PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T
INTERNSHIP |
photo: Christopher Gabello
“UBS is a meritocracy: If you take on responsibility and perform well, you will be rewarded.”
W
hen Seun Olu-Ayeni was in the School of Business Executive Leadership and Honors Program at Howard University, he was surrounded by information about Wall Street. With his curiosity sparked, he began to do his own research about the finance industry in order to find a job that synthesized his technical background and his interest in business. Seun loves the diversity of people and projects at UBS.
its events, its products and services, and its people. I can see five people from the desk where I sit, and four out of those five people are from different places of the world. That kind of environment is inclusive by nature. I love how supportive everyone is – everyone wants you to succeed here.
Q What attracted you to UBS?
Q What are some challenges you face?
A
I met a lot of corporate sponsors through my honors program, but I was really interested in UBS because they had a different approach to everything. They seemed less traditional and more informal than other banks: Whenever corporate sponsors came to do information sessions, for example, they would lead icebreakers instead of straightforward presentations. Things like that really stood out to me and set UBS apart from the rest. Q What were your perceptions of UBS
before you started working?
A From the research I had done about the bank, I could tell it was very large, cultured, and diverse. I spoke to Howard alumni who had connections to UBS and learned that it was a welcoming place, especially for new hires – almost a family-like atmosphere. These perceptions were all confirmed once I started working. Q What made you stand out as a
candidate for an internship at UBS?
A One thing that made me stand out was all of the research I did. When I
Seun Olu-Ayeni
• Position: Graduate Training Program Analyst, Group Technology, Group IT COO Office - IT Shared Services Cost and Business Management • Education: Howard University, Information Systems, 2012
A UBS is a large global bank, so keeping track of where you stand within the organization is sometimes difficult. The complexity of the structure can be challenging, but it’s also something to be proud of. Q How is being a full-time employee
interviewed, I knew a lot about the bank and asked relevant questions. I also made myself unique and connected with my interviewers to ensure that I was remembered. Q What did you learn from your
experience as an intern at UBS? A I had the opportunity to work in a project management role, which really enhanced my leadership skills. I also learned a lot about networking and communicating with people. I was always encouraged to understand why I was doing the projects I was, which helped me see how the work I did affected the bank as a whole. Q What's the best part of your job? A
Every aspect of the bank is diverse –
different from being an intern?
A Because I am a more experienced professional now, I have more responsibility and am entrusted with more difficult projects. The transition wasn’t too difficult, because UBS offered me a rigorous five-week training program. It prepared me well and allowed me to network with fellow graduates, so I had an instant support system once I actually started working. Q Do you have any advice for interns? A If you are confident, accountable and take on responsibility, you’ll be rewarded. That’s something I learned in my internship: My manager taught me that if opportunities aren’t knocking, you need to build your own door for them to come knock on.
Key Facts Future Coworkers: We’re looking for people who have the integrity, drive, and team skills to help us deliver on our promises to our clients. Our hires have degrees ranging from economics and finance to astronomy and political science. There is no one set of traits or background we look for; your education and experience are more important than a specific major.