Owen Smith ’17

College: Vanderbilt University
Major: Economics, Art History, Public Health

Where did you work?
I worked at PwC in New York City within their Consulting Solutions practice. 

What were your primary responsibilities or projects you worked on?
I worked on two client projects throughout the summer within the healthcare sector, consulting to improve their business practices, processes, and operations.

What was the overall work environment and company culture? 
Everyone was so warm and welcoming, but most importantly, willing to teach me and  offer support. I was thrown right into client work quickly after my start, but felt well supported and set-up to learn, make mistakes, and succeed in the role! The firm does a great job with work-life balance, so while things were busy and fast-paced when I was in the office, I was able to separate work and log off at a reasonable time every day! 

Did your summer job/internship align with your college major? 
I would say about 95% of the knowledge I needed in my role came from learning on  the job, but I certainly had some good context consulting within the healthcare space  given my majors in Econ and Public Health. I can’t say the Art History major totally applies, but it definitely helped my writing skills…and I got to see some awesome art living in NYC for the summer. 

What did you find the most enjoyable or most interesting part of your job? 
I rarely felt like an intern and was surprised by how real and applicable the work I was doing was both to the real world and each project. None of my tasks were “intern tasks” or busy work, and rather, my teams really trusted me to act as a full-time member of each project throughout the summer. I also loved all my bosses, and the chance to meet so many awesome people who became mentors throughout the summer.

Was there a skill you learned at Mayfield that helped you do your job better? 
I think Mayfield does a really great job about helping develop the people-skills that can help set you apart. From being a good communicator or a thoughtful listener, thinking back to school families, 8th grade reach out, or being a 7th grade intern, there were so many things at MJS that helped me develop my interpersonal and relationship skills.

What new skills or knowledge did you acquire during your internship?  
So much: technical background, experience with a variety of software platforms, communication when dealing with high-level information, presentation skills, and more! 

What accomplishments are you most proud of from your internship? 
I am proud of my hard work, the impact I had on each project, and long-lasting connections I made! 

Did your internship change your thoughts or influence your future career path? 
I came in with zero expectations, but really loved my summer and look forward to continuing down this path!

How did your summer job/internship contribute to your personal growth or self-confidence? 
Dealing with many managers who all have different leadership styles, you really have to be adaptable, open to feedback, and willing to learn and grow. You learn that it's okay to make mistakes, and you inevitably will since this is something you have never done before, but it's so important how you adapt, grow, and respond, which honestly probably matters the most!