Preparing for the summer

MBA at Sears Holdings Corporation in Chicago

Role / Function: Finance Senior Analyst; Corporate Finance
Working closely with a business unit, advising them on decisions based on financial information.

Hi! My name is Preeta John and I am an Indian student looking forward to sharing my summer internship experience on this blog.

I come from a background in architecture/design. Working in corporate finance is going to be a paradigm shift for me. The opportunity to work in retail is definitely exciting. I perceive tremendous potential to learn about the workings of a business unit in a large corporation. Most of my past work experience has been with small to medium firms, so Sears will give me access to a radically scaled-up and structured perspective.

As an international, this is my first experience of corporate America. I am expecting to be challenged and stretched by this internship. I also see tremendous opportunities for learning and growing, and also for going beyond the requirements to provide value above and beyond expectations. I believe my diverse background can be leveraged to provide my business unit with a fresh perspective.

The biggest challenge I face is embarking on a project in new territory while expecting a baby at the end of the internship. This internship is going to be a test of my ability to multi-task, prioritize and work with extreme efficiency. Somehow I am not nervous; just certain that I am going to do both jobs well.

I have spent a lot of time in preparation – getting logistics in order, finding an apartment, a doctor and a hospital, while also preparing myself for my professional tasks. I took a semester’s worth of work in Excel and a workshop in financial modeling. I feel confident that I have the basics and know where to look for the answers to complex problems.

Wish me well! I will keep you posted.