DevGlobal Associates Program: Year in Review

DevGlobal Celebrates the First Cohort of the Associates Program

As the curtain closes on the first term of DevGlobal Associates Program, we’re proud to reflect on the achievements of our first cohort. Over the past six months, our Associates brought their energy, talent, and fresh perspectives to projects at the intersection of technology and global development. Their contributions across geospatial analysis, community building, agriculture and development made a strong impact on the work as they developed their personal and professional skills. Here’s what a few of our Associates had to say about their experiences.

Sophie: Building Skills and Connections Across Projects

Sophie’s journey in the program was defined by variety and depth. She worked on multiple projects, from the Carter Center Guinea Worm Eradication Project—where she learned how remote sensing can support public health—to supporting an event in New York City for PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator Program.

“Running the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator event in New York and meeting my mentor in person after months of virtual collaboration are memories I’ll treasure,” she shared.

One highlight has been her work on the AgLivingLabs initiative, where she continues to play a critical role in developing the website and ideating with the team on the future of regenerative and digital agriculture. Along the way, she sharpened her skills in proposal writing, communication, and GIS applications.

“The best part of the Associates Program is the exposure to several different projects,” Sophie added. “It allows you to get a sense of the company’s scope of work, use and hone new skills, and learn from multiple team members.”

Anna: Advancing Earth Observation for Humanitarian Action

Anna’s term centered on NASA Lifelines, a program integrating Earth science and satellite data into humanitarian action. She contributed to outreach efforts, data processing, and stakeholder engagement, and played a pivotal role in the Humanitarian Simulation Event that brought together participants from over 50 countries last fall.

“A highlight was developing a training toolkit for the simulation,” Anna recalled. “Seeing how it reduced confusion and generated enthusiasm among participants was incredibly rewarding.”

Through technical mentorship, Anna expanded her proficiency in QGIS, reviewed methodologies for detecting waterbodies, and gained confidence in geospatial analysis. Meeting the NASA Lifelines team in person during a planning session in Washington, D.C., also stood out as a key moment. “DevGlobal’s welcoming and inclusive culture makes it a fantastic place for early-career professionals to grow their skills and contribute to impactful projects,” she said

Jack: Innovating with Technology and Data

Jack’s time as an Associate was marked by technical improvements for DevGlobal and our clients. He supported projects like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s GIST initiative and created automated tools to enhance internal operational efficiency.

“My favorite project was creating and automating a tool that supported the business development process. It directly supported strategic growth for DevGlobal and its partners,” Jack said.

He also helped design a milestone dashboard to track progress across teams and refined his skills in Python, R, and SQL programming.

“The weekly Thursday meetings with my cohort fostered a sense of community and collaboration that I’ll always remember,” Jack added. “This program is a unique opportunity to grow personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful global initiatives.”

Jessica: Delivering on Events

Jessica’s experience as an Associate spanned event coordination, communications, and program delivery. She played a key role in preparing for GeoField, Geopalooza, and took on a greater role in planning and executing the final event for the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator program in Thailand.

“Arriving in Thailand and meeting the Greenhouse Team in person for the first time was unforgettable,” she said. “Seeing months of effort come together in a successful final event and speaking with the startups and mentors about their experiences made it all incredibly rewarding.”

Coming from a background in education, Jessica applied her skills to project management tasks, including budgeting and workplan development. She also began coursework in project management, which she hopes will lead to a future certification.

“My experience as an Associate was incredible, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain experience in global development,” Jessica said. “The DevGlobal team fully embraced us from the beginning and supported our learning throughout the program.” 

Looking Ahead

As we close the chapter on our first term, we’re filled with gratitude for the Associates who shaped it’s success. We look forward to welcoming the next cohort soon and continuing to empower individuals to drive meaningful changes at the intersection of technology and global development. Through mentorship, diverse project exposure, and hands-on experience, this program will continue to offer early-career professionals a launchpad into an impactful career.

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