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.

Samsung India has rolled out the red carpet for 36 talented students from India’s top business schools as part of its prestigious IGNITE Summer Internship Program. The two-month-long initiative is designed to inspire, empower, and immerse future leaders into the world of innovation and business transformation.

Launched under the banner of IGNITE, which stands for Inspiring Growth & Nurturing Interns Towards Excellence ­­— the internship program gives MBA students a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in business operations across key verticals, including Marketing, Sales, Finance, Human Resources, and Corporate Strategy.

This year’s IGNITE cohort hails from premier institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, XLRI Jamshedpur, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, NMIMS Mumbai, IIFT Delhi, and SIBM Pune. These 36 young professionals bring with them a diverse range of ideas, energy, and ambition—all of which Samsung aims to nurture and channel into impactful, real-world contributions.

“You are here because you are smart, ambitious, and ready to make an impact. At Samsung, we don’t just build products; we create the future. IGNITE is all about fueling bold ideas, pushing boundaries, and giving young minds the space to explore, innovate, and thrive,” said Rishabh Nagpal, Head of People Team at Samsung India, during the welcome address.

Through structured project assignments, cross-functional mentorship, and immersive business experiences, IGNITE offers interns the chance to not only work on live projects but also to witness the scale and agility with which a global technology leader operates.

“On day one, I was surprised by how open and collaborative the environment is,” said Shanya Goyal, an intern from NMIMS. “Everyone is genuinely excited to share, teach, and help us grow. I already feel like a valued part of the team.”

Jayant Varma from MDI Gurgaon echoed her thoughts, saying, “Working at Samsung has been on my dream list for a while. To actually be here, learning by doing, and contributing to a project that could have a real business impact—it’s incredibly energizing and fulfilling.”

Samsung’s IGNITE internship program is not just about business exposure. It’s also about culture, leadership, and values. The company’s philosophy is deeply rooted in five core values—People, Excellence, Change, Integrity, and Co-Prosperity—which act as guiding principles for every employee and intern alike.

“With IGNITE, we are delighted to welcome such unprecedented talent—individuals who will infuse creativity into the way we work, drive innovation, and bring positive cultural enhancement across teams,” added Rishabh Nagpal.

Over the next two months, the interns will collaborate with Samsung’s internal teams, ideate on solutions to real business challenges, and contribute to projects that align with the company’s broader mission of enabling innovation for all.

As Samsung continues to build a workplace that values fresh thinking, diversity, and purpose-driven innovation, IGNITE serves as a launchpad for young talent to explore their potential and envision long-term careers in the technology and innovation ecosystem.