Internship Spotlight: Jason Liu ’25, United Nations Capital Development Fund
Jason Liu ’25 spent his summer supporting a UN investment fund that provides capital to the world’s 45 least developed countries.
We asked rising second-year MBA students to check in from their summer internships, where they applied the lessons of their first year at Yale SOM.
Internship: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in New York City
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Pronouns: he/him/his
SOM class you’re using on the job: Market Failures and Economic Policy in Developing Countries
Go-to work lunch: A bento box from BentOn with daifuku for dessert
After-work routine: Something sporty and outdoors (e.g. pickleball, tennis, running), dinner with friends, and binging New Girl
Favorite thing about internship city: Walking around in NYC is so convenient and entertaining! I hit 10,000 steps every day and there’s always cafes or shops to see
This summer, I worked on the Policy, Partnerships, and Communications Team at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). UNCDF is the blended finance investment arm of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which focuses on investing in the world’s 45 least developed countries to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The fund has no credit rating and offers small-ticket investments in small and medium enterprises to help them grow and get funding from other sources.
The UNCDF is currently undergoing a restructuring and has a new executive secretary (Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, who got his PhD at Yale!) at the helm. Most of the summer was spent fundraising and introducing him to donating member countries. I prepared meeting briefs, PowerPoints, and talking points for meetings with ministers of foreign affairs, delegates, and diplomats. I also drafted investment and fundraising pitches for $40 million in additional core funding from Sweden, and planned events to take place during COP, the UN’s annual climate change conference, and Summit of the Future.
I came to the UN because I was interested in development economics and the mandate of developed nations to uplift developing ones. I wanted to see how the theoretical knowledge I gained from SOM’s Economics and Investor classes can be translated into practice through impact investing. The UNDP’s abundant resources and UNCDF’s investment focus offered a well-structured means for me to explore this.
Throughout my time at the UN, I learned more about the field of international development, the nature of large multi-lateral organizations, and what a full-time job would look like at one of these institutions. I also spent time reflecting on what I look for in a career and how I balance intellectual stimulation, impact, compensation, and work-life balance. These insights will help me tailor my search for full-time jobs in the fall.
Spending time with SOM classmates around New York was another highlight. With the UN’s great work-life balance, and generous funding from the Internship Fund, I was able to live in the city and see lots of students for picnics, dinners, and rooftop bars! My favorite moments included seeing the Coney Island hot dog eating contest, running along the East Side Esplanade, and getting to play tennis on the U.S. Open courts.
