Kerry Keefe
Duke University
St. Cloud Intern Reflection, June 2024
I am a rising junior at Duke University, planning to major in economics with a certificate in markets & management. I am also captain of the Duke women’s volleyball team. My parents taught me at a young age that it is vital to prepare for a future without sports. Sports eventually come to an end for everyone — whether you retire after winning the elementary school tetherball championship or a gold medal at the Olympics. However, the rigorous schedule that comes with playing a D1 sport often prevents student athletes from obtaining valuable internship experience during their college years. Internships equip students to take on the world after college, and after sports, by providing them with new knowledge, extensive networking opportunities, and a crucial edge in the job market. My volleyball team is required to report back to Duke every summer on July 1 for training and summer school which unfortunately conflicts with the vast majority of finance internships.
This dilemma led me to St. Cloud. St. Cloud’s adaptive and enriching internship program works to ensure that all students have access to internship opportunities, including people like myself who may require a non-traditional timeline. After a thorough interview process, St. Cloud worked with me to find a six-week period that didn’t conflict with my school or volleyball schedule, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.
The exposure, growth, and mentorship I’ve gained during my time here is immeasurable. During my internship, I logged prospective deals, conducted industry research for potential investments, contributed to St. Cloud’s annual Impact Report, and evaluated pitch decks from countless companies. I also had the opportunity to sit in on several meetings with financial sponsors, partners, investment bankers, and clients. My time spent with the team has showed me how experienced investors analyze a company’s strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of finance.
I want to express a special thanks to Managing Partners Ben Hom, Kacy Rozelle, and Robert Lautz for allowing me to intern with St. Cloud and to all members of the team for their mentorship. This opportunity gave me the strength, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the next stage of life, and I couldn’t be more grateful.