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Liana Woo paused outside the laboratory on her first day in Ireland, steadying herself before stepping inside. A molecular biology major at Lehigh University, she had already walked the route the day before, mapping each turn to avoid getting lost and settle her anxiety ahead of her internship experience.

That moment set the tone for Woo’s summer abroad through Lehigh’s Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP), where she conducted research while learning to navigate a new country and culture. Arriving with a cohort of unfamiliar peers, she found comfort in the group but also pushed herself to explore independently, embracing the freedom to shape her own experience.

Woo shared her experiences during a panel discussion along with three other IIIP alumni during an April 15 sendoff ceremony for the students preparing to undertake their own internships this summer.

“I made sure that before my first day, I knew where I was going to go,” Woo said. “But also reaching out to see what that first meeting should look like made a big difference. It ended up being something as simple as grabbing coffee. And from there, it just became about being okay doing things on my own, even if no one else wanted to go with me.”

Embracing New Opportunities

A total of 78 students will be interning in 19 different countries this summer, including Japan, France, Germany, India, Ireland, South Africa, Ecuador, Montenegro, Singapore,  Thailand, and more. Students will be participating from four of Lehigh’s colleges, in internships that span multiple fields and industries.

“All that’s left between you and your internship is an airline flight,” said Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs. “This program is incredibly special. It’s a big challenge that you’re taking. We’re very proud of you taking this step.”

The Iacocca International Internship Program is a program of the Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership. Since its launch in 2011, IIIP has placed nearly 900 students in high-quality summer internships across five dozen countries.

“This is not just about adding a line to your resume,” said Leah Mason, Interim Executive Director of the Lee Iacocca Institute and Director of IIIP. “It’s about the opportunities that you choose to embrace and the moments that you are creating in a new place.”

Transformative Independence

Jack Hickey, an electrical engineering major, spoke during the alumni panel about his 2025 internship experience in Japan. He shared a small but memorable oversight: forgetting a belt and scrambling to fix it on his first day. What started as a minor inconvenience quickly gave way to a larger realization about preparation and adaptability in a new environment.

As the summer unfolded, Hickey moved beyond the comfort of group travel and began exploring on his own, finding the independence was transformative. Whether navigating unfamiliar cities or striking up conversations at a local climbing gym, he discovered that independence often led to deeper connections.

“I wish I had been a little braver sooner,” Hickey said. “When I started traveling by myself, it was really empowering, and I was able to meet so many more people.”

For Sethu Chandrasekharan, who also spoke in the alumni panel, the most meaningful parts of her 2025 summer internship in Singapore came from the relationships she built. While many students naturally gravitated toward fellow interns, she made a point to connect with coworkers and locals, gaining a deeper understanding of the culture through their perspectives.

“As much as you go to tourist sites, you’ll never really know a place unless you talk to the people there,” said Chandrasekharan, who majors in bioengineering and economics. “Don’t overlook the people in your work environment. You can build real connections there.”

Prepared for New Experiences

The Lee Iacocca Institute prepares IIIP students through a series of sessions leading up to departure, covering global leadership, career readiness, intercultural effectiveness, health and safety, and more, according to Anastassiya Perevezentseva, Assistant Director of IIIP.

To prepare, students work through real-world scenarios to build problem-solving skills and adaptability, while also engaging with core competencies like communication, teamwork, and leadership. The sessions emphasize peer learning, independence, and professionalism, equipping students to navigate unfamiliar global environments with confidence.

Mason also tied the students’ upcoming IIIP experiences to the legacy of the Institute’s namesake, Lee Iacocca. A Lehigh graduate who led Ford Motor Company’s development of the Mustang and later rescued Chrysler from near bankruptcy, Iacocca emphasized that leadership is built through navigating challenges and collaborating across differences.

“I think we can all agree that Lee’s true legacy wasn’t just about cars; it was about the evolution of leadership,” Mason said. “Throughout his career, his experiences taught him that leadership is not a static set of traits, but a dynamic ability to navigate crises and foster collaboration across differences.”