July 23, 2024
Jewel Herlong: Closing out her time as an Immersive MBA graduate
July 25 is National Intern Day. To help us celebrate it, Jewel Herlong, a graduate of ECU’s College of Business and the Arthur Graduate School of Business, reflects on her time as an inaugural member Immersive MBA pathway cohort, and her recent internship with CAPTRUST, independent investment advisory firm.
How was your time at CAPTRUST?
The internship has been a great immersive experience. Everyone at CAPTRUST is so friendly and welcoming. It is awesome being able to start my professional journey in an environment that is so kind and supportive.
I have also found many ECU Pirates among my colleagues, which is exciting. What I have loved the most about my internship at CAPTRUST is the ability to work one-on-one with advisors.
What kind of projects or work did you perform?
I was very busy.
An ongoing task was to update the pipeline of prospective clients for our financial advisors. This task included communicating with each advisor regarding their opportunities and how we can update the estimated closing dates or help them close the deal. This project not only allowed me to communicate with advisors and their teams but also to change the statistics of the reports for the type of opportunities and leads that are active at CAPTRUST.
Another project I worked on was to evaluate which financial advisors qualify for the Values Summit. The value summit is a reward related to the growth goals at CAPTRUST. As Fielding Miller says, “We are unapologetically a growth company.”
How have you been able to apply your immersive MBA education to your internship?
Before obtaining my MBA, I was very aware that businesses had to account for so many departments and details to succeed. It wasn’t until I obtained my MBA that I realized how every piece of a business is required to operate and perform. In my internship, I understood how these projects were making work more efficient for other colleagues to do their jobs and how they contribute to the success of CAPTRUST.
In essence, my Arthur MBA helped me understand the value of a business running like a well-oiled machine.
How has the Arthur School prepared you for your career going forward?
The Arthur School has been such an amazing support for me through the past year and during this internship. I have adopted a whole new perspective on the financial industry from a business standpoint. The Arthur School helped me develop the skills and knowledge to be a more well-rounded professional and has aided my confidence in starting my professional journey.
What’s next for Jewel Herlong?
My very short-term goal is to land a full-time job! Beyond that, I would love to work in investment banking and consulting! One of my favorite things about the financial industry is how many career opportunities there are. What I also love is that my MBA assists my perspective on finance, especially from a business perspective, which leads to my interest in consulting.
My main goal is to work for a company that allows me to pursue my passion and curiosity to learn more and experience those interests.
Knowing what you know now, do you have any words of wisdom for the second cohort of the immersive MBA pathway?
Keep pushing. Always be the hardest-working person in the room. Don’t slow down.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am thankful for the IMBA staff, faculty, support, and fellow students. My experience in the IMBA is an experience I would not trade for anything. As a freshman, worried about where the following years would take me, I wish I could have told myself I would have ended up in a situation as wonderful as this. I suggest that everyone interested in pursuing their MBA apply for this program.
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