Intern sees the world anew from Bengaluru
"It was a city, a culture and a workplace that completely reshaped how I see the world," says Allison Gilmour of her time interning at restaurant industry software as a service (SaaS) company UrbanPiper in Bengaluru, India. During her three-month stay in Bengaluru, Allison gained firsthand experience of life and work in one of India’s largest cities. Yet, she says it was the people she met and worked with who made her time in India unforgettable.
Allison and two of her workmates at a Tibetan restaurant during Allison's first weekend in Bengaluru
They say that “people make the place, not the other way around”, and that could not have been more true during my internship in India.
I spent three months living and working in Bengaluru, India’s fast-paced tech capital, through an internship with UrbanPiper, organised by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. It was a city, a culture, and a workplace that completely reshaped how I see the world, and gave me some of the best experiences of my life.
India is everything you have heard and more. It’s vibrant, chaotic, loud, colourful, and absolutely packed with life. But beyond the initial intensity, it’s also incredibly beautiful and filled with moments of calm and charm. The people are among the kindest and most generous I’ve ever met.
During the weekends, Allison would explore the city and surrounding areas with friends from work
Bengaluru, especially, is a city where modern tech parks rise beside bustling street markets, trendy neighbourhoods, and quiet lakes that offer a break from the noise.
I stayed in an Airbnb about 20 minutes’ walk from work (a blessing in a city where commuting can take hours), and on weekends I explored the city via the metro, visiting spots like Cubbon Park, Bengaluru Palace, and the countless cafés, temples, and lakes that give the city its unique personality.
This internship not only gave me professional skills, but also taught me how to navigate new environments, build cross-cultural relationships and embrace uncertainty.
Allison
UrbanPiper is a food technology company that sells products to streamline the end-to-end service of restaurant service when working with different delivery aggregators. They are a key player in India’s food ecosystem, and I was excited to be part of it.
From day one, the team gave me real responsibilities. I helped with the selection process for a new HRMS tool, worked across all areas of People & Culture, and eventually focused on recruitment and internal research.
Allison's team at UrbanPiper introduced her to Bengaluru and showed her some of the best places to eat in the city
I looked at how UrbanPiper’s systems compared to industry benchmarks in areas like performance reviews, onboarding, and employee engagement. This work led to some great one-on-one conversations with managers and senior leaders across different departments. These chats not only improved my communication skills but also gave me insight into how various teams function in a fast-paced startup.
One highlight was joining the Product and Customer Success teams on a client visit to Anand Sweets. It was incredible to see UrbanPiper’s software being used in real time to enhance the restaurant experience.
Allison with UrbanPiper's People and Culture team
As much as I learned professionally, it’s the people at UrbanPiper who made this experience unforgettable. From the very start, my team treated me as a friend. They introduced me to the city, shared meals, and even joined me on a trip to Goa to celebrate the end of my internship. The company vibe was warm and relaxed, and there was always someone keen for a chat or a chai.
New Zealand is an incredibly diverse country, and having a better understanding of Asian cultures is more important than ever. Living and working in India gave me a deeper appreciation for cultural differences and showed me how valuable diverse perspectives are in the workplace.
This internship not only gave me professional skills, but also taught me how to navigate new environments, build cross-cultural relationships, and embrace uncertainty.
It confirmed something I already suspected: I would love to live and work in Asia again one day.
Allison: "As much as I learned professionally, it’s the people at UrbanPiper who made this experience unforgettable."
If you are considering applying for this internship, my advice is: go with an open mind. Things will be different, sometimes confusing, and often chaotic. Take it one day at a time, say yes to new experiences, and be curious. You will grow more than you expect, and have a great time doing it.
The Foundation's Business Programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. It also supports to grow the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.
Our internship programme helps interns build a better understanding of the people, place and culture of their Asian host country, while developing industry-specific skills that will benefit them as they progress in their careers.
