The last few months have been a whirl-wind ride for Yukoner Jenni Matchett.

She's been living (in a 200-square-foot apartment with two roommates) and working (across the street from Radio City Music Hall) in New York City.

As the Clinton Global Initiative's energy commitments team intern, Matchett has devoted much of her time to researching alternative financing models for renewable energy projects in North America and distribution strategies for clean energy technology in developing countries.

The Clinton Global Initiative was established in 2005. It brings together global leaders with the intention of developing and implementing "innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.”

Its members have made more than 2,300 commitments to take action along seven "tracks” representing particular global issues.

Those include the built environment, education and workforce development, energy and ecosystems, girls and women, global health, market-based approaches, response and resilience, and technology.

Matchett is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia's business school where she specialized in sustainable business. It was during her undergrad that she was first introduced to the Clinton Initiative.

Over the past few months working for CGI, Matchett has had unparalleled exposure to major players in the energy industry, from corporations to NGOs and everything in between.

"That exposure, at this point, at the very beginning of my career, getting to see that has been invaluable,” she said in an e-mail.

Matchett also highlighted the mentors she's been connected with.

"CGI has opened a whole new energy-network door for me and getting connected to the organizations/people at the forefront of this space. That's very valuable.”

Meeting former U.S. president Bill Clinton towards the end of April was perhaps one of her more memorable experiences.

"President Clinton is extremely thoughtful and brilliant. He's also hilarious. He came into the room and the Q+A fired off immediately.

"We asked him about books that he read at our age that had shaped his life, about major life decisions he made. That sort of thing,” said Matchett.

"I thought it was interesting to hear a former president discuss serious political events that transpired under his watch. As obvious as it sounds, it definitely gives you a glimpse of the complex and inquisitive mind required to be president of the United States.

"He was very candid and humorous in every answer he gave. He said, ‘follow your instincts.'”

Other highlights included travelling to Washington D.C. with a small group of staff to work an event Clinton hosted at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Another high point was sitting in on meetings and helping with an energy workshop at an event where Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a new climate initiative that will help cities measure their risk for natural disasters.

Outside her intern life, Matchett has thoroughly enjoyed her time in the Big Apple.

"Only in a New York City day will you see Jeffrey Sachs speak about sustainable development at Columbia University, then see some up-and-coming band from Brooklyn, for free, the day they sign their first record deal, then end up chatting with someone who writes for Rolling Stone Magazine at a new friend's party in the West Village,” she wrote in the email.

"You fall into bed at night completely exhausted. You're vibrating at a high frequency, all the time. Just to absorb everything. But it's a great feeling.”

With the internship having wrapped up earlier this month, Matchett plans to return to the Yukon while she maps out her next adventure.

She also wanted to express a sincere thanks to a number of Yukon businesses for helping her get to New York, including: Northern Vision Development, CAP Engineering, Castle Rock Enterprises, and Kluane Helicopters.