Tag Archive: Business Careers, Page 2 | Business and Economics

Business Careers

Reece Smith Leverages his Major/Minor Combination to secure a Corporate Risk Internship with Fidelity

By Beth Ryan July 12th 2023

Summer of 2023 Internship Group at Fidelity Investments

Reece Smith ’24 is a rising senior majoring in Economics and minoring in Mathematics with a concentration in Law & Policy. This summer, Reece is a Corporate Risk Intern for Fidelity Investments at the corporate office in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

We asked Reece…

How did you find your summer internship?

I found my internship by going directly through Fidelity’s career page. I highly recommend going directly to the career sites of companies you are interested in working for. It saves a lot of the time that it takes to tailor search parameters and dig through results.

What are your duties?

As a Corporate Risk Management Intern, I work on the risk assessment team, and in this role I am responsible for 3 risk assessments, which involves checking with other associates to make sure the controls are being followed, and conducting tests to measure the effectiveness of the control. Along with that, I create surveys used by my team members for their assessment. I serve on the focus group for the internal website for the Legal, Risk, and Compliance department that will host many resources that aid in risk assessments.

On the lighter side, I volunteered to be the LRC’s point of contact for the interns in our department, assisting in relaying information to others and organizing events for us to attend and get to know each other. I recently organized a Ping Pong tournament!

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

I highly recommend this internship to my fellow students; Fidelity has a great, relaxed corporate culture, they will invest into developing your skills, and is growing fast. It looks like they’ll hire interns who are rising seniors.

What other activities are you involved in on campus?

I am a Center for Business and Economics Fellow, A Don Lavoie Fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, CFO for Allegheny’s Student Managed Investment Fund, Program Director for Allegheny’s College Radio Station, Treasurer for the Allegheny Ghost Club, and a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economic Honor Society), the Egg Detectives (Improv Troupe), and the Fencing Club.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

The Board of Visitors Offer Practical Insights for Life Beyond the Classroom

By Beth Ryan June 26th 2023

Members of the Board of Visitors on campus during the spring 2023 semester from left: President Ron Cole, Devone McLeod ’13 (Co-Chair), Anne Linaberger ’84, Anne Gearan ’85, Evelyn Pendleton ’87, Trish Lawless ’92, Lauren Odrechowski ’10, Eileen Webb ’06, Diane Sutter ’72 (Chair), Assistant Professor Tim Bianco, Stuart Armstrong ’81, Professor Tom Nonnenmacher, Naveed Ismail ’12; missing: Stacy Corbin ’89

When the arrival of the Board of Visitors is announced each spring, many students ask “who are the Board of Visitors?”…but what they are actually thinking is “what does that mean to me?,” “do I have to go?” and most importantly, “can I get extra credit?”

The real answer to all of these questions is that students who participate in the Board of Visitors day of activities come away with actionable information about how to approach getting the most out of their time at Allegheny, and starting a satisfying career. They make valuable connections and learn what’s happening in the real world outside the classroom.

Here’s what happens

Each year, members of the 20 member alumni Board arrive in Meadville to engage with students in a variety of activities. The programming is designed to help students use their college experience to achieve their career goals, and investigate trending topics in employment, economics and work/life balance.

According to CBE Co-Director and Asst. Professor of Economics, Timothy Bianco, “members of the Board of Visitors serve a three-year term with the possibility of reappointment to two additional terms. The Board of Visitors members were students themselves, and now understand what they wish they knew before starting their careers. “

He continued, “Devone McLeod, the Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors and the upcoming 2023 Executive in Residence, suggested that we consider a new set of topics for the morning symposium for 2023. We tasked the CBE Fellows, the Women in Business and Economics Club, and the Wealth Management Club with choosing original topics, and it was a huge success. Next year, we’ll continue to rely on feedback from students and Board of Visitors members to guide these topics.”

The day is divided into three main events, each designed to capture opportunities for alumni/student engagement and learning.

Morning, the Symposium

This year’s symposium featured a variety of topics:

Determining your Strengths and Utilizing them in the Workplace,
Breaking barriers: Navigating the Job Search to find an Inclusive Workspace (chosen by the Women in Business and Economics Club),
How to Cope and Be Smart with your First Salary, (chosen by the Wealth Management Club), and
Transitioning from College to Career.

Noon, the Networking Lunch

The Board then re-convened in the Tillotson Room in the Tippie Alumni Center for a popular lunch with students that combines good food with good conversation and a “speed networking” session managed by the CBE Fellows.

Individual Board members are invited to host a table; in turn, they introduce themselves to students and let them know something about their professional lives and their career paths. After introductions, the students in attendance rotate in small groups around each table, getting the opportunity to practice their elevator speech and make connections with board members.

Afternoon, the Executive Roundtable

Global news and events swirled around the 2022/2023 academic year leading Diane Sutter, Board of Visitors Chair, and CBE Co-Director, Tim Bianco, to re-imagine the Executive Roundtable as three distinct panel discussions with three specific topics:

How have Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Initiatives Affected the Business Landscape?
Global Economic Outlook: Soft or Hard Landing?
How has Generation Z Changed the Workplace?

At the end of this year’s event, students knew not only who the Board of Visitors are, but how much there is to learn about the real world outside of the classroom. Our special thanks to the Board of Visitors for participating in this high energy schedule of events.

Learn more about the Board of Visitors and who is currently serving on the Board here.

The Board of Visitors annual event is supported by the Earl W. Adams, Jr. Endowment, established by Allegheny College Trustee William H. Brown, Jr., Allegheny Class of 1980, in honor of Professor Earl William Adams, Jr. – teacher, mentor and friend.

CBE Summer Experiences with Kevin Lee ’23

By Beth Ryan September 5th 2022

This summer Kevin Lee went to Wall Street as an intern at Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, working as an Internal Audit Summer Analyst. Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of strategic advisory, financing and risk management solutions to help them innovate and grow.

How did the summer go? We asked Kevin…

How did you find your internship?

I’ve heard of Barclays and always wanted to work there, as it is one of the bigger banks on Wall Street. I discovered this and other internship opportunities via job notifications on LinkedIn, Google, and Glassdoor. I set the criteria for the type of internship that I was seeking so that new postings would be sent to my email. I believe that Google and LinkedIn notifications worked the best for me. I then applied to and prepared for every internship and interview opportunity that I received. I finally landed my summer 2022 internship at Barclays after applying to over 90 internships, and preparing for a bunch of 1st round interviews.

Furthermore, as I went about my summer, I learned that building a network is very important. On
top of the method, I mentioned above, I will emphasize sending cold emails to people that work in positions/ firms you will want to work for and ask for a phone call. Then, nurture the relationships with the people you enjoyed talking too. I emphasize this because having network connections is equally as important as applying.

What were you doing during this experience?

I got tasked with various projects that assessed the business environment within Barclays. One of
my favorite projects entailed auditing the U.S. Barclays branches regarding their controls for
financial crimes. I learned there are many different controls that mitigate this risk. Some controls
are related to assessing data for key reporting indicators, training, and key committees. I got the
opportunity to own the audit for the key governing committees that oversee the U.S. branches. I
researched, tested the data, interviewed key stakeholders, and wrote working papers to give a rating
to the efficacy of financial crime mitigation through the key committees. I also got to write two
global compliance update reports, which got published to the global Barclays Internal Audit
financial crimes, anti-money laundering, and compliance team. Outside of my work, Barclays
also provided volunteer events, so I also had the opportunity to clear out invasive species from a
park in New Jersey.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

I would recommend this internship due to the fact there was never a dull moment. I was learning
new things every day and I was surrounded by incredibly bright, sociable, driven, and intelligent
people. The culture at Barclays is one of their greatest competitive advantages and I strongly
stand by this statement. I would look into applying to Barclays if you are looking for a career in
internal audit. Furthermore, there are a lot of transferable skills this department can offer. It will enhance your analytical, objectivity, business writing, and client facing skills. Internal audit can also lead into jobs such as transaction advisory services, which can then lead to other opportunities such as investment banking jobs.

Kevin Lee is a senior, majoring in Business and minoring in Computer Science, planning to graduate in 2023. This fall, he will serve as a teacher’s assistant/ tutor for financial accounting and will serve on the Wealth Management Club’s board as an investment fund associate and career coach. In his spare time, Kevin participates in the Volleyball Club, and Club Basketball.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.

CBE Summer Experiences with Andrew Strobel ’24

By Beth Ryan August 8th 2022

Andrew Strobel '24, Richard (R.J.) Swanson '24 and John Fazio ‘20 at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta — Andrew Strobel ’24 intern at First Bank of the lake), Richard (R.J.) Swanson ’24 (intern at Koppers, Inc.) and John Fazio ‘20 (will begin Duquesne Law School in the fall) at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta in Norfolk

CBE Fellow Andrew Strobel ’24 is continuing his remote internship that began in January 2022 at the First Bank of the Lake. The First Bank of the Lake provides a full range of deposit products and services, along with consumer, residential mortgage, and commercial lending. The Bank is also an SBA lender throughout the United States.

How is the summer going? We asked Andrew…

How did you find your internship?

Andrew: “I was recommended from a senior who just graduated, Blake Gendron ’22, who was offered a full time position at their office in South Carolina.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Andrew: “I am learning about loan forgiveness and the processes of how small businesses receive aid from the SBA. I’m also learning about how to interact with borrowers on the custom service side and help answer their questions and get them the help they need. It feels so great to help get a loan across the finish line fully forgiven that helped a business through the pandemic.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Andrew: “I would highly recommend this internship as the team and leadership supervising us is very supportive and helpful.”

Andrew is an Economics major and German minor, scheduled to graduate in 2024. He is a student athlete returning to campus in August to play defense for the Allegheny College men’s soccer team.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Lucia Jueguen ’24

By Beth Ryan August 1st 2022

CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 at her summer experience at the American University and U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.

This summer CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 is taking a class about International Relations at American University, as well as working at the Small Business Administration in the office of International Trade in Washington D.C. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade’s mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

How is the summer going? We asked Lucia…

How did you find your internship?

Lucia: “I found the internship thanks to the American University’s network in D.C.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Lucia: “At my internship, I am learning all about small businesses in America, international trade, and finance. My duties consist of working with the finance and marketing teams to improve the business owner experience in the international trade area of the SBA. I performed research on international trade finance, gathered reports, collected and analyzed data, and collaborated with other agencies such as the Department of Commerce. I also worked on the creation of a webinar that will be presented in August!”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

I would highly recommend working at the SBA to everyone as getting experience in a federal agency can be rewarding and can allow you to find a new unexpected career path!

Lucia is an International Studies, Business, and Arabic student with a graduation date of May 2024. She is a CBE Fellow and serves as the President of the International Club. She participates in the Model UN, and is a Global Citizen Scholar.

CBE Summer Experiences with Morgan Libell ’23

By Beth Ryan July 20th 2022

Morgan Libell at her internship at Giant Eagle Corporate in Pittsburgh, PA — Morgan Libell in front of her office at Giant Eagle Corporate

This summer CBE Fellow and rising senior, Morgan Libell is a Merchandising Intern for the Procurement and Space Planning teams at Giant Eagle Corporate. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 40 on Forbes magazine’s largest private corporations list, is one of the nation’s largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $9.7 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading food, fuel and pharmacy retailer in the region with more than 470 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

How is the summer going? We asked Morgan…

How did you find your internship?

Morgan: “I found my internship through LinkedIn and through friends of mine.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Morgan: ” My job is to facilitate meetings with people all over the company to understand the seasonal merchandise process better, and at the end of the summer I will present on these issues and solutions I have found viable to make Giant Eagle a ‘seasonal destination’.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Morgan: “Giant Eagle has created a great environment for young people to grow and learn more about retail and various roles in general. I would happy to return there this January, if they will have me back. I would definitely recommend this internship, I would just try to ensure that you have a contact before applying. ”

Morgan is a Business Major and Global Health Studies Minor, planning to graduate in January 2023. She is currently a CBE Fellow and the past President and Senior Advisor to the Allegheny College Wealth Management Club.

News from Allegheny’s Department of Business and Economics: Winter 2022

By Beth Ryan February 17th 2022

Please enjoy our Winter 2022 newsletter providing a summary of a wonderful set of in-person and virtual visitors to our department and campus during the fall semester, an introduction to our fantastic Fellows, and an overview of some student and faculty achievements.

As always, I welcome your feedback and insights into our programming and hope to connect with you soon. You can contact me at tnonnenm@allegheny.edu.

Tomas Nonnenmacher
Department Chair, Business & Economics

Prefer a .pdf version? Download here

At the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics, students may choose to pursue a major in economics or business with each course of study applying the rigor of a strong background in economic theory with the added benefit of interdisciplinary course work that allows students to create a concentration that matches their personal interests. Like many related disciplines in a liberal arts curriculum, Business and Economics emphasizes oral, written, and quantitative methods in courses and seminars.

We offer students a program that requires a balance of theory and application in its curriculum. The offerings are a combination of theory courses, quantitative work, and a number of field courses that are also accessible to non-majors and minors. It is a program designed to provide a liberal educational foundation for citizen and voter, for postgraduate study and careers such as international affairs, law, business, banking and finance, human resources, accounting, marketing, education and public policy.

Mapping Out a Business & Economics Experience and Becoming a Great Business Leader

By Beth Ryan December 2nd 2021

Patrick Colletti, leadership and corporate culture expert, champion for “refounders” and author of the book “Refounder: How Transformational Leaders Take What’s Broken and Make It Better” presented his vision for student success during the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics Lecture Series on December 2. During his visit he shared stories from his two decades as President of Net Health and of the remarkable leaders who took struggling enterprises and made them better. He gave students tips on how they too can become a “refounder,” and provide the leadership to make any organization better – better for employees, better for customers and better for the community.

Patrick Colletti is a leadership and organizational culture expert, business growth advisor, champion for “refounders” and author of the book “Refounder.” He draws on his experience as a technology executive, scaling new and existing ventures, and a passion for creating amazing cultures. His growth-oriented guidance challenges social and cultural norms, both in the workplace and in the community. Patrick is passionate about creating and empowering the next Refounders — generational leaders and entrepreneurs who revitalize the places where they live, work and play.

During the second half of our session, CBE Co-Director Chris Allison gave an overview of The Roadmap, a planning tool for mapping out a business and economics experience that will help lead you to that dream job or acceptance into your ideal graduate school. “The Roadmap enables you to squeeze every ounce out of your educational investment,” according to Allison.

The Roadmap is a discussion guide for students with interests in the broad fields of business and economics. The real world changes constantly, and new opportunities open up every day. We created this guide to help students to start the conversation about their future with their family, Allegheny faculty, staff and alumni along with all of the people they will encounter throughout their college journey. Download the latest version at allegheny.edu/roadmapforbusiness, or stop by Beth Ryan’s office, Quigley #224, for your copy.

The Lunchtime Learning Speaker Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers in business and economics. Speakers often choose one of two broad areas to discuss with students. The first is career oriented, the second is issue oriented. Both topics enable students to navigate and explore job options, understand the steps necessary to pursue opportunities and learn how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Financial Literacy & Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Certification

By Beth Ryan October 5th 2021

Gene & the Wealth Management Club Board from left: Kylie Kasavage ‘23, Gene Natali, Morgan Douglas ’23, Jacob Dukman ‘22, Morgan Libell ’22

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics and Wealth Management Club welcomed back Gene Natali ’01 on Thursday, October 5 in Quigley Auditorium. He is the CEO and co-founder of the fintech company, Troutwood. Prior to starting Troutwood, Gene spent 17-years working with large retirement plans and institutional investors.

He is an award-winning author (The Missing Semester Series) who has key-noted investment and education conferences across the country and spoken in over 500 high school and college classrooms. He is a part-time lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh where he teaches Personal Finance. Gene is a Chartered Financial Analyst, holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in economics from Allegheny College.

His second book in the Missing Semester series addresses the most overlooked subject in financial-literacy education-investing. Primarily addressing students and recent graduates, its lessons are not laden with jargon; its focus is topics and choices that apply to most young people, not just a few, and not those relevant only late in life. The Missing Second Semester presents a call to action: You’re in charge. Understand the opportunity, and make the choices.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. The Lunchtime Learning Lecture Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers. The Allegheny College Wealth Management Club (ACWMC) is designed to create a structured educational environment for the Allegheny community. The primary purpose of the club is to offer participants a collaborative environment in which they can openly discuss and learn about topics relating to personal finance. ACWMC organizes seminars, panels, and excursions on issues related to investments, real estate, and credit.

CBE Summer Experiences with Arigun Bayaraa ’21

By Beth Ryan September 8th 2021

Allegheny students come to Meadville from around the world. Due to COVID restrictions on international travel last year, CBE Fellow Arigun Bayaraa ’21 found himself working in the late evenings and early hours of the morning on ZOOM from his home in Mongolia. We were grateful that he was able to return safely to campus, and curious to learn more about his summer internship. We asked…

How did you spend last summer?

Arigun: Last summer I completed my marketing internship at Tavan Bogd Trade Group in Mongolia. It is one of Mongolia’s biggest companies with over 11 thousand employees, 14 subsidiaries, and 4 investment companies. I worked there as a marketing intern and worked on projects like brand awareness, market research, and mystery customer surveys. It was definitely very interesting to work there in these uncertain times because I had the opportunity to work both in-person and remote in the Tavan Bogd Trade Group to see how the workforce is shifting and adjusting with the pandemic.

How difficult was it for you to return to campus from Mongolia?

Arigun: Due to the limited number of charter flights, I had only few available dates to fly out of Mongolia and that made traveling a little difficult, but I managed to arrive on campus on time!

What is your advice to incoming international students?

Arigun: I would advise incoming international students to be active and avoid being passive. Whether if it’s meeting new people or trying out new activities, I would advise them to seek discomfort to truly grow and enjoy their time. Personally, my proudest and most grateful moments were all once my greatest fear or uncertainty, but bursting out of that comfort zone really helped me to make the best use of my time here.

Arigun Bayaraa is a senior from Mongolia, majoring in Business and minoring in Communication & Culture Studies at Allegheny. He is a CBE Fellow, Global Citizen Scholar, and the HRA of Walker. His hobbies are archery, chess, and working out.