc in Business and Economics, majoring in Management and Organization
Internship at: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce New England
Duration of the internship: Autumn semester of 2022
Thea's story
I have always had a dream of going to the United States, so when I saw the opportunity to have an internship at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce I did not hesitate to apply. SACC-NE is the perfect place to enrich your experiences and expand your network by interacting with different businesses and talented people. In addition, it is an opportunity where you learn more about the U.S. market and the relationship to Sweden, as well as broadening your international perspective.
My main area was event and marketing, with duties and responsibilities center on planning and managing events. In addition to that, I also managed and updated our website and social media, and created and developed marketing material for emails, social media and events. You get to come with initiatives and be creative. For instance, me and the other interns created a podcast to highlight the Swedish-American business community in the New England region. There are different focuses and roles at the chamber, so I believe there is something for everyone.
The time at SACC-NE was an incredibly valuable experience. Being in a small organization, multitasking becomes key, and you learn to work on multiple and diverse projects at the same time. With responsibility from the very start, you learn to be accountable and deliver for the internal deadlines. These are all skills I will take with me when continuing my studies. In addition, you gain valuable ‘real world’ experience and business-related skills, as well as develop a professional international network in a region with some of the world’s most prominent life science, technology, and cleantech industry clusters. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to gain a competitive edge – both internationally and in Sweden.
Boston is located on the coast and it is a great city to live in. It is an exceptional city in terms of recreation, cultural and sporting events. Here you can explore different museums, the historic freedom trail and eat the best-known New England clam chowder and lobster rolls. In addition to the great sports and food, Boston is the home to the largest entrepreneurial and investor community in the U.S. East Coast and a world-leading innovation center with close affiliations to renowned universities such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After my time in Boston, I gained a new perspective on working in an international setting and developed both professionally and personally. With a great team, diverse work, and an exciting environment, I can’t do anything but recommend an internship at SACC-NE.
Name: Jakob Enander
Currently studying: BSc in Business and Economics
Internship at: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Washington D.C. (SACC-DC)
Duration of the internship: Autumn semester of 2021
Jakob's story
When I considered different opportunities in my last year as a business student, I knew that I wanted to take the chance and gain hands-on work experience from an inspiring organization where I get to practice my academical knowledge. For a long time, I have had a desire to live in the U.S, and I was also curious about what it would be like to work in an international organization with prominent Swedish and American businesses in the center of the American capital. The internship at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., corresponded perfectly with these aspirations.
At SACC-DC, I got to work with a variety of tasks all related to the core activities of the organization. I was part of a small team that continuously worked closely together which created a productive environment characterized by a lot of internal support and creativity. As SACC-DC is a small, non-profit organization, all team members are more of less involved in all the different activities going on. This type of setting enabled me to learn how to work with several vital tasks simultaneously, how to deal with unexpected challenges and to always be inclined to take on new pressing assignments. It also meant I had lot of responsibility over the tasks I was assigned, which at the same time came with a lot of freedom and creativity in how to perform or improve them.
My main tasks revolved around writing the monthly newsletter, assisting with the ongoing administration of finances, budgeting, and current record of accounting as well as the planning and execution of one of SACC-DC’s flagship events, the annual golf tournament. In addition, I also assisted in the conduction of several other in-person events. All of this did not only provide me with knowledge of how to practice various common business assignments, but I also gained valuable experience in how to contribute and function in the core of an intense organization. I got the chance to work and meet with many prominent businesses representatives in the SACC network, which gave me a lot of insights and connections in parts of the Swedish-American business and trade sector.
With offices in House of Sweden in the middle of Washington, D.C., SACC-DC is operating right at the core of one of the major political, commercial, and academical hotspots in the U.S. This is reflected by the many beautiful and well-known government and corporate buildings in the city. With walking distance from House of Sweden to the National Mall, you can experience all of the fascinating monuments, memorials, and museums in a beautiful and historic environment. Not the least is there always a sports game or music event to sign up for in the weekends.
The experiences I gained from my internship with SACC-DC are with no doubt valuable and I will take them with me to future employments. I believe this internship, with its width of assignments, and extraordinary network, is beneficial to students with most interests, academical orientations and personalities. Additionally, an internship with SACC-DC is a fun experience that comes with new friends and professional relationships. I highly recommend anyone interested to learn more and apply – it will be a unique experience.