The summer between the first and second year of the Wharton MBA program marks an exciting time for students. After spending their first year acclimating to a new city, working on projects with new classmates, and building their network, students spend the summer putting knowledge into practice in their summer internships. By obtaining an internship, students have the chance to showcase their new business skills, and potentially secure a full-time role upon graduation.
Below, read how three current students are spending their summer and gaining valuable experience through their internships.
Simran Ahuja, WG’25
Corporate Strategy Intern, Humana
What projects/assignments are you supporting this summer?
I am working on the GenAI strategy for Humana across the insurance, primary care and home health business. The company’s goal is to realize $1B net value improvement through GenAI initiatives and I am working on identifying use-cases and to inform the build vs buy decision.
In addition, my manager is WG’10 and was very excited about my learnings from Professor Ethan Mollick’s class on AI that I took last semester and so, I have also been asked to identify internal GenAI use-cases for the Corporate Strategy team and build a business case.
How is this internship supporting your post-MBA career plans?
Through my work in consulting and as an operator in the healthcare space, I’ve been driven by the mission of making healthcare accessible, affordable, and understandable. My time at Wharton has been spent deepening my understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, and this role at Humana feels like a natural progression.
The payer/provider dynamic in the U.S. is unique and unlike anywhere else in the world. I see this internship as a launchpad to arm and enable myself to improve health outcomes for the population segments that need it the most, and to go deeper into the system here.
Elizabeth Niersbach, WG’25
Global Menu Strategy Intern, McDonald’s
How did you find your summer internship?
I used Wharton Career Management to navigate the complexities of recruiting in another area of the country (the Midwest). To find my role at McDonald’s, I primarily used LinkedIn to connect with current employees and learn more about the organization ahead of interviewing.
How is this internship supporting your post-MBA career plans?
This role will allow me to get tactical experience in marketing and consumer-forward goods ahead of my return to consulting. This is a brand-new industry and type of work for me, and I’m eager to learn if it’s what I hope to specialize in post-MBA. Working for a brand with a large global scale and diverse business was incredibly important to me as I considered my opportunities to really learn what it means to lead an organization.
Karina Patel, WG’25
Senior Product Manager Intern, Amazon
What projects/assignments are you supporting this summer?
This summer, I am a Senior Product Manager intern for Amazon Renewed, a trusted destination for pre-owned, refurbished products. My projects involve improving customer experience, enhancing product quality standards, and developing strategies to increase customer trust in refurbished items. I am excited to work on initiatives that drive sustainability and provide customers with high-quality, affordable alternatives to new products.
How did you find your summer internship?
I primarily used Wharton’s internal job portal to search for summer internships. I applied to all the Product Manager roles available, which fortunately included most of the companies I was interested in. After submitting several applications, I received an interview invite from Amazon. With the support of fellow Wharton students and the Career Management office, I prepared through mock interviews, which helped me feel confident in my skills and experiences.
Additionally, I participated in coffee chats arranged by Career Management and joined career treks to build my tech network. These experiences were invaluable in securing my internship and gaining a deeper understanding of the tech industry.
How is this internship supporting your post-MBA career plans?
When I applied to business school, my short-term career goal was to pivot from Consulting to a Product Manager role in tech. This internship is a direct step towards that goal, giving me the chance to experience the PM role first-hand. The mentorship and guidance I’m receiving this summer are setting me up for success in a full-time role and confirming my interest in working at the intersection of Product, Strategy, and Tech.
— Abby Behrends, MBA Admissions
Posted: July 25, 2024
