This summer, I had a great experience interning as a Business Development Associate at Stanton Chase in Washington, D.C., focused on executive search and leadership advisory. I worked
across client preparation, research, and marketing, gaining exposure to industries including aerospace and defense, education, nonprofit, and healthcare.
Each day involved preparing consultants for high-level meetings by building decks, conducting company research, mapping org charts, and pulling relevant contacts. I contributed to client
presentation pitches and preparation for companies such as AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Mondelez International. I also supported research for candidate identification and early-stage prospecting across several ongoing search projects.
One major project was building out a month-long LinkedIn video campaign for our managing director. We drafted and produced over ten scripts in collaboration with a film crew, focusing on executive leadership, holidays, and firm positioning. The other Wabash interns and I presented AI outreach tools to the consultants and created a private equity strategy presentation that
outlined how Stanton Chase could better engage PE firms.
Living and working in Washington, D.C. made the experience even more meaningful. It’s an exciting city to be in as a young professional, and I was able to connect with several Wabash alumni while living there. The same was true in Chicago, where we met alumni and got a better sense of what post-graduate life could look like in both cities.
This internship gave me real insight into how executive search firms operate and how leadership hiring decisions are made across industries. I developed skills in research, writing, and communication, all while contributing directly to projects that had real impact.
Thank you to Jeff Perkins ’89 and the entire Stanton Chase D.C. team for this fantastic opportunity and experience.
