For many students, particularly international students, the hardest job to secure is the first. Without Canadian work experience, even strong candidates can struggle to find roles that align with their career goals.
At Trinity Western University, EMBARK, the venture incubator within the School of Business, gives students the opportunity to step into real-world work. Rather than waiting for experience, students gain it through hands-on involvement.
EMBARK’s internship program places students in a live startup environment, where they contribute to active projects, support founders, and take on meaningful responsibilities. By spring 2026, across four internship cohorts, EMBARK has engaged 138 interns and practicum students, reflecting the continued growth of experiential learning opportunities across disciplines at the University.
The goal is clear: to help students build relevant experience quickly and demonstrate their capabilities. For some, that experience is already leading directly to employment.
Experience becomes proof
In spring 2025, MBA student Malavika Murali joined EMBARK as a marketing intern after encountering challenges in securing a professional role in Canada, despite prior experience abroad. Like many international students, she needed local experience to complement her existing skills.
During her first four months, she contributed to marketing projects, including content creation and campaign support tied to events and founder initiatives. She then continued for another four months as a marketing lead practicum, taking on added responsibility and mentoring other interns. Reflecting on her experience, Murali shared, “EMBARK was my first professional experience in Canada. It gave me the confidence to work in a new environment and prove what I could do.”
That experience proved pivotal. Drawing on the work she completed at EMBARK, Murali secured a role as a marketing coordinator at Mann Media, her first professional position in Canada.
MBA student Nihar Chandra experienced a different kind of growth, shaped by ownership of complex, real-world work. As a partner relations coordination intern, he supported internal initiatives while contributing to how EMBARK engages with the broader startup community. His work included building funding and grant databases, developing partnership strategies, and supporting EMBARK’s Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur application to help student ventures access external funding.
He also contributed to outreach strategies connected to major events such as Web Summit Vancouver 2025 and helped develop resources that improved startup access to technology credits.
“I was working on real projects and engaging with organizations outside the University,” Chandra said. “It changed how I approached communication and problem-solving.”
This combination of hands-on work and external engagement helped him transition into a full-time role as a corporate sales account coordinator at DeVry Greenhouses.
Sophie Luo, incubator coordinator at EMBARK, emphasizes the program’s purpose: “Many students have strong abilities but need opportunities to demonstrate them in a professional setting. EMBARK helps bridge that gap by providing meaningful work alongside structured support.”
Why it works
What sets EMBARK apart is how students gain experience. Interns are encouraged to explore different roles while developing their strengths, often discovering new capabilities through cross-functional work and real-world applications.
At the same time, the program emphasizes both accountability and support. Students take on responsibilities that contribute to real outcomes while working within a structured environment designed to foster growth.
Support is intentionally built into the experience. Interns are equipped with clear role handbooks, training and coaching resources, guidance from returning senior interns, and mentorship from program leadership. This framework helps students build strong professional habits, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and learn how to adapt to workplace expectations.
The result is a learning environment that is both practical and intentional. Students are trusted with meaningful work and supported as they grow in confidence and professionalism.
More than an internship
As EMBARK continues to expand, its internship program has become a valuable entry point for TWU students seeking local, relevant experience. For many international students, opportunities like EMBARK support the transition into the Canadian workforce by helping them build experience, develop professional networks, and grow in confidence.
At Trinity Western University, students gain more than academic knowledge. They develop the experience needed to apply their learning and move forward with purpose in their careers.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. TWU has its main campus in Langley, B.C. and campus sites in Richmond, B.C. and Ottawa, Ont.
Learn more at twu.ca or follow @TrinityWestern on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.