Alum of the Month

Jon Murphy

September 2012

London Program

August 2009 Intake

What and where did you study before your Mountbatten internship?
Finance, Texas Tech University

What made you apply for the Mountbatten programme?
Being fresh out of college, I wanted to have an experience that differentiated me from other graduates and would give me a competitive advantage in the future.

Describe your sponsor company and your role within it.
I worked for Deutsche Bank within their Central Operating Office, specifically the Business Management team for Global Equities Business Services. I was responsible for assisting with our division's headcount and cost forecasts on a rolling basis.

What was the highlight/most memorable moment of your working experience during this year?
I worked solely on our division's upcoming full year budget for a solid three months before the start of 2010, which required a lot of effort and revision. However, it was a great feeling to know my work was seen and trusted by some of the most senior managers in our office.

What was the social highlight/most memorable moment during this year?
Going to Wimbledon and British Open were great experiences, as well as being in London for the World Cup. Of course, travelling around Europe is an experience within itself.

Please share a little wisdom/philosophy that you acquired during your internship
My boss was a firm believer that everyone should endure the challenge of a learning curve. Being uncomfortable in the beginning paid off in the end as far as the amount of knowledge and experience I gained.

If you could change anything about your internship, what would it be?
I would like it to have lasted more than a year.

What happened after completing the year - what did you do next?
I returned home to Texas to work for my family's energy business.

Where are you now in your working life and what do you do?
I am currently pursuing a graduate degree in Energy Finance at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Do you have any future plans that you would like to realise & what are they (career & social)?
After graduating I hope to work in either the Consulting, Equity Research, Sales and Trading, or E&P Finance sectors of the Energy industry.