Each summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics acquire real-world professional skills through internships. In each installment of this series, an outstanding Lerner student will be profiled, sharing their internship experience, challenges they have overcome and what their future holds!
Kavya Beldona, class of 2023, marketing major with minors in advertising and international business studies, spent her summer as a leadership development program summer analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Beldona: I found out about this internship through a University of Delaware alumni who now works for JPMorgan Chase & Co. I decided to pursue it because I wanted to move out of my comfort zone and expand my career possibilities.
Lerner: What did you learn from this internship that you think you would not have learned elsewhere?
Beldona: My internship at Chase has provided me with an invaluable experience of working for a global institution that holds so much power over our economy. Aside from that, I truly love the culture and people at Chase which was incredibly special.
Lerner: What is the most exciting task or project that you have done or are currently doing in your role?
Beldona: The most exciting project I completed during the internship was a presentation about TikTok. For this presentation, I conducted extensive research about advertising opportunities on the platform and media spend, competitive analysis with other financial institutions looking to move into the social media space, and established competitive intelligence suggestions for how the bank can prepare to enter the TikTok space.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Beldona: I was able to apply my knowledge of advertising as well as finance, which helped me move forward throughout my time at Chase.
Lerner: How do you think this internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Beldona: I feel that this internship has truly solidified my passion for marketing and advertising. I now have never felt more ready to enter the workforce after graduation with confidence, knowledge, and an amazing network up my sleeve.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Beldona: My only challenge was entering the financial services space as a marketing major. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is one of the largest banks in the world, so it was definitely overwhelming when I first began because my only prior experience was in a small marketing firm. However, I overcame this challenge by asking as many questions as possible, even if the answer seemed obvious. This helped me become more comfortable in my position.
Lerner: What are your career plans once your internship ends?
Beldona: After graduation, I am joining JPMorgan Chase & Co as a Chase leadership development program analyst beginning in July 2023!