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At first, Marc and his team at Catalyze weren’t sure what to expect from a high school intern. But after connecting with Prokope Akademy, they discovered a talented student ready to deliver — and they walked away with more than just content support. They saw the future of talent development in action.

Marc, the founder, believes business can — and should — be a force for good.

“You can run a company and still make a pretty significant contribution to ecosystem, to communities”

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How the Partnership Started

Marc first heard about Prokope Akademy through a mutual connection. The idea of mentoring young Indonesians intrigued him.

“I was inspired by the model — it is, the approach of the Akademy and giving opportunities to young Indonesians who may not have direct outlets to get into the workforce and to get experience.”

Catalyze shared their needs for the internship position, while Prokope team selected the most suitable intern candidates that have a strong passion for design and video editing.

What Surprised Marc

The intern Marc hired exceeded expectations:

“(The intern) command of video editing skills was actually quite high… I might have said “oh, she's probably been doing this for 3 or 4 years working with different companies.”

Despite limited formal experience, the intern brought enthusiasm, talent, and the ability to contribute meaningfully, fast to Catalyze social media content

Message to Other Employers

Marc encourages other companies to get involved, but with a purpose.

“You’re shaping the future of a young person… Don't look at an intern as just a free pair of hand. The experience that they will have within your team is going to shape their outlook, their mindset, for the years to come”

He believes even small companies can offer meaningful internships with real value for both sides.

Marc doesn’t sugarcoat it. A good internship requires work — from both sides.

“It is up to you to do the right kind of homework, to make sure that both parties, the intern and the company, are very clear about what the internship involves.”

He recommends:

• Set clear deliverables and timelines
• Create a feedback loop
• Allow space for learning and improvement
• Be honest from Day 1

Long-Term Impact for the Ecosystem

Marc believes this isn’t just about one internship—it’s about creating a model that can shift how we think about talent, opportunity, and growth. He highlights how partnerships like this don’t just benefit the individual intern; they have ripple effects for companies and the wider community.

When young people are given meaningful opportunities early on, they build real skills and confidence that stick with them. Over time, this leads to a stronger, more capable local workforce—especially in areas where access to digital careers is still limited.

“Assuming that intern decides to stay in their field and they start applying for jobs by the time they are hired, for whatever position it is, they should ideally have a better understanding of what it's going to be like being part of the team and being a professional.”

For companies, it’s also a long-term win. Interns who’ve already experienced your work environment and values are more likely to fit in, contribute faster, and stick around. It’s a way to invest in future team members while actively supporting the growth of the surrounding ecosystem.

Learn more about Prokope Akademy Internship Programme