SBS Blog > Internship: a journey of self-discovery by Chizulum Ifezulike

Internship: a journey of self-discovery

By Chizulum Ifezulike - Posted on 28 September 2023

Chizulum Ifezulike completed an internship at Morgan Stanley over the summer and here talks about her experience which became a journey of self-discovery.

I spent the summer undertaking a 13-week internship at Morgan Stanley, a leading global investment bank and wealth management firm. During this internship, I was a Summer Operations Analyst and, incidentally, I was also delighted to find out I had been named as one of the UK's Top 150 Future Leaders by Powerful Media, featuring in their Powerlist Magazine.

The internship was quite a journey, working 40 hours a week, and I can confidently say it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

Transitioning from the life of a student, where late mornings were the norm, to adapting to a 6/7am wake-up call to get to the amazing Morgan Stanley Glasgow office for 9am was an interesting adjustment. The shift to the 9-5 routine was hard, but it was undoubtedly worth it.

As a Summer Operations Analyst, I gained valuable insights into the working world. Surprisingly, I discovered that it wasn't too different from university life in terms of independence. I had the opportunity to take initiative in my work and interact with a diverse range of people.

Throughout my internship, I had the privilege of collaborating with my team on a mini project within the Asset Services Transformation Fleet Team, which focused on Corporate Actions. In Morgan Stanley, asset services play a pivotal role in facilitating these corporate actions on behalf of their clients. In essence, I contributed to finding the most efficient way to process these corporate actions through a single platform. Fascinating, right? It certainly was.

My internship was a holistic learning experience. I dived into the world of AI, tackled various processes, and became well-acquainted with multiple systems. One remarkable moment was meeting Mandell Crawley, the Chief HR Officer of Morgan Stanley, who travelled all the way from New York to our Glasgow office. I even managed to snap a photo with him – a pinch-me moment, for sure!

Most importantly, this internship was a journey of self-discovery. It prompted significant shifts in my career aspirations and illuminated my skill set in unexpected ways. I initially thought I was an Excel expert...turns out I was horribly wrong! This realisation was a blessing though, as it emphasised the importance of continuous improvement—a piece of advice I'd like to share with all students: never stop learning; you'll amaze yourself.

Another highlight of my internship was the vibrant intern community. With over 60 of us across various divisions, we had the opportunity to explore different roles and engage with colleagues from offices around the world. It felt like an international adventure.

Additionally, I found a sense of community in the office through the Christian Network forum, where we gathered weekly for sessions. When participating in internships, adding value wherever possible is crucial. So, I plucked up the courage to lead one of these sessions. I had expected weeks to prepare but received just a few days' notice (not the kindest surprise). While it initially seemed daunting, I'm grateful for the experience, as it taught me to excel under pressure and reinforced my ability to deliver quality work with limited preparation time.

My internship at Morgan Stanley was nothing short of amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. For those considering a summer internship, remember to seek opportunities to add value, be proactive, and never stop learning. While university provides ample learning, always find time to acquire new skills, whether through platforms like LinkedIn Learning or elsewhere.