September 29, 2021
In turn with Kelly Rawls, Jr.
We’d be willing to guess that Kelly Monkeith Rawls, Jr., can’t stand still. After all, it appears to be in his nature. He’s a self-described Army brat who’s been “all over the U.S. and even internationally in Belgium, Europe for a couple of years.” He originally started at the University of Georgia as a mechanical engineering major, and now he’s a senior in the College of Business’s Management Information Systems (MIS) program. Rawls also has a passion for traveling, investing and learning about business.
“At ECU, I’m involved with the RISE29 Program as an intern and plan to be in some of the upcoming pitch competitions pursuing another interest of mine, entrepreneurship,” said the Clayton, North Carolina native.
Rawls recently completed an internship a Sia Partners, an international consulting firm.
“I learned about this internship opportunity through a recruiter that reached out on LinkedIn,” said Rawls. “My responsibilities as an intern consisted of client work where I completed a Target Operating Model assessment for a mid-sized US Bank, analyzed loan operating systems and recommended process improvements. I was also able to contribute to the firm’s internal initiatives through work in DEIB events, marketing campaigns to acquire new B2B leads, and assisting with starting the firm’s Crypto Task Force.”
Rawls continues, “However, the most enjoyment from my responsibility was analyzing startups’ financials and pitch decks to decide on access to the firm’s third-party venture capital partners.”
How have you applied what you learned in your classwork to this position?
My marketing classes immensely helped when it came to creating the strategy for marketing campaigns.
What was the most challenging thing you experienced during your internship, and how did what you learned in the COB help you overcome it?
The most challenging thing I experienced during my internship was writing IP research papers. These papers were extremely research-heavy, and I was expected to write on cutting-edge topics in banking, an industry that was completely new to me. However, the classes in the COB did an outstanding job in providing insight into resources I could utilize for research. The classes also prepared me to write at such a high level and apply best practices with citing my sources.
How did you apply what you learned in BUSI 1200, BUSI 2200, BUSI 3200 or BUSI 4200 to your internship?
BUSI 2200 was critical. I collaborated heavily throughout my internship with multiple groups of teams. So, BUSI 2200 helped me to be mindful and intentional in being the best possible team member.
What has this internship taught you about responsibility?
This internship has taught me a lot about responsibility and how I work in agile work environments. I learned that great time management and keeping a journal of my responsibilities make a huge difference in staying on top of things and balancing my responsibilities.
How will this internship benefit you?
It has given me experience in the field of management consulting. The experience allowed me to figure out what I want to do career-wise, and it also has helped me be more competitive for entry-level roles since I now have relevant experience.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
Internship opportunities are the best way to figure out what career you want. Coming into college, I thought I wanted to become a mechanical engineer until I interned as a mechanical engineer in my sophomore year. That experience helped me explore what my day-to-day as an engineer would look like and ultimately led me to switch my major to MIS. After switching my major to MIS, I thought I wanted to be a data analyst until I got an internship in consulting, which led me down an entirely new career path. I recommend doing as many internships as possible. It never hurts, and it is essential to figure out what you like before graduating!