Editor’s note: Students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and hands-on experience during the summer of 2022. Lerner College students pursued an array of remote, in person or hybrid internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.

Will Wallace, a member of the Class of 2023, is a finance major with a minor in business analytics, and he spent his summer as a mergers and acquisitions advisory intern with PwC.

Q: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?

Wallace: I learned about this opportunity at PwC through UD alums who generously gave their time, support, and advice to start my career in consulting. I pursued this internship so I could work on mergers and acquisitions and further develop skills and knowledge I have learned through the private markets club and my course work. 

Q: What did you learn from this internship that you think you would not have learned elsewhere?

Wallace: I learned how complicated the problems of large organizations can be and how valuable it is to solve them. I also learned how to take constructive criticism. I knew within the first two weeks of my internship that I wanted to work with the talented team at PwC full-time. I was constantly asking for feedback from my team and trying my best to improve in all areas.

Q: What is the most exciting task or project that you have done or are currently doing in your role?

Wallace: The most exciting task I had on my project was preparing materials and taking notes on our meetings with the client’s C-suite. Each week my work was being presented in front of key leadership updating them on the progress of various tasks in our group. I was involved in preparing a portfolio company for a large private equity firm. 

Q: What is an example of a time when you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?

Wallace: I was able to create two GANTT charts for the CFO and finance team to manage RAID log items the team was working on. I learned about RAID logs and GANTT charts in Professor [Susan] Murphy’s class which I took last fall. (GANTT charts and RAID logs are software tools used in managing projects, including by those who report to the chief financial officer or CFO.)

Q: How do you think this internship will push you closer to your professional goals? 

Wallace: I entered college and realized quickly that one of my professional goals was to start my career in consulting after graduating from UD. By working in management consulting this past summer, I was able to determine if the career was right for me.

Q: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?

Wallace: There were some challenges during the internship but I was able to overcome them by asking questions and asking for help when I needed it. I knew going into the internship a key weakness I had was asking for help. By focusing on this weakness and communicating effectively with my team, I was able to overcome this challenge and improve my work.

Q: What are your career plans once your internship ends?

Wallace: After graduating, I will be returning to PwC consulting and will start in the late summer or early fall of 2023.