Hello! I’m Sarah Dudley and this week I started my summer internship at Monticello Consulting Group. I am an incoming high school senior at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. I am very excited to be working at Monticello this summer, as I have the opportunity to learn from a team of Consulting and Finance experts. I am hoping to major in finance in college, and interning at Monticello has already given me a glimpse into life on Wall Street.
This summer internship, however, is unlike any internship that I have had before. Due to the pandemic, we are working remotely, so it is a virtual internship. My first day was very interesting, as I was setting up my laptop at home with IT support on the phone, as opposed to in person. There are many challenges that come alongside a solely virtual internship. For example, I have never worked with the team in person, and I will never fully understand the office dynamic. However, this experience could very likely reflect the future of the finance world. The pandemic has made us realize how much can be done remotely. Typically, a summer internship would require one live in the city for the summer, but the current circumstances allow for work to be done from anywhere. On the bright side, I have avoided a nightmare of a commute from upstate NY and fully embrace the new virtual workplace that so far has had no negative impact on my daily work schedule.
This summer I am hoping to gain a deeper understanding of finance world, especially regarding client relationship management and marketing and communications. My past internships have never given me the opportunity to work in the finance world, and I am looking forward to the experience and knowledge I will gain this summer. I am also looking forward to meeting with my mentor, Tulsi Patel. Tulsi is experienced in the finance field as a project manager, and as a woman in finance, I am excited to hear what advice she has.
During my first week, I began working alongside Alan Scott, the Director of Operations. We are currently working on our marketing strategy and external website. A company’s capabilities and digital presence must remain current in these fast-changing times, so it is vital to focus on the big picture along with the smaller details to connect with the interests of various stakeholders. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to update the website to support our customers, potential new hires, current staff and others who aim to learn more about Monticello. This summer I will also learn more about SEO, or Search Engine Optimization to drive visitors to our site to further expand our brand across the financial services industry.
Another project that I will be working on this summer is Recruiting Marketing Research. For this project I will be working alongside Chris Morgan, Recruitment Manager. It is important for companies to offer competitive compensation package and I am looking forward to learning more about the market for consulting roles in financial services.
Overall, I am very excited for this summer and I am looking forward to the experiences my internship will bring. I am very lucky to have this opportunity, despite the pandemic, and I am going to benefit greatly from the ability to work closely with professionals who have dedicated their lives to the field I wish to study.