Staff Spotlight: Cameron Berne

Cameron grew up in heartland of the United States before moving to New York City. As Enrollment Manager, he helps students all over the world learn about Start Me Up's programs and makes the application process fun and easy. Cameron now travels the world as a digital nomad, visiting spots all over the globe where Start Me Up has interns.

In November of 2016, I traveled to visit a mentor who had retired to San Miguel de Allende, a Spanish colonial town in the mountains of Central Mexico. During my time in San Miguel, I had the pleasure of meeting so many people from the incredible community he had built for himself. The town had the most incredible energy and a mix of the kindest locals and fascinating expats from all over the globe.

The trip highlight of the trip was an American Thanksgiving feast with guests from all over the world. Everyone found creative solutions for making traditional dishes with local ingredients. The experience taught me that it was possible to build a community anywhere in the world. That dinner started me down my path towards being a digital nomad.

One of the students that participated in the Start Me Up Internship Program spent her time at a tech startup Bali specializing in blockchain. She was able to incorporate her passion for social justice by working on a project that focused on social impact coins. I was absolutely blown away the the way they used a technology as popular and innovative as blockchain for social justice. In one example, they tracked diamonds to ensure there was no exploitation across the supply chain.

The internship culminated in her representing her startup at a United Nations Financial Forum in Geneva. It was a very exciting and highly unusual opportunity that was a testament to her weeks of hard work and dedication.

I would choose the 2 month Australia Internship Program. I have never been to Australia, so the prospect of spending two months exploring Melbourne is far too tempting to pass on. Melbourne is such a hip city, rich with culture and opportunity. I would spend every day at the co-working space so I could network and learn about all of the local hotspots.

Start Me Up is unique because we curate ever single person's experience to their education and desired outcome. We find internships with companies that are relevant to the students' interests. This allows them to learn desired skills and create employment opportunities. I do not know of other companies that put so much work into creating a unique experience for each participant and it makes me so proud to be part of the team.