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BizBuzz Internship program paves student’s way to Wall Street.
Adriana Perez can’t say enough good things about the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) program. Perez, who currently is an analyst in the Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities division of Goldman Sachs, credits the program with giving her entrée into the prestigious world of Wall Street. A college International Business Honors (IB Honors) senior who has completed her coursework and will graduate in May, Perez helps develop strategies that enable Latin Américan companies to capitalize on market changes and says she “learns something new every day about finance, the economy, and the inner workings of investment banking.” She is grateful for what she deems an “amazing opportunity” that will bolster her future career prospects. And she says it was all made possible by her involvement in SEO. SEO provides paid summer internships in accounting, asset management, investment banking, and other fields for students of color, with the goal of facilitating full-time job offers. Interns are paid $600 to $1,000 a week, depending on the industry, and are paired with mentors who provide support and guidance throughout the internship process. Firm captains—alumni of the program who work at company sites—counsel interns, organize networking meetings and social outings, and help facilitate job offers. Business school mentor plays critical role. Perez found out about the program through her College of Business Administration's mentor, Demian Bellumio (BBA ’00), chair of the Alumni Circle and president, Hoodiny Entertainment Group. Though not an SEO alumnus himself, Bellumio knew of the program and thought Perez would be a natural fit. To help her prepare for the program, he offered her an investment banking internship at Terremark in the summer of 2005.
Perez performed her SEO internship at the New York offices of Deutsche Bank the following summer. Prior to her start date, she took required online classes in securities markets, economic indicators, and other subjects. Once in New York, she participated in SEO-sponsored workshops to enhance her professional skills. “This training gave us an edge over other interns and really boosted our confidence,” Perez said. She added that being an SEO intern on Wall Street carries a lot of caché, particularly because of the rigorous standards of the program and the extensive preparation that each intern receives. “My experience with SEO has made all the difference in the world,” Perez said. “I have a great job, a valuable network, and have benefited from an incredible training process.” She thinks that what distinguishes the program from other internships is the level of investment in each intern and the focus on ensuring their success, not only in the program, but also in their careers. She encourages other students to consider the myriad benefits of an SEO internship and plans to become a mentor herself. Student urges others to advance careers through program. “I think the program offers a great opportunity to launch your career,” she said. “And by participating, we also let SEO know about the talented individuals coming out of the college.” Does she think she could have made it to Wall Street without SEO? “They say where there’s a will there’s a way,” Perez said. “But it definitely would have been a lot harder.” For more information on the SEO program, visit http://www.seo-usa.org/default.asp. Also, if you would like to find out more information from Perez, contact her at adriana.perez1@gmail.com. |
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