Samsung IGNITE: A Legacy of Learning, Leadership, and Lifelong Impact

A look back at faces who took their first career steps with Samsung IGNITE

Samsung India didn’t just launch a summer internship programme in 2017 with IGNITE (Inspiring Growth & Nurturing Interns Towards Excellence) — it laid the foundation for a leadership pipeline that would help shape its future.

What began as an HR initiative to strengthen campus relationships and bring fresh perspectives to the business, has grown into a flagship talent engine that now spans 16 top B-schools in India.

IGNITE alumnus, Ayushi Anand from IIM Kozhikode, said: “Samsung gave me the freedom to explore, question, and contribute. It wasn’t just a summer internship — it felt like joining a family.”

IGNITE: Turning ambition into achievement

A Culture that Prepares, not Just Recruits

The journey begins much before summer. Planning for IGNITE starts as early as Q2, when Samsung’s Talent Acquisition team, Business HRs, Regional HRs, and business leaders come together to design the next cohort’s experience.

“Over the years, we’ve seen it shape careers in the most fascinating way,” said Rishabh Nagpal, Head of People Team, Samsung India. “At Samsung, we believe that building future leaders starts with investing in them early, not just with opportunities, but with trust. IGNITE is not just a programme but a powerful platform that connects young talent to real-world challenges and our culture of innovation.”

From selecting campuses based on performance and alumni strength to assigning live business projects with cross-functional complexity, every detail is planned meticulously to ensure interns get far more than a desk and a deadline.

A journey that began with curiosity and grew into careers

Beyond the Offer Letter: A Two-Month Transformation

The IGNITE internship begins with a two-day induction where students are introduced to Samsung’s ways of working, its values, and its leadership. What follows is an 8-week deep dive into the business — with ownership, mentorship, and structured checkpoints at every step.

Leadership connects are woven into the internship: a kickoff session, mid-internship check-in, project review preparations, and a final showcase. Throughout, interns work closely with cross-functional teams, learning how a company of Samsung’s scale moves fast, thinks forward, and never loses sight of the customer.

As one IGNITE alumnus, Keshav Harlalka from IIFT, puts it: “For me, the biggest learning was that real innovation doesn’t start with tech, it starts with the consumer.”

A Programme that Evolves with Its People

Over the years, IGNITE has grown in more ways than one — expanding its reach, diversifying its projects, and tailoring its structure to Gen Z’s appetite for hands-on learning.

“GenZ isn’t content with research alone – they want to work closely with business leaders and the real changemakers.” said Manisha Gambhir, Director, Talent Acquisition, Samsung India. “So, we design projects that are immersive, challenging, and relevant — from retail strategy to product launches and business transformation.”

This evolution includes other engagement channels like Samsung EDGE, a case study competition which builds deeper and profound interactions with prospective talent through real world business problem solving, leadership sessions, and corporate mentoring.

Building More than Careers

For many students, IGNITE is their first taste of the corporate world. And it’s designed to be memorable. From relocation assistance to personal mentorship, every aspect is crafted to empower.

Atharva Joshi from XLRI recalls a moment of trust: “When I pointed out a gap in my project, my manager didn’t dismiss it; he asked me to build a solution. That trust meant everything,” he said.

These stories are not outliers. They are the essence of IGNITE, a programme that believes in people before positions and sees potential before performance.

The two months of internship play a crucial role. Not only do interns get a deep dive into Samsung’s people, culture, and cutting-edge technologies, but the company also gets the opportunity to assess their potential. It’s a meaningful exchange that has led to several IGNITE interns receiving pre-placement offers and returning as full-time team members.

Behind the Scenes: Heart and Hustle

What the world often doesn’t see is the enormous orchestration behind IGNITE. The undeterred support from Samsung’s leadership, the rigorous standardisation across regions, the continuous benchmarking of stipends and structures — all aimed at making IGNITE one of India’s most competitive and coveted internship platforms.

As Samsung IGNITE moves into its next year, the vision is clear — deeper engagement, stronger mentorship, and an unshakable belief in building tomorrow’s leaders today.