Alum of the Month

Nick Agnew

Nick Agnew

November 2011

London Program

March 2010 Intake


What and where did you study before your Mountbatten internship? 
Bachelors of Science in International Business, University of SanFrancisco (USF) '08

What made you apply for the Mountbatten programme?
 
Wasn't really forced actually, I was willingly searching for a paid internship in the UK while teaching English in South Korea.  I had studied in Ireland while an undergrad, loved it, and wanted to come back to get some marketable international work experience in Europe.  I also had a hankering to get my foot in the door of an investment bank.

Describe your sponsor company and your role within it. 
I was hired for sales support for equity derivatives, then had the opportunity to do listed derivative ISDA documentation, then concluded my experience with project management experience in financial controls.

What was the highlight/most memorable moment of your working experience during this year? 
I was working late as the junior on a project management team, it was 10pm, and I couldn't figure out how to do something with Microsoft Excel.  I needed to finish before I could catch up with some other interns at a pub.  My manager came over and helped me out, then went the extra mile to tell other people in the company how hard I had been working for him.  That led to some guidance from a great leader within my current company who made some recommendations as one expat to another. His recommendations led to my current role in New York!

What was the social highlight/most memorable moment during this year?
 
The trip Mountbatten took to  Dorset was great.  Getting out to the countryside, rock climbing, walking through the small town, and having a singing competition with the interns from India over a camp fire was awesome.

Please share a little wisdom/philosophy that you acquired during your internship

There are people who would tell you that hard work and a good attitude won't pay off in the end.  They are wrong.

If you could change anything about your internship, what would it be?
 
I would have focussed a lot more on the technical skills required to work at an investment bank, like Microsoft Excel or the CFA curriculum.  That, and I would have saved up more money before starting my internship, as living in England isn't cheap.

What happened after completing the year - what did you do next?
 
I took a short trip to Brighton, then went home to Seattle for two weeks while getting all of my background information processed for my job in New York City.

Where are you now in your working life and what do you do?
 
I am an associate financial controller working with a crack team of individuals. We are keeping one of the largest handlers of North American core rates products reliable and trustworthy through trade lifecycle reconciliations and sound business risk controls.  I'm looking to progress in my knowledge of financial products, accounting, and build trust among the various interacting departments at my office.

Do you have any future plans that you would like to realise & what are they (career & social)? 
I would like to be a Chartered Financial Analyst, but more importantly, I would like to be in a position to help other people's careers the way my managers and mentors have helped mine.

Is there any other information that you would like to be included? 
Live your work, don't work to live.