This summer, I got the incredible opportunity to be a part of a business immersion internship program that opened my eyes to the corporate world in ways that I never could have imagined. Within a few weeks’ time, I had hands-on experience with the major business skills that will shape my career future.
Of all the technical skills I learned, Microsoft Excel was probably the most valuable. From basic data entry, it evolved into complex financial modeling and data analysis. I learned how to create pivot tables, use mighty formulas like VLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH, and create dynamic dashboards that could tell mighty stories in numbers. The course did not just learn Excel as a tool, but as a business language. During the end of internship, I had the opportunity to convert raw data into useful information that could be applied by executives towards strategic decision- making.
One of the most fun parts of the program was our mock business pitch competition. Working in groups, we needed to choose a market opportunity, develop a business plan, and present our concepts to a panel of mock investors. From the experience, I gained an appreciation for the importance of market research, competitive analysis, and crafting a strong story., This internship made me feel capable of strategic thinking and explaining intricate concepts in simple terms.
The curriculum also covered investing and consulting methods in detail. We learned about risk assessment, and equity and bond market principles. The workshops on consulting were also enlightening, introducing us to new problem-solving processes and structuring business problems in a systematic way.
This internship transformed my understanding of business from the classroom to practical
applications. The convergence of technical skills, competitive exposure, and strategic thinking has better prepared me for my career.
