Name: Victoria

Year: Sophomore

Major(s): Economics, Political Science, International Studies

CFS Program: Business Field Studies

My internship experience at Kinzie Capital Partners, a start-up private equity firm in Chicago, has thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Coming from a social science background, I was very anxious to start learning the practical basics of business in the real world. CFS helped me achieve just that. At Kinzie, everyday is filled to the brim with unfamiliar challenges. Fortunately for me, my colleagues and supervisors are wholly supportive of my learning, allowing me to get hands-on experience in everything from marketing meetings to investment committee. With every project I am assigned, I become ever more familiar with not only the strategy of private equity, but also the operational foundation necessary for the success of the firm.

Although I started the internship with expectations of busy work and paper-shuffling, that could not have been farther from my reality. From day one, I took ownership of building out our internal CRM database, customizing it to track opportunities and to process actionable insight about deals. Yes, this may seem a bit unglamorous at first, but it taught me the ins-and-outs of Kinzie and the field in general. Through this project, I have learned the strategic rationale for passing on or moving forward with a deal, who our contacts are in the industry, and the importance of relationships in private equity. Being able to apply my political science / international studies / economics background and the research and analytical skills that I have learned in the classroom to my work at Kinzie was honestly unexpected. I have conducted in-depth industry research, compiled financial data to screen potential opportunities, and am frequently asked to analyze and offer my own thoughts on whether a deal is worth additional consideration. I understand that this may just seem like a meaningless list to you, but each assignment was an invaluable opportunity, just a few examples that highlight the sort of direct experience in finance that this internship offered.

As I wrap up my time with the firm, I am grateful to both CFS and Kinzie Capital Partners for the opportunity and trust that they have extended to me. Now, I am more motivated and assured than ever before of my professional passions and of the career that I hope to pursue.