This summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and practical hands-on experience. Lerner College students pursued an array of internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.
Our “My Summer Internship” series highlights these unique experiences, showcasing how students translated classroom knowledge into real-world success.
Olivia Levi, Class of 2026 global business and business analytics double major, spent her summer as a beltway capital management intern.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Levi: I found out about this internship via LinkedIn. I pursued it by reaching out to the manager expressing my interest in becoming their summer Intern.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Levi: The most exciting task I completed was going on a site visit in Philadelphia, where I got to see multiple of the company’s assets in person and evaluated them.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Levi: I learned how to properly utilize financial and business knowledge, as well as entrepreneurial experience, to assist with the acquisition and management of commercial and residential mortgage loan assets.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Levi: I was able to apply what I learned at Lerner to my role by utilizing the knowledge I learned in accounting in order to properly understand and interpret financial statements.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Levi: A challenge I faced during my internship was not working directly with others every single day. This internship was a typical 9-5 p.m. desk job and I am very much a people person. I overcame this by keeping myself busy and asking all of my coworkers if they needed any assistance on a day-to-day basis!
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Levi: My career plans, thus far, are to go into pharmaceutical/medical device sales. I think this internship will push me closer to my professional goals by providing me with the corporate 9-5 p.m. experience that most jobs post-grad require!