GSA TALENT PROGRAM: TURNING THEORY INTO ACTION
Prosper Iheanacho joined the GSA Talent Program in November 2024 as a final-year business student from the University of Pécs in Hungary. Like many young aspiring entrepreneurs, Prosper had plenty of ideas but lacked practical know-how on how to implement them.
Today, Prosper is pursuing his own ventures with confidence, clarity, and capability.
His experience captures the essence of the GSA Talent Program: a real-world training ground for ambitious individuals. It’s far beyond a traditional internship. It’s a dynamic platform where participants gain hands-on experience, collaborate across global teams, and take ownership of meaningful projects. Through direct mentorship, cross-functional teamwork, and international exposure, the program empowers emerging talent to transform potential into performance.
DOING THE WORK THAT MATTERS
Unlike many student internships, which mostly involve observation and repetitive tasks, the GSA Talent Program is designed to accelerate participants' professional development. Participants are placed in fast-paced, important roles where their work is essential to the mission.
Prosper's onboarding was immediate and immersive. He joined the GSA at the beginning of Edition 11. From the start, he was involved in cross-functional planning, team coordination, and customer-facing responsibilities.
Prosper Iheanacho, former GSA Talent Program participant.
"I saw the planning from day one and how different teams worked together to deliver a global project," he recalls.
At first, Prosper didn’t realize how much the experience would expand his horizons. He was used to working quietly behind the scenes, but the collaborative nature of the program required something different. Through weekly check-ins, global teamwork, and taking ownership of projects, he gradually found himself speaking up more, stepping forward, and growing into the role. What felt new at first soon became second nature.
THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
One of the most defining aspects of Prosper’s experience was the high-quality mentorship he received. Under his manager, Yazan Othman's guidance, Prosper learned not just how to be managed, but also how to apply what he had learned in management as well.
Prosper witnessed firsthand that strong leadership isn’t about control but empowerment: delegating effectively, training others intentionally, and communicating clearly. These lessons reshaped his approach to leadership, especially since he had led teams in the past as well.
The program also challenged his perception of hierarchy. Having regular access to senior leaders, including the CEO of GSA, broke down the mental barriers he once held about entrepreneurship.
"I used to think CEOs were unreachable. But Kim was present. Human. That changed everything.”
This shift made leadership feel accessible and achievable. Prosper began to see himself not just as a contributor but also as someone who could build, lead, and own his own venture.
WHERE KNOWLEDGE MEETS ACTION
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the GSA Talent Program is its ability to translate academic knowledge into practical application. Everything Prosper had studied in college: data, communication, and management, was no longer theoretical. He applied it daily to solve real problems for real people on a global scale.
When asked to sum up the program in one word, Prosper chose: “bridge”.
"Bridge. That’s the word. This program was the bridge between what I knew and what I could actually do."
EXPERIENCES THAT EMPOWER
Prosper’s story is one of many, but it highlights what makes the GSA Talent Program unique: it transforms people.
It’s a global platform where talent meets opportunity. It's where mentorship meets a mindset shift. It's where the next generation of founders, operators, and changemakers discover their true potential.
Think bigger than internships. Join the GSA Talent Program and turn your ambition into action.
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