What and where did you study before your Mountbatten internship?
Before my Mountbatten internship I studied Economics at Pace University in New York City

What made you apply for the Mountbatten program?
A couple years after finishing my undergraduate degree, I was eager to continue my education in something hands-on and immersive. I came across the Mountbatten Program and immediately grew interested. Not only did the program provide me with the chance to receive my Masters degree from a leading institution, but also enabled me to work for one of the world’s most recognized banks in an entirely new country.

Describe your sponsor company and your role within it.
I had the unique opportunity to work for Citi Private Bank as a part of the Global Marketing Team. I partnered with the Creative Director to develop compelling designs and marketing assets to drive client acquisition. As a painter and graphic designer in my free time, I felt this role had been especially carved out for me. I had the opportunity to blend my professional background in marketing with my passion for art in an environment where my skills were challenged, yet empowered.

What was the highlight/most memorable moment of your working experience during this year?
One of the most memorable moments during my time working for Citi Private Bank was participating in the creation of Citi’s annual Global Economic Outlook publication. This well-known publication is a massive lift and involves collaboration across several internal cross-functional teams. I had the absolute pleasure of supporting the Global Marketing team in not only the development of this publication, but also the activation of the asset itself. From editing text to reviewing layout designs and creating global presentations on the publication, it was a hands-on effort from every angle.  We worked tirelessly to execute the project and I was very proud of what we accomplished.

What was the social highlight/most memorable moment during this year?
The most invaluable part of my time at Mountbatten was creating friendships that are still going strong today! One specific memory I have was Thanksgiving during the program. As a US holiday, it was easy to feel a bit homesick in London, but a ton of us Mountbatten-ers got together and did a huge potluck in one of our flats. We all came together to celebrate and share our gratitude for being on the program with each other. It was a defining moment for me where I knew I had created some lifelong bonds and felt extreme gratitude for sharing this experience together.

Please share a little wisdom/philosophy that you acquired during your internship
Say yes more often. During my time at Mountbatten and living in London, I started saying yes more often – to trips, to opportunities, new things, challenges. All of it. You will never know until you try and with new experiences comes growth! While on the program, I said yes to doing a solo trip in Italy. I travelled to Bergamo, a small town just outside of Milan and had the most incredible time discovering the local spots and learning a ton about myself along the way. I look back and am grateful that I took the leap – it was scary but so worth it!

Would you have done anything differently, if you had your time over again?
Unfortunately my time with Mountbatten was cut short due to COVID and I had to return to The States much sooner than I had planned to. If I got the opportunity to rewrite those events, I would’ve spent more time traveling and exploring new places.

What happened after completing the year – what did you do next?
After completing my time at Mountbatten, I returned to my previous employer and took on a more creative role in marketing at Lumen Technologies. I got the opportunity to design new marketing assets with a technology focus and really challenge myself in creative direction and brand strategy. The skills I gained working at Citi Private Bank enabled me to work more with creative agencies and develop new content with purpose.

Where are you now in your working life and what do you do?
I joined Akamai Technologies in 2022 and currently work in product marketing, supporting web application and API cyber security solutions. Though I was familiar with cyber security working at my previous employer, I had never dived fully into the industry. I own go-to-market initiatives, building content assets, and driving field enablement motions across two core security products.

Do you have any future plans that you would like to realise & what are they (career & social)?
I’ve really loved my experience so far in product marketing and hope to continue growing in this role from a leadership perspective. On a personal note, I love to travel and while I have been to South America and Europe, I’ve never set foot in Asia or Africa. I hope to soon make this a reality, starting with Southeast Asia next year!

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Those that know me from a professional setting or even in academics don’t necessarily know I am also a painter and have been producing art for over 10 years! I’ve participated in several art shows and recently held my very first solo show in Brooklyn, NY last summer.

Is there any other information that you would like to be included?
Nothing else to add – I will forever treasure my time at Mountbatten.