A chance meeting at a student conference opened the door to a summer at Latin America’s largest investment bank.
Gabriel Salvatore Xavier Saccoccio, a rising junior majoring in computer science and minoring in economics, spent his summer interning at BTG Pactual in Brazil after connecting with recruiters through the Brazilian Student Association’s annual conference. We asked Gabriel:
Where did you intern this summer?
This summer, I interned at BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America. I worked with the IT Legal team to help modernize systems that manage thousands of legal cases involving the bank.
How did you discover this opportunity?
I discovered the opportunity through BRASA, the Brazilian Student Association, during its annual conference at Columbia University in October 2024. The event included a career fair that connects Brazilian students studying abroad with top companies, and it was a great chance to speak directly with recruiters from BTG.
What were your duties and what did you study/learn/discover?
I supported the IT Legal team on projects focused on improving how the bank manages its legal cases. My work helped streamline internal processes, making it easier for teams to track case updates, deadlines, and financial information. I collaborated with different departments and contributed to tools that made the bank’s legal operations more efficient and accurate. This experience gave me valuable insight into how technology supports legal and compliance work in a major financial institution.
Would you recommend this opportunity to another Allegheny student?
While the internship is tailored for Brazilian students, BTG does have branches in New York and Miami. I strongly recommend attending conferences that resonate with your interests, as they’re a powerful way to connect with recruiters and professionals face-to-face, which can lead to opportunities you might not find otherwise.
Gabriel serves the department as a CBE Fellow, speaks four languages and is a first place winner in the Financial Literacy Challenge. He will study away during the fall 2025 semester in Madrid, Spain.
The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.