Beyond Borders: A Brazilian Intern’s Journey to Belonging, Dreams, and a Call for Inclusive Hiring in Sioux Falls

Breaking News: Brazilian‑born Intern Demonstrates Power Of International Talent In Sioux Falls Startup Scene

Sioux Falls – A 2025 intern at a local startup program is drawing attention from employers by turning a simple assignment into a proof of concept that international talent can lead, innovate and contribute from day one.

Initially arriving in the United States with technical skill,curiosity and a background that spans continents,Nathalia Silva has spent nearly five years in Sioux Falls while pursuing her education at Augustana University and competing as a collegiate swimmer. What began as a typical internship quickly evolved into a showcase of capability and a personal reminder of the community she found here.

Learning to ‘Enjoy the Ride’

Silva describes her year with a guiding mantra she adopted from a book: “enjoy the ride.” The mindset helped her balance coursework, immigration realities, work responsibilities, athletics and her personal ambitions. She had envisioned climbing to the highest levels of sport and achieving meaningful professional impact, but later felt pressure to shrink those dreams to something more conventional.

“I would keep dreaming. I would keep childing.” This pledge to preserve curiosity and joy became a compass for her ongoing journey, whether or not an internship was guaranteed.

A Home Away From Home

From her first day, the office felt different – in a good way. The brick building, friendly greetings and daily moments of connection created a sense of belonging in a city that once felt isolating.

“When you’re from another country,even a simple smile can change everything. I felt seen here.”

A Moment That Redefined Opportunity

In just her second week, Silva was asked to design an email automation. She sat down, implemented the workflow, and completed it in under 20 minutes. While she worked,nearby IT technicians stopped to watch and were impressed by the speed and precision of her work.

“They looked at my work and said, ‘No, you’re really good.’ That meant more than they’ll ever know.”

That moment reframed how she saw herself: not merely a student navigating a second language,but a capable professional who could build,lead and innovate.

Facing Realities – The Hurdles International Students Face

Silva is candid about the obstacles international students encounter when seeking work in the United States. Many employers ask upfront about visa sponsorship, and a simple yes/no response can prematurely filter out strong candidates. While many international graduates can work for one to three years after completion without sponsorship, the sponsorship question can create emotional and professional barriers.

She has watched peers begin college with luminous hopes only to feel doors closing before graduation. The risk isn’t just administrative; it’s developmental and personal. Silva argues that employers gain by looking beyond the sponsorship question to see the talent,resilience and cultural awareness international students bring to the table.

What she asks of employers is simple: they are not seeking immediate sponsorship or a long-term commitment upfront; they want a chance to prove what they can contribute.

A Clear Message To Sioux Falls Employers

Silva urges leaders and teams across the region to rethink what it means to hire international students. Far from being an extra hurdle, these students add outlook, resilience and adaptability. A single job opportunity can alter a young professional’s trajectory just as a yes changed hers when Startup Sioux Falls said yes.

She encourages employers to meet international students beyond resumes, to recognize their strengths and to understand the value they can add to a team. As she puts it, opportunity isn’t a burden; it’s a doorway that can be built if it doesn’t exist yet.

Looking Ahead With Hope

Walking through Sioux Falls now feels different for Silva.The city seems softer, more familiar – a place where she can continue to grow. The experience has reinforced a hopeful wish that more students like her will receive chances that can shape lives and careers.

“We’re all still childing. We’re all trying to become the version of ourselves we used to believe in.”

Her closing message to the community is simple: keep opening doors for international students, and the communities they join will benefit in ways that go beyond one person’s story.

Topic	Details
Name	Nathalia Silva
Brazil
International student, Augustana University; swimmer
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Built an email automation in under 20 minutes during second week
Hire international students for their talent, resilience, and contributions; sponsorship can come later

Readers, what would you change in your organization to better attract and support international talent? Do you think sponsorship policies should be revisited to unleash hidden potential?

And for community leaders: would a local company consider a “yes” before all sponsorship details are settled, to unlock a pathway for talented students like Nathalia?

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Implement Structured Visa Support

.### The brazilian Intern Experience in Sioux Falls

Key terms: Brazilian intern, international internship, Sioux Falls internships, multicultural workforce, inclusive hiring, diversity recruitment, talent acquisition, cultural adaptation, workplace belonging

1. Why Sioux Falls Attracts International Talent

• growing tech ecosystem: Sioux Falls recorded a 12 % year‑over‑year increase in tech start‑ups (Sioux Falls Economic Development, 2024).
• University partnerships: Sioux Falls Community College (SFCC) and Augustana University host exchange programs with Brazilian universities such as Universidade de São Paulo (USP).
• Cost‑of‑living advantage: The average rent in Sioux Falls is 45 % lower than in major Brazilian cities, making it an affordable gateway for overseas interns.

2. Typical Journey: From Brazil to the Heartland

Stage	Actions	Practical Tips
Application	Submit a résumé translated into English; highlight bilingual skills (Portuguese / English).	Use the usajobs and Internships.com portals; attach a concise cover letter referencing “global outlook” and “cross‑cultural communication.”
visa Process	Obtain a J‑1 Exchange Visitor Visa; sponsor usually a U.S. employer or a university programme.	register with the U.S.Department of State’s J‑1 Visa Program early; keep copies of DS‑2019 and SEVIS fee receipt.
Relocation	Book a one‑way flight to Sioux Falls Regional Airport; arrange temporary housing via Airbnb or university dorms.	Join the Sioux Falls International Community Facebook group for roommate leads and local tips.
On‑boarding	Complete I‑9 verification, attend diversity training, receive a mentor assignment.	Request a “cultural onboarding checklist” from HR to navigate U.S. workplace norms.

3. Daily Realities: Workplace Belonging & Cultural Integration

• Language immersion: Daily stand‑ups conducted in English sharpen communication,while colleagues often ask the intern to translate Portuguese documents-turning language into a valued asset.
• Mentorship moments: A senior project manager at a local biotech firm paired the intern with a bilingual senior associate, fostering a “buddy system” that reduced frist‑month turnover by 18 % (Sioux Falls Biotech Association, 2023).
• Community engagement: The intern volunteers at the Brazilian Cultural Center of South Dakota, organizing a “Samba Night” that attracted 80 local participants, showcasing cultural exchange benefits for employer branding.

4. Impact on Career Dreams

• Skill acquisition: The intern gains hands‑on experience with Agile Scrum, data visualization (power BI), and U.S. regulatory compliance-all listed as “high‑impact competencies” by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, 2024).
• Network expansion: 3‑month internship yields an average of 25 LinkedIn connections, 10 of which are senior industry leaders in the Midwest.
• Post‑internship pathways: 58 % of international interns in the Midwest receive a full‑time offer within six months (Institute of International Education, 2024).

5. Call for Inclusive Hiring: What Sioux Falls Employers Can Do

1. Standardize Inclusive Job Descriptions

• Use gender‑neutral language and explicitly welcome “candidates with international experience.”
• Include “bilingual” or “multilingual” as optional keywords rather than requirements.

2. Implement Structured Visa Support

• Assign a dedicated HR liaison for J‑1 and H‑1B processes.
• Offer a stipend for visa filing fees (average $2,500) to reduce financial barriers.

3. Create a Cultural Onboarding Framework

• Develop a 30‑day “Cross‑Cultural Integration Plan” with weekly check‑ins.
• Provide resources: local public‑transport guide, cultural etiquette handbook, and language‑learning app subscriptions (e.g.,Duolingo Plus).

4. Leverage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

• Establish a “Latinx Professionals Network” to foster mentorship and community.
• Celebrate cultural holidays (Carnival, Dia da Consciência Negra) with company‑wide events.

5. Measure Inclusion Metrics

• Track “International intern Retention Rate” and “Promotion Rate within 12 months.”
• Publish quarterly diversity dashboards to demonstrate transparency.

6. Practical Tips for Brazilian Interns Seeking Inclusive Opportunities

1. Localize Your Resume

• Replace Brazilian job titles with U.S. equivalents (e.g., “Analista de Dados” → “data Analyst”).
• Highlight soft skills valued in the U.S. market: “collaborative problem‑solving,” “adaptability,” “customer‑centric mindset.”

2. Showcase Multilingual Value

• Add a “Languages” section with proficiency levels (e.g., Portuguese – Native, English – C1, spanish – intermediate).
• Mention any translation projects that saved time or improved communication.

3. Network Strategically

• Attend the Sioux Falls Career Fair (held each March) and the Midwest International Internship summit (virtual, October).
• Request informational interviews with alumni from Brazilian universities now working in Sioux Falls.

4. Prepare for Cultural differences

• Learn common U.S. workplace etiquette: direct feedback style, punctuality expectations, and “small talk” topics (sports, weather).
• Use resources like Cultural Intelligence Center webinars for rapid acclimation.

5. Document Achievements

• Keep a weekly log of completed tasks, metrics, and feedback.
• Convert the log into a concise “Impact summary” for performance reviews.

7. Real‑World Example: Inclusive Hiring Success Story

• Company: Dakota HealthTech,a midsize health‑technology firm in Sioux Falls.
• Action: Introduced a “Global Talent Track” in 2023, partnering with CIEE (council on International Educational Exchange).
• Outcome: Hired three brazilian interns over two years; each secured a full‑time role in product management, contributing to a 22 % increase in user‑base growth in Brazil (company report, Q1 2025).

8. Benefits of Inclusive Hiring in Sioux Falls

• Talent diversification: Access to a global talent pool expands skill sets beyond local supply constraints.
• Innovation boost: Research links multicultural teams to a 15 % higher rate of patent filings (Harvard Business Review, 2023).
• Community reputation: Companies recognized for inclusive practices experience a 30 % increase in positive employer reviews on Glassdoor (Glassdoor Economic insights,2024).
• Economic growth: International interns contribute an estimated $47 k per intern in local spending on housing, transportation, and services (U.S. travel Association, 2024).

9. SEO‑Pleasant Keywords Integrated Throughout

• Brazilian intern in Sioux Falls
• inclusive hiring practices Midwest
• international internship program USA
• multicultural workforce benefits
• visa sponsorship for interns
• cultural onboarding checklist
• diversity and inclusion in Sioux Falls companies
• cross‑cultural communication skills
• talent acquisition strategies for global talent
• case study: Brazilian intern success

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All statistics and references are drawn from publicly available reports published between 2023‑2025.