“The Utforsk exchange program allowed me to work at one of the Norwegian startup companies that will change the face of construction through cutting-edge green technology. I have gained entrepreneurial skills through participating in networking events and conferences which helped build my professional network. l had the opportunity to meet other startup company founders who succeeded in scaling their businesses, professionals from big corporates, students from other universities, and some political figures, and it was interesting to see how all these players work together to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. I loved that the greater part of the work I was involved with tallied well with most of the courses offered by the GSTM master program; however, I also had to work on preparing pitch decks for investors and speaking with investors which was a good learning point. Living in Norway has taken my personal growth to another level, where I had to adapt and overcome cultural differences and step out of my zone within the safety net of the program advisors in Norway and the group of other South African participants in the exchange program. The best thing about the internship was going through reflective seminars with mentors from Western Norway University of Applied Science, where they offered academic integration of entrepreneurial studies into our internship experiences in a real work environment. This was a learning experience, and l could also explore beautiful nature and go on exciting adventures. I have discovered a new passion for rock climbing and have enjoyed it since!”