UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jessica Krieger, a third-year Penn State student double majoring in Spanish and accounting, embarked on an international internship this past summer with KPMG's Global Advantage Program in Prague, Czechia, more widely known in English as the Czech Republic.

Her experience was made possible with support from the Virginia Todd Chapel Executive Internship Program in the College of the Liberal Arts, which provides $5,000 to students completing top-level career development opportunities in the private sector.

Krieger’s summer was a blend of professional development and cultural immersion.

“I networked with fellow students, participated in workshops with audit and advisory partners at the firm, discussed implications of generative AI with a panel and visited a major KPMG client — the Pilsner Urquell Brewery,” said the State College, Pennsylvania, native.

The internship was an opportunity to not only explore international business practices but also to engage deeply with new and emerging technologies like generative AI. Academically, Krieger’s time abroad had a significant impact, she said.

“Although I was not taking classes, my international internship experience developed my interpersonal skills as I was able to interact with fellow interns from across the globe,” she said. “I learned how to forge relationships quickly and meaningfully.”

Krieger traveled to Seville, Spain, where she was able to practice her Spanish in a real-world context, enhancing her fluency and cultural understanding.

Professionally, the internship solidified her interest in international business and expanded her career aspirations.

“The workshop sessions in Prague were useful in my formulating of opinions on new topics in the world of technology and business. This includes generative AI uses in tax preparation and leveraging data to create collaborative and respectful business environments cross-culturally,” Krieger said.

These insights, she believes, will make her a more well-rounded candidate and compassionate employee in the future, she said.

Support from the Chapel Executive Internship Program was instrumental in making Krieger’s internship a reality. As a Chapel Executive Intern, she was able to extend her international experience beyond Prague, traveling to Paris, France; Seville, Spain; and Amman, Jordan.

“A career objective of mine is to participate in a rotational program in Spain through my employer, KPMG,” Krieger said. “Through touring the KPMG office in Seville, Spain, and meeting with an international tax consultant in person, I solidified global work as a priority for my life and uniquely established a relationship with consultants abroad.”

Krieger’s dual majors in Spanish and accounting also played a crucial role in her internship.

“Interpersonal skills and understanding of corporate dynamics — essential to my accounting major — were expanded upon through my internship experience,” she said.

The international setting allowed her to gain unique perspectives and connect with interns from around the world, broadening her understanding of global business practices, Krieger said. Simultaneously, her Spanish skills were honed through immersive experiences in Spain, enhancing her linguistic abilities and cultural competency.

Krieger said her liberal arts education, especially her exposure to diverse disciplines, has been invaluable.

“Spanish and accounting complement each other because they challenge me in different ways,” she said. “Accounting requires a very analytical and conceptual approach, while Spanish often serves as a creative outlet for me when I'm exhausted from the equations and technicalities of accounting.”

Reflecting on her time in Prague, Krieger shared that the experience of doing an international internship was both challenging and rewarding.

“The international internship involved participating in an onboarding — which most interns are accustomed to — but the setting was in a different country!” she said.

A memorable highlight, she said, was a team-building activity — a scavenger hunt through the heart of Prague, which involved learning Czech words, exploring local art and bonding with fellow interns through shared experiences in a vibrant, historical city.

Krieger said her international internship has undoubtedly prepared her for a future in global business.

“Participating in the global internship and leveraging the Chapels' contribution for my travel sets me apart from other candidates for my firm’s global internship program in summer 2025,” she said. “It’s a highly competitive program, and my experience this summer will be monumental for an eye-catching application.”

This is one in a series of stories about 28 Liberal Arts students participating in Chapel Executive Internships this summer. Students interested in applying for the Chapel Executive Internship Program for spring should apply by the Dec. 1 deadline through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network.