Evadne Ong’s journey is a great example of the growth we aim to foster at Genesis Alternative Ventures. After interning with us from December 2021 to August 2022, she returned in May 2025 to begin her career as a full-time Investment Analyst. Her story from intern to team member highlights how a positive and challenging internship experience can lay the groundwork for a career in investment.
We sat down with Evadne to discuss her time here, her seamless transition, and the skills that helped her turn an internship into a full-time position.
Genesis [G]: Beyond the job title, what was the biggest change in your day-to-day responsibilities and overall mindset when you transitioned from intern to full-time analyst?
Evadne [E]: The biggest shift for me was moving from “assisting” to “owning.” As an intern, I was focused on supporting tasks, building models, learning the ropes, and doing what was asked. In contrast, as an analyst now, I’m responsible for owning projects from start to finish, ensuring accuracy, and contributing my own opinions to influence investment decisions. This new responsibility has pushed me to think about the bigger picture, not just completing tasks, but also helping others, like our interns, connect the dots.
[G]: What specific skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship that you found most critical for hitting the ground running as a full-time analyst? Were there any areas you had to quickly upskill in?
[E]: My internship at Genesis gave me a strong foundation in venture debt and taught me how to analyze companies from both a growth and credit perspective. These insights were absolutely critical. After my Genesis internship, I completed two more internships in Private Equity, which helped me sharpen my technical financial modeling skills. By the time I returned to Genesis as a full-time analyst, I was able to combine both experiences: applying the technical rigor from private equity with the unique growth mindset and structuring perspective I first developed here.
[G]: Thinking back to your internship, what was the biggest obstacle you had to navigate, and how did that experience build the skills and confidence you rely on today?
[E]: The most significant challenge was learning to think like a venture debt investor while also building up my technical skills. Genesis was my first finance internship, and while my prior experience at Protégé Ventures gave me a great feel for venture capital, the focus was on equity, not debt. I had to quickly adapt my thinking to the world of debt. What really helped me was my subsequent private equity internships, where I sharpened my technical toolkit and gained confidence in my approach.
[G]: Genesis is known for its “fully immersive” internship program. Can you share a specific project or deal that gave you a hands-on, real-world learning experience that you didn’t expect to get?
[E]: One project that really stood out was being part of a live financing deal. I got to assist with building the financial model and preparing materials for the Investment Committee (IC) meeting. I didn’t expect to be involved in writing the IC memorandum as an intern, so it was a fantastic and pleasant surprise. I was really grateful for the opportunity to be part of a deal that was ultimately approved by the IC.
[G]: You work closely with deal managers and senior leadership. How has the mentorship and collaborative culture at Genesis shaped your professional growth?
[E]: The mentorship at Genesis is truly exceptional. As both an intern and a full-time analyst, I’ve found that the senior team is always willing to answer my questions and openly share their thought processes and insights. They even organize workshops and masterclasses to teach not just hard skills, but also soft skills like the art of negotiation. This open culture has made it easier to learn quickly and has allowed me to take ownership and develop my judgment from the very beginning.
[G]: The culture is described as open, inquisitive, and collaborative. What does that mean in practice, and what qualities do you think an intern needs to thrive in this environment
[E]: For us, being open, inquisitive, and collaborative means that juniors and interns are genuinely encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and dig into the “why” behind decisions. When I was an intern, my analysis and questions were taken seriously, which pushed me to think critically. To thrive in this environment, an intern needs to be resourceful, detail-oriented, and above all, inquisitive. The people who succeed here are the ones who go beyond the numbers to understand a deal.
[G]: What was the most surprising or unexpected part of your internship, and how did it influence your decision to join the team full-time?
[E]: The most surprising part of my internship was the relationships I built with the team. I came in expecting it to be a learning experience, but I left with genuine friendships and strong connections with mentors who were truly invested in my growth. The open and collaborative culture made it easy to connect, and those relationships gave me a strong sense of belonging. That experience played a huge role in my decision to return as a full-time analyst—I knew I wasn’t just joining a firm, but a team I genuinely enjoyed working with and learning from.
[G]: Now that you are a full-time analyst, what are you most excited to contribute to the firm, and how do you see yourself growing with Genesis Alternative Ventures in the coming years?
[E]: I’m excited to combine what I learned in private equity and venture debt to contribute to Genesis’s growth. My immediate focus is to deepen my expertise in structuring and execution, and eventually lead my own deals while mentoring newer analysts and interns. Looking ahead, I want to help strengthen Genesis’s position as the go-to venture debt partner for high-growth companies across Southeast Asia.
[G]: What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to an undergraduate who is keen on pursuing an internship or a full-time role in the venture capital industry
[E]: My advice is to seek out diverse experiences. These will expose you to different working cultures and a variety of skill sets, making you a more well-rounded candidate. It’s also just as important to have hobbies outside of work and academics—they keep you balanced and help broaden your perspective. Whatever path you take, approach it with curiosity and adaptability—those qualities will truly set you apart in venture capital.
Evadne’s journey shows that an internship is much more than a job; it’s an opportunity to build a foundation for the future. It also illustrates the kind of growth that’s possible when hands-on experience, genuine mentorship, and an empowering culture come together. We are incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished and are thrilled to officially welcome her back to the Genesis family as a full-time Investment Analyst.