I was looking for a summer internship to gain experience and explore which field I liked the most. I had long been interested in housing systems, their social, economic, and environmental dimensions, as well as the architecture and governance of urban real estate. At the same time, I was also drawn to mobility and transport. While working on my capstone project with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile on urban mobility, I began looking for an internship more directly linked to housing and real estate.
I first applied to municipalities, local governments, and social housing entities, but most did not offer short-term internships. I then turned to consulting, which appealed to me for its diversity of profiles, cross-disciplinary work, and exposure to both public and private actors on a variety of projects.
I eventually received an offer from Etyo, a consulting firm specialized in real estate, sustainable development, and supply chain. I joined the business development team with the main mission of supporting their work in preparing and developing responses to public tenders. At first, the “business” dimension was a challenge, since it was not an area I knew well. But some prior experiences with strategic partnerships helped me adjust quickly, along with a curious and ready-to-learn mindset.
I am now continuing both school and work part-time this semester, an opportunity that has been especially valuable in showing me how academic training can serve my career, not only as knowledge but as a way to connect classroom learning with professional practice.

My work covers a wide range of tasks. I map public real estate actors and ongoing projects, develop strategies for approaching potential clients (municipalities, local governments, social housing entities etc). I keep track of real estate market news through specialized press reviews, which I synthesize and present to my team. I follow public procurement platforms to identify and strategically select tenders, and I help my team prepare the responses, which involves consolidating application files, tailoring communication materials to different targets, highlighting relevant references and added value, and assisting in the drafting of technical proposals, calendars, and pricing. It also involves coordinating with partners and making sure all administrative documents are in order. I also have to update our database with client profiles, opportunities, and contracts, and I support the administrative and financial follow-up of projects by checking monthly order intake.
What I enjoy most is the diversity of the missions. Every project is different, every tender has its specificities, and I constantly have to absorb new technical, legal, or financial elements. I particularly like the strategic dimension of stakeholder mapping and the process of finding the right positioning and arguments to win projects.

The most valuable skills I draw from my education are versatility, agility, curiosity, teamwork, rigor, and the ability to work under many deadlines. Beyond these, the GLM [Governing The Large Metropolis] program gave me a good understanding of large urban projects and public-sector dynamics, from eco-districts to development zones, with their bureaucratic frameworks, regulations, and different power dynamics. Another lesson that has been particularly useful is the ability to map stakeholders. Studying urban governance teaches us how to anticipate which actors are involved in projects and what their agendas are. This helps me analyze and understand the sector, identify potential partners, competitors, and clients, and adopt the right strategic positioning and arguments.

My advice would be not to fear stepping into a field that feels unfamiliar. Don’t underestimate yourself, take the time to evaluate your skills, but also recognize your potential to develop new ones.
I would always encourage to stay curious and flexible. In consulting, no two projects are alike, you constantly need to familiarize yourself with new topics, technical vocabulary, or regulatory frameworks. That means being open to asking questions and learning on the go. 
And finally don’t overlook the value of your academic training. Theories of governance and urban systems may sometimes feel abstract, but they provide powerful analytical tools when applied in a professional setting. This capacity to step back, see the bigger picture, and approach problems with depth and perspective is precisely what will make you stand out.