This summer, we had the pleasure of welcoming Anna Riese as a Summer Intern at Denominator. Despite the brief duration of her internship, Anna quickly developed a strong understanding of Denominator’s mission and the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She successfully delivered on all her tasks and quickly became a well-liked colleague among the team.
Originally from Germany, Anna moved to Copenhagen to pursue a bachelor's degree in International Business and Politics at Copenhagen Business School (CBS). Alongside her studies, she’s been actively involved in student organizations including the Model United Nations society and a student-run magazine.
We asked Anna a few questions about her experience at Denominator — her reflections may inspire others interested in working with impact-driven organizations.
Why did you want to be a Summer Intern at Denominator?
"Since I mainly worked with fellow students, I was looking for a position that could give me a realistic insight into the 'work world'. It was important to me that the company’s values and ideas would match my own.
I was introduced to Kristian, who works with Business Strategy & Partnerships at Denominator, during a Model United Nations conference in New York. I liked the idea behind Denominator and thought it would be great to become part of the company."
What did you do during the internship?
"My internship had two main sides. I joined both internal and external meetings that helped me understand the organization, its challenges, and opportunities. I also contributed directly to various projects.
Initially, I supported the Business & Strategy team through research on regulations, platforms, and competitors in the DEI space. Later, I worked with the Content department — I wrote an article and got insight into media management. Finally, I assisted the Data Analyst team in crunching and analyzing data for a major collaboration with a Danish newspaper.
These tasks expanded my knowledge of DEI and helped develop my personal and professional skills. The meetings also gave me a better understanding of start-up dynamics."
How was it to work remotely?
"After studying remotely during the pandemic, I had an idea of what to expect, but working is different from studying. As an intern, I had many questions — especially in the beginning — and reaching out online to people I didn’t know was a barrier to overcome.
Fortunately, I got to know many of my coworkers through meetings, and I already knew Kristian and Anders from our New York trip. We also started using a virtual office platform, which made informal chats and quick questions easier.
While the social aspect was challenging at first, I enjoyed the flexibility of remote work — it allowed me to visit family and structure my day more freely."
Did this internship give you new perspectives on DEI?
"Yes, absolutely. Before this internship, I was more familiar with the environmental (E) aspects of ESG. This experience opened my eyes to the importance of the social (S) component for a sustainable future.
Through research projects, I gained context about the role of DEI today. Joining external calls and working with the Content team showed me the growing interest in DEI data among investors and media. These experiences helped me analyze data myself and truly understand what DEI means."
What was your greatest takeaway?
"Reaching the point where I understood what Denominator’s DEI data means was probably my greatest takeaway.
I now see how crucial DEI is within ESG. It was also eye-opening to realize how much interest this data generates among investors and media — it shows that change is possible, and that you can run a business with a greater purpose."
The Next Steps for Anna
Anna is currently on exchange in Lisbon, taking data science courses and enjoying life in a beautiful city. She reflects:
"This internship showed me that it’s possible to find a job that aligns with both my academic background in business and politics and my personal values. I learned a lot about DEI, but also about myself — my skills and interests. I’m now considering a master’s degree focused on sustainable finance or philosophy, but first I’ll complete my bachelor’s and look forward to staying connected with Denominator."
Thank You, Anna
A huge thank you to Anna for her contributions during her internship and for sharing her reflections. We hope her story encourages other students to pursue meaningful work opportunities with purpose-driven organizations.
At Denominator, we’re always eager to meet students who want to learn more about DEI and make a positive impact. If you're interested in internship or work opportunities, feel free to reach out to us at info@denominator.one.
