From the Netherlands to Malaysia with Daan’s Internship Journey

Over the past few months, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Daan into our team as part of his internship journey. From day one, Daan brought fresh energy, curiosity, and a strong willingness to learn about the world of cross-border wealth management. As his time with us comes to a close, we asked him to reflect on his experience, the challenges, the lessons, and the moments that stood out.  

Below, you’ll find Daan’s personal take on his internship at Melbourne Capital Group (MCG).  

Looking back, choosing to do my graduation internship at Melbourne Capital Group in Malaysia was one of the best decisions I could have made. My academic background is in entrepreneurship, which has also been the main focus of my studies. However, for my graduation, I deliberately took a different path and pursued an opportunity in the finance sector, an area that has always interested me. My aim was to do this outside of Europe, to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself in a completely new environment.

Coming from a small village in the Netherlands, the leap to Kuala Lumpur was anything but familiar. But thanks to Chris Crowe, I was given the opportunity to take that leap and join MCG’s team.

For my project, I focused on identifying and establishing strategic partnerships with professional service providers. Beyond just writing a theoretical report, my personal goal was to contribute real, practical value to the firm, something I did my best to achieve. This ultimately resulted in several new partnerships that continue beyond the internship.

This experience gave me a deeper understanding of how international asset management functions in practice, and how international business is actually conducted.  I learned how to communicate with senior decision-makers from different cultures and industries.  

Living in Kuala Lumpur, I was surrounded by people who had chosen to leave their home countries and shape their own futures. That environment taught me that  your background matters far less than your mindset, work ethic, and willingness to learn.

By throwing myself into a new professional world on the other side of the planet, I gained much more than international work experience. I developed clarity about my future path, what drives me, and where I want to go next. If you ever get the opportunity to work or live abroad at a young age, take it. Growth happens where comfort ends, where nobody knows you, and where the world owes you nothing. To me, this internship has been an investment in my personal and professional future.

Now, I’m returning to the Netherlands to begin a Master’s in Strategic Corporate Finance and explore further opportunities in the finance world. And who knows, perhaps one day, you’ll see me back in Kuala Lumpur.

Our internships are tailored to suit each student’s field of study, availability, and academic requirements. If you're curious to learn more, check out what our previous intern, Sander, accomplished during his summer with us in Malaysia here.

Contact us at info@melbournecapitalgroup.com to get in touch.