Alum of the Month
Michelle Terry
September 2016
New York Program
September 98 Intake
What and where did you study before your Mountbatten internship?
I did a Law degree at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London
What made you apply for the Mountbatten programme?
It was a combination of fulfilling the desire of wanting to study in America, and doing something constructive in my gap year given that I had more years of study ahead. I wanted to have fun but make it count on my CV.
Describe your sponsor company and your role within it.
I was placed at American Express - Travel Related Services (TRS), and worked as a Legal analyst in International compliance and Money Laundering prevention. I reported to the Global Senior Management on Money Laundering Prevention and International Compliance issues and prepared monthly Suspicious Activity Reports. I also organised the annual MLP conference and the first ever TRS Worldwide conference.
What was the highlight/most memorable moment of your working experience during this year?
Helping to organise the first worldwide TRS conference and entertaining the attendees.
What was the social highlight/most memorable moment during this year?
There are too many to pick only one, but any night spent at ‘The Shadow’ or Club NV with my fellow Mountbatten, Sonia Cupid.
Please share a little wisdom/philosophy that you acquired during your internship.
Live in the moment - a year can go quickly when you are having fun.
If you could change anything about your internship what would it be?
I wish I had taken more photos and lived more in the moment and thought less about the future.
What happened after completing the year - what did you do next?
I went to Bar School.
Where are you now in your working life and what do you do?
I am a qualified barrister specialising in crime and regulatory law, and Director of MT Legal Ltd (my own company). In my role as Director of MT Legal Ltd, my main client is the Serious Fraud Office. I have been instructed to assist with an ongoing investigation into possible manipulation of the money market. I hope to use this exposure to generate more interest in my services.
Do you have any future plans that you would like to realise & what are they (career & social)?
I would like to continue to grow my business and establish a brand both domestically and globally. I aim to establish a presence on social media, and offer more workshops for other professionals focusing on presentation skills and effective communication.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Loyal
Hard-working
Passionate
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I worry about not achieving what I was put on the earth to do and not ever knowing what that exactly is. Not realising my full potential.
Is there any other information that you would like to be included.
My year on Mountbatten was the making of me (according to my sister). It was the first time I had lived on my own - I found it hard to live with strangers; and the first time I had to do my own washing, food shopping and cooking (hardly)!