If you’re an ambitious student or recent graduate looking to kick-start your career, participating in a summer internship can be a powerful way to gain experience, build networks and sharpen your skills. In this article, I will share my personal experience and key takeaways as a 2023 BAAM Business Strategy Summer Analyst.
What is BAAM?
BAAM is an acronym for Blackstone Alternative Asset Management, a subsidiary of Blackstone Group. BAAM manages over $150 billion of assets and is one of the largest and most diversified alternative asset managers globally. BAAM is split across four main verticals: Direct Private Equity, Real Estate, Hedge Funds and Credit.
The BAAM Summer Analyst Program
The BAAM Business Strategy Summer Analyst Program is an intensive 10-week internship aimed at undergraduate and graduate students who are looking to gain exposure to the alternative asset management industry. The program is structured around on-the-job training, with daily exposure to senior management, formal and informal training sessions, and a Capstone project.
My Experience
As a BAAM Summer Analyst in the Business Strategy team, I participated in various assignments, such as conducting market research, company analysis, and financial modelling across different verticals. I also shadowed senior management in critical client meetings, observed due diligence processes, and networked with various teams across Blackstone.
One of the highlights of the program was the Capstone project, which gave me the opportunity to collaborate with fellow analysts and present recommendations to senior management. The project was aimed at identifying investment opportunities in the fintech space. My team had to think outside of the box and leverage analytical skills and industry knowledge, and finally pitch our findings. The process of creating a presentation in front of a professional audience was intimidating but exciting, and the feedback we received was priceless.
Key Takeaways
The BAAM Summer Analyst program was an intense and rewarding experience, and here are some of the key learnings I acquired:
1. Always ask questions: During the internship, seeking guidance and asking questions was a key method of learning and being proactive.
2. Expose yourself to different teams and opportunities: Network with colleagues outside of your assigned team, attend meetings to learn and become invested in various verticals, and participate in volunteer opportunities with local organizations.
3. Stay informed about current events and market trends: Being familiar with recent news and industry research gave me a great advantage when discussing trends and discussing investment opportunities.
4. Aim high and do not fear failure: Always aim high in your work and do not be afraid of failure. Even when projects were not up to standard, I learned from the experiences and received insight for improvements.
5. Finally, remain humble and be open to constructive feedback: Learning to be receptive and accepting of critical feedback would only make one a better candidate and team member.
Conclusion
Participating in the BAAM Summer Analyst Program was a fantastic career-building opportunity. It allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of alternative asset management, sharpen my analytical skills, and form meaningful relationships with colleagues. Whether you are seeking to pursue a career in finance or are interested in building your network, I would urge you to consider applying for a summer analyst internship. The application procedure is highly competitive, but the rewards are invaluable.
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