Throughout the summer, Colgate Athletics Communications will be spotlighting student-athletes who are bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world through impactful internships and work-study opportunities.

Background

• Name, Sport: Ella Mahaffey '28, Women’s Basketball
• Major, Minor: Economics major, Computer Science minor 
• Company Name: FIF Collective
• Job/Intern Title: Finance and Operations Intern
• Location: Remote, Event in NYC
• Company Name: Old Dominion National Bank
• Job/Intern Title: Commercial Banking Intern
• Location: Tysons, Va.
   

Experience (FIF Collective)

 How did you find out about this internship, and what made you apply?

• I connected with an individual named Atit Amin through Colgate's alumni database. Each student was paired with one alumnus to connect with. After hearing my story, he connected me with Meghan McKenna, a Colgate Women's Basketball alumna. She was a member of the team that won the Patriot League Championship and is the owner of FIF Collective. She explained her company, discussed its work, and offered me a remote internship in addition to my in-person internship, which was set to begin in May.
   

What does your company do, and what are your main responsibilities?  

• FIF Collective is a company that organizes events and provides opportunities for women leaders and allies in the finance and technology industries. The organization offers networking opportunities, hosts webinars and seminars, and fosters a sense of community through these events for professionals working in venture capital, technology, and finance.
   

Walk us through a typical day on the job. What does a “win” look like for you in this role? 

• Since I work remotely, I communicate with my supervisor and the rest of the leadership team through a group chat. FIF Collective is a small company, so team members often take on responsibilities wherever they are needed. Each morning, I receive assigned tasks via email, and I also assist colleagues with additional tasks communicated through the group chat when support is needed. My responsibilities vary depending on the organization's priorities. Recently, the team has been focused on preparing for a major event on June 4: a summit featuring speakers from 35 companies, as well as FIF Collective's two-year anniversary celebration at the New York Stock Exchange. In support of this event, I assist with planning and execution by managing event operations, attendee communications, and logistical coordination. I create marketing materials using Canva, coordinate speaker and registration information, and help develop event programming. In addition, I conduct research and outreach by building targeted lists of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Vice Presidents of Finance using LinkedIn, Apollo, and RocketReach. I have also assisted with sponsor coordination, venue sourcing, and other operational initiatives to help ensure the event's success. Following the planning phase, I will attend and work the event on June 4 and can provide an update on my experience afterward. At FIF Collective, success is measured by doing everything possible to ensure that each event is executed effectively and provides value to attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners.

Experience (Old Dominion National Bank)

 How did you find out about this internship, and what made you apply?

• For this internship, I knew I wanted my in-person internship to be close to home. I was able to use Colgate resources, such as Career Services, to learn how to conduct cold outreach, network, and find opportunities. Being completely open and frank, my father's friend in the neighborhood works at this bank and told me I should look into it and reach out. I spoke with Kevin, his friend, and learned about the internship. I then applied using my Colgate Career Services-certified resume. When I came home for winter break, I had a short interview, which Career Services helped me prepare for through mock interviews. I knew I wanted an opportunity close to home where I could learn more about the banking industry, gain hands-on experience, observe a professional environment, and network.
   

What does your company do, and what are your main responsibilities?  

• Old Dominion National Bank is a commercial bank in Virginia that provides financial services and banking to both businesses and individuals, with a major focus on relationship-based banking for small- and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and professionals. As an intern, I will rotate through the lending, credit, loan servicing, deposit operations, and compliance departments. We will shadow professionals in these departments and sit in on meetings at all levels, from loan board committee meetings to one-on-one client meetings. We will also complete tactical work as an intern class, assisting these departments as needed, such as correcting coding errors on loans, filing loan reports, and updating data in Excel sheets. Lastly, our intern class will travel to State College, PA, to learn about the insurance side of ODNB and the wealth division. We will also travel to various clients, businesses, and investment sites in different cities where the bank has loans. These sites may include large companies, real estate properties, or data centers.
   

Walk us through a typical day on the job. What does a “win” look like for you in this role? 

• I arrive at the office at about 8:30 a.m. I take approximately 30 minutes to get to my desk, organize my materials, settle in, and check my email. We typically have meetings in the morning that we sit in on and use as opportunities to ask questions. In the afternoon, we break into groups and complete assignments for the day based on the department we are working in. I leave the office at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A successful intern in this role is curious, shows up each day prepared with questions, and takes full advantage of the opportunity. Success also includes networking, getting to know other employees, and consistently working hard.

Student-Athlete Connection

What skills from your sport have been most useful in the workplace? 

• The biggest factors are time management and dependability. I am given tasks every morning and can take on additional tasks as I am able. When I am focused and working efficiently, I am able to complete more tasks and contribute more to the company. If my supervisor asks me to complete something by the end of the day, it will be done. As student-athletes, we are trained to work this way—we meet deadlines, stay focused, and get things done. Professionalism is also another key factor. Sports teaches you to be prepared in terms of how you present yourself and what you bring with you. If we have a meeting in the morning, you should have reviewed your notes the night before. Lastly, sports has taught me that every detail matters. The mindset that “how I do anything is how I do everything” carries into the workplace, and I am continuing to see that in these experiences.
   

How are you managing your summer training/workout schedule while working your internship hours? 

• It definitely has been a challenge. Balancing lifting three or more times per week, working on my basketball skills and getting shots up almost daily, and ensuring my conditioning is up to par is difficult to manage alongside a 9–5 job and another remote internship. I prefer to get up early and lift before work from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., which helps me start my day off right. I then train with my basketball trainer in the evenings. Weekends are typically off days during the offseason, but when you have an internship, they become an opportunity to capitalize on available time to train. Ultimately, you have to be efficient with your time and make the most of every minute. If I only have 20 minutes before dinner, I can complete a quick ball-handling session. If I know I have basketball practice right after work, I pack a bag with a change of clothes. It is the small details that make the difference.
   

How has your coursework here prepared you for the challenges of this internship? 

• Being an Economics major, there is not always a direct correlation to my internship work. However, Economics has taught me how to think critically, analyze trends, and understand complex systems. Additionally, global economic conditions directly affect how companies operate. My Computer Science coursework has also been helpful in terms of technology, as coding skills translate directly to Excel and other platforms. Beyond my classes, I completed an Excel certification through Colgate, which prepared me well for this internship. I also completed a real estate certification and a Harvard Business Online certification, both of which helped me begin to understand business models, financial statements, and the language used in business settings.

Reflections and Looking Ahead

 What has been the most exciting project or favorite memory of your internship so far?

• I am very excited to travel to New York City and meet the entire FIF team while working the summit. It has been a great experience working directly with their team, including the founder and CEO. I look forward to meeting them in person and will follow up afterward. I will also have the opportunity to network at the event itself. They are flying me to New York City and providing a hotel room. At Old Dominion National Bank (ODNB), it has been an amazing experience working with other interns. I have had the opportunity to meet student-athletes and outstanding students from other schools. My favorite meeting at ODNB was the loan board committee meeting, where we observed lenders present their loans and the committee vote on whether to approve them. That experience was especially interesting. I am excited for everything mentioned above.

How has this experience shaped your career goals?

• It has definitely shown me that women can work in the banking and finance industry and be successful. Seeing a Colgate women’s basketball alumna start her own business and grow it into a successful venture has been an incredible opportunity. Additionally, seeing women at the bank lead meetings and demonstrate authority has been very inspiring.

What advice would you give to your teammates who are starting to look for internships?

• Treat it like a fifth class. You have to put in the work—network, network, network. Send cold emails and connect on LinkedIn. Make calls and put in the effort. Then apply, apply, apply. The more shots you take, the more opportunities you can create. Do a little every day. It is a grind, but if you really want it to happen, you can make it happen and outwork everyone around you.