Summer internships are a classic way for MBAs to explore new industries and gain valuable experience from leading high-impact projects. The summer of 2021 is no exception, with our HEC Paris MBA students securing great posts worldwide in everything from e-commerce to private equity investing. We caught up with a few students to find out more about their summer plans, and how the work they are doing now ties into their future goals.

 

Saumya Ailawadi, Senior Category Merchant Manager, Amazon Fashion, Amazon MBA Launch program; London, UK

I’m a globe-trotter who worked in e-commerce in the Middle East and India before beginning my studies at the HEC Paris MBA. I started my career as an entrepreneur and then worked in a sales management function for one of Dubai’s biggest e-commerce platforms. As part of the company’s foundational team, I helped establish the fashion business in UAE and later expanded it to Saudi Arabia.

How did you learn about the internship?

I attended Amazon’s presentation during the MBA Internship Day hosted by the HEC Career Center, then decided to apply. The process involved a CV submission, an online test, and four interviews.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

After the MBA, I hope to work in Business Development and Strategy functions in the e-commerce industry, and my current role at Amazon serves as a test-run for this goal. I also want to live and work in the UK after completing my MBA, so this role helps me test out many of my short-term objectives.

Will it be in person or remote? 

The internship will operate on a hybrid model, and I’ll be spending the summer in London.

 

Jules Chasles, Venture Capital Analyst Intern, Global Ventures; Dubai, UAE

Originally from France, I completed a Bachelor’s Degree at Warwick Business School in the United Kingdom, and a Masters’ Degree at Bocconi University in Milan. Afterward, I pursued my career in Africa for two years before joining the MBA. I started at AfricInvest, a leading private equity fund, working in their Tunisian and Côte d’Ivoire offices. Next I joined Outlierz Ventures, a Morocco-based seed-capital fund. HEC Paris is the perfect opportunity to broaden my skills in a very entrepreneurial environment, while working closely with more experienced people in order to grow.

How did you learn about the internship?

I was looking for summer internships in private equity and venture capital funds and came across Global Ventures’ offer on LinkedIn. Global Ventures is a Dubai-based venture-capital fund investing in tech startups in the Middle East and Africa. The role was a perfect fit with my previous experience and the skills I wanted to develop this summer. I decided to apply and to send my CV and cover letter and I passed the different interview rounds. I really felt an amazing fit with the interviewers throughout the process. During one of the recruiting rounds, I had the opportunity to build an investment memo for one of their investments, using what I learned at HEC Paris. This is where I really saw the added value of the MBA program, teaching me practical skills in addition to academic ones.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals? 

Venture capital is one of my top priorities post-MBA, as I enjoy working closely with entrepreneurs and investing in their ideas. I really enjoyed my work at Outlierz Ventures in Morocco, but I wanted to move to a bigger fund that operates in more markets. Dubai would be one of my target locations post-MBA as well, so this aspect fit my goals as well.

The internship will also allow me to build knowledge through training sessions and keynotes with experienced entrepreneurs and investors in the venture-capital industry.

Will it be in person or remote?  

I am currently doing the internship remotely. That allows me to work while still traveling abroad for the entire summer. I realize this might be the last time I am able to travel like this for long time. 🙂

 

Aditya Dangi, Summer Associate at Bain & Company; Brussels, Belgium

I started my career in the sales/consulting space around Banking recruitment, which made me realize that I wanted to move into a role in finance. With medium-term plans of applying to an international MBA program, I was geographically flexible. I bid adieu to Singapore where I had lived for 10+ years, and moved to Mumbai where I completed two levels of CFA and GMAT while working at a start-up. Then I joined Citi Mumbai’s Investment Banking team where I supported the Industrials sector with a focus on Automotive and Heavy Industrials. I have always worked in professional-services industries, as I love interacting with clients. I am also deeply motivated by social causes, and over the last few years have been fortunate to work with social enterprises across Asia.

 

How did you learn about the internship?

I learned about Bain through several events, some of which took place pre-MBA. Those Pre-MBA events included Experience Bain and connecting with consultants. While at HEC, I was fortunate to attend virtual coffee chats organized by the MBA’s Consulting Club, and most notably, Bain’s Bridge to EMEA event. These events introduced me to strategy consulting, which I found very engaging, and also connected me with current Bain employees who were extremely helpful and informative. I followed this up with my own networking, and applied to Bain on their portal in December 2020. Extensive case cracking and interview practice throughout December, followed by several rounds of interviews, yielded an internship offer in January 2021.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

My future goals involve me working in Europe in a professional services firm, and Bain is one of the best companies to learn and grow at! The firm is extremely dedicated to its employees’ personal and professional growth, and I hope that during my internship I can work with some of the smartest consultants on exciting projects. The 10-week internship will introduce me to consulting best-practices, and prepare me for a full-time role at Bain starting January.

Will it be in person or remote? 

The Brussels office is just opening up, and Bain has allowed its employees to decide what works best for them. I will definitely try to be in Brussels and the office as much as I can, to  meet the team and get to know them.

 

Willem Els, Summer Associate, African Rainbow Capital; Cape Town, South Africa

Prior to the MBA, I worked as a Finance Business Partner for Maersk. There, I was responsible for executing strategic projects, trade finance, improving market share, P&L management and measuring KPI’s.

How did you learn about the internship?

I secured the internship through my personal networking and by speaking to various professionals in the private-equity industry. You have to work hard and put in extra hours to create the best possible chance for yourself of working in this industry. I also received offers in Germany and decided that African Rainbow Capital in South Africa is the best option for an internship and for my future career goals.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

I will work in the deal team, and assist with portfolio companies. I hope to gain some solid deal experience, improve my knowledge about specific industries and enhance my sense for good business opportunities. The internship fits perfectly with my plans to pursue a career in private equity/investments with a specific focus on Africa.

 

Jean-Pierre Godeme, Investment Officer – Financial Institutions Group (FIG) – Proparco, Groupe Agence Francaise de Développement; Paris, France

I’m a seasoned finance professional with experience in managing a lending portfolio. Pre-MBA, I was working in a bank in Toronto, Canada, where I managed a lending portfolio of medium & large corporate customers. “During my summer break, I would like to experience something different than my pre-MBA job, something that would directly impact people’s lives.”  I remember telling myself this sentence over one year ago and I am glad I was able to make it happen this summer.

How did you learn about the internship?

There is great career networking happening in the WhatsApp groups we’ve created for several of the MBA Clubs, with both current students and alumni posting interesting jobs for each other. For this particular internship, I saw the posting online and decided to apply.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

When I was younger, a member of my family was defrauded by a financial Ponzi scheme. Throughout that episode, I understood the financial loss and emotional burden this could cause and how people had used “Finance” in the wrong way. I then promised myself to one day use “Finance” for the greater good to help improve people’s lives. It’s with that goal in mind I decided to join an Impact Investing firm over the summer. Working in the FIG department provides me with the opportunity to work on deals and invest in financial institutions that lend to a specific part of the population or target programs designed to improve gender financing or have a social impact in the community. This internship ties in well with my MBA Project which is looking to tackle two very important topics to me: Gender & Climate financing.

Will it be in person or remote?

Both. It’s hybrid, following France’s COVID regulations regarding working from home.

 

Katrina Brooke Lam Guidon, Marketing Strategy Intern, Fonteyne the Kitchen; Brussels, Belgium

I’m originally from Singapore, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. I subsequently worked for EY Singapore for nearly two years before networking my way into another job at EY New York. After living in New York for five years and being promoted to a managerial position, I left to start my MBA at HEC Paris. After working in the areas of international tax and transfer pricing, I am looking to pivot into something a bit less niche through the MBA.

How did you learn about the internship?

Through the HEC Paris alumni network! A former Grande Ecole student had used his HEC address to send an email to the entire school, asking for a marketing intern. Even though I had no prior marketing experience, I was interested in exploring it, so I decided to take a chance and respond with my CV. To my pleasant surprise, he responded in turn. We had an interview and I worked on a case study, after which he hired me – all within my first two months at the MBA!

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

Marketing is among the post-MBA roles I am interested in exploring. Since I didn’t have any prior experience in it, this is a great opportunity for me to see if I like it. Furthermore, the internship is in Brussels, so I’m practicing my French! I am currently at a B2 level in French and hope to be a C1 by the end of the year. I also love food, so I am most definitely passionate about the products the company is selling, to say the least. 😉

Will it be in person or remote? 

I am currently doing the internship in person – it’s strange having to wake up early and go to the office every day again!

 

Rafael Lima, MBA International Recruitment and Development Program, Johnson & Johnson; Argentina

My previous experience was in a tech startup, as a Product Manager, and in a boutique strategy consulting company, as a Management Consultant in FMCG and Medical Devices.

How did you learn about the internship?

My first encounter with Johnson & Johnson was in early 2021, when they presented their program during an online event organized for students by the HEC Paris Career Center. They announced many summer internship positions across the world, all under the scope of the International Recruitment and Development Program (IRDP) for MBAs. I applied to a couple of countries and, in a few weeks, I was having my first interview for Argentina (my former country of residence). The process was really smooth and I felt the passion of the recruiters about the company. During the first interview, I also had the opportunity to choose between several available roles as I continued to advance in the process.

How does this internship apply toward your future career goals?

I am really interested in breaking into a new industry (pharma) and in working for a multinational company where I can envision my career on a growth path. I hope to pave the way for a full-time position in the future.

Will it be in person or remote? 

I started my 10-week online experience on June 14, and will finish it just in time for Term 4 courses. J&J was also really flexible in terms of dates, so I had the opportunity to choose my starting date and the duration of the internship (between 8 to 12 weeks).