Collet Simonian
Class of 2022
B.S. Business Administration, Minors in Data Science and Political Economy
BWIB VP of Corporate Relations (2019-20)
Where did your job/internship take place?
Oceanview Capital Partners (Glendale, CA)
What was the culture/environment of Oceanview like? Did you enjoy it?
The culture was supportive, laid back, and centered on "getting work done.” The interns had pretty good hours; we would come in around 9am or a bit later and usually leave by 6pm, unless we had more to work on for the next day. Lunch breaks were often with all the interns together. I was the only female & rising sophomore intern because this was everybody else’s junior or senior internship, but they were very willing to teach me and answer my questions.
What kind of work did you do, and what were your accomplishments in this role?
With only freshman year under my belt, my responsibilities were limited. Initially, I mostly shadowed the older interns. However, this soon progressed into market research, reformatting financial statements, working on presentations for the portfolio companies and sitting-in on management meetings and calls. For younger interns, it's more about learning as much as you can through asking questions on the job.
How did you get this opportunity?
It was a combination of networking and doing my research on the company beforehand. I first messaged the managing director/founder on LinkedIn but didn't receive a reply. Despite this, I knew I wanted to work there and that he was a Haas alum. So, I walked into their office before the start of the workday dressed in business professional, with four copies of my resume, and asked to speak with him if he was free.
Note: This was super risky and I don't recommend it, but this may have only worked because I had two internship offers that I wasn’t going to be able to take because the distance was too far and I didn't have transportation. During my quick chat with the MD, I pitched myself and my experiences then mentioned the other offers and why I was specifically interested in their firm. This led to my invitation to a first-round interview.
What was your favorite and least favorite part of your experience?
My favorite part was being able to ask everyone questions and knowing they would either have the answer or help me out. I had my initial exposure to financial models, market research, the due diligence process, and client calls. Working at a small firm allowed me to sit-in on management meetings with portfolio companies and actually speak up if I had anything to add, which was extremely unique since at larger firms it's slightly harder to get those experiences.
What personal qualities or characteristics are important for someone to have in this role?
Definitely the #1 quality that everyone will likely echo is "willingness to learn.” This means asking questions and learning from your mistakes, putting in extra effort to produce high-quality work, and just generally being excited about the industry. Above all, try to avoid inefficiency and not waste time. Working well in teams and having a strong leadership ability while also being a good listener is also important.
How did this experience fit your long-term career goals/path? Did it affect your future choice of career?
A couple of the guys I interned with who were older than me are actually now my mentors and have offered to mock interview me if I ever need it. They've been a great source of encouragement and an excellent example of male allies in the workplace. As far as my career goals, I always knew I wanted to make change in the healthcare space (particularly in HealthTech). Now, I’m considering private equity more heavily as a way for me to explore that interest. I still don't know exactly what I want to do long-term, but that's what the next few semesters in college are for! As long as I'm working in different roles where I am always learning, I don't feel the need to put pressure on "choosing" a particular path so soon.
Is there anything else you would like to add, or any advice you could offer?
This was my first college internship. For these types of early opportunities, it's okay to potentially be unpaid if you can afford it and take more of the summer to coffee chat people outside of your company and learn more about various industries you may be interested in.
by Aiza Gill