Name: Millicent Auma
Class Year: 2021
Major: Computer Science and Psychology
Hometown: Nairobi
Internship Organization:
Job Title: Technology Business and Data Summer Analyst
Location: New York (remote)
Award: ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Internship Fund
What’s happening at your internship?
This summer I got to experience the intersection between technology and social justice. In a small team of three, I worked on different tasks during the nine weeks of my internship. For example, I helped the Tech Philanthropy team to organize and facilitate workshops wherein Morgan Stanley volunteers taught high school and college students’ basic fin-tech concepts. Additionally, I aggregate feedback on some of the user pain points on the volunteer tracking Tableau dashboard and collaborate with key technology stakeholders to optimize the dashboard and increase user functionality of the platform. I further performed a landscape analysis of nonprofit organizations within the NYC area that offer STEM education to underserved groups. The goal of the project was to bridge the diversity gaps in the tech industry and identify local nonprofits that address some of the challenges that bar these populations from pursuing careers in technology. Based on my research, I provided recommendations for potential partnership opportunities for Morgan Stanley’s Technology Philanthropy team to work with two local nonprofits.
Why did you apply for this internship?
Upon graduating high school, I interned in the Corporate Banking department at Equity Bank, Kenya. In this position, I worked with different technologies that helped corporate organizations manage their accounts from one portal account. This intrigued me to want to learn more about the fin-tech industry. Therefore, I wanted to work in an organization and a role that would give me this experience. The BDA role at Morgan Stanley gave me a stab at both the finance world, where I learned about stocks, bonds, and many other financial jargon, and the opportunity to learn and work with some of the most talented developers in the industry.
Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?
Going into this internship I was worried about so many things. How can I be professional in a virtual environment? What happens when my internet fails in the middle of a Zoom meeting? How do I network virtually?
Despite these challenges, working remotely had some unexpected opportunities. For example, while networking on video calls lacked the intimacy of in-person coffee chats, I was able to connect with more people than I expected. All I had to do was note down someone’s name from a Zoom call, send an email to set up a 15-minute chat with them, and guess what? Most people, if not all, were more than happy to take a break in the middle of their day and speak with an eager-to-learn intern.
The other perk of working remotely was I got to save more time and money than I would have during an in-person internship. While being confined in my dorm room was not my ideal summer experience, I was able to save on rent money and also got at least three hours of my day back that I would otherwise spend on the road to and from work.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Adjectives:
Evolving
Empowering
All-rounded
Nouns:
Growth
Social Justice
Diversity
Visit the Summer 2020 Internships page to read more student stories.