Confessions of Former Interns: Sharing Our Tips and Strategies for MBA Success

Image

The MBA internship search is often full of both uncertainty and excitement. There are the late-night applications, networking calls and the moments of doubt before the first big break. 

To help our first year UC Davis MBA peers navigate this crucial phase, we at Women in Leadership & Allies (WiLA) at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management organized “Confessions of Former Interns.”

The event gave students a first-hand look at what it truly takes to find, secure and succeed in an internship. It focused on real experiences, from preparation and strategy to workplace adaptation and leadership lessons. The discussion moved beyond tips and checklists, offering practical advice and honest reflections from second-year MBA students who recently completed their internships across industries in finance, human resources, product management and marketing.

The Power of Shared Experience

Internship season can feel overwhelming with deadlines, applications and the pressure to stand out. The panel helped ease that anxiety by showing students that success is built on intentionality and reflection.

The session was hosted by WiLA Co-Vice Presidents Shubhi Gupta, product intern at Rocket and Prasanti Nadadur, strategy and business operations intern at Intuit, who moderated the discussion and kept the conversation relatable for first-year students.
Each panelist brought a unique lens to the discussion:

• Disha Gupta, president of WiLA and a sustainable finance intern at Delta Airlines, shared how aligning personal values with professional goals shaped her experience in corporate sustainability.
• Dalena Huynh, an HR intern at Holland America Line, reflected on how curiosity, openness and authenticity helped her build relationships and confidence.
• Rajat Jha, a product intern at Groq, spoke about embracing ambiguity, working cross-functionally and translating insights into innovative product ideas.
• Neha Shirshekar, a marketing medtech intern at Terumo Neuro, highlighted how persistence and strategic thinking drive success in healthcare marketing.
• Ashmita Kumar, a finance intern at Keysight Technologies, emphasized the power of networking and encouraged students to trust their process and stay adaptable.

Together, their experiences reminded attendees that the MBA journey is not just about landing an internship, it’s about gaining clarity, confidence and perspective along the way. 

Image

UC Davis MBA Students Share Their Best Internship Tips

• Cracking the Internship Search: Success comes from crafting your story and aligning it with your goals. Panelists emphasized “networking with purpose” and “tailoring outreach to companies and roles” that share your goals.
• Navigating Corporate Culture: Transitioning from class projects to corporate teams takes adaptability. One speaker shared that asking questions early, seeking feedback and staying curious helped her build trust.
• Building Confidence and Credibility: Panelists admitted they didn’t have all the answers on day one and that’s okay. Authenticity and collaboration matter more than perfection.

Leading through WiLA: Lessons in Empowerment

Image

For the WiLA team, organizing the session was both inspiring and fulfilling. 
From planning logistics to curating diverse voices across industries, hosting the Confessions of Former Interns panel reminded us that leadership is a shared effort. It's about collaboration, empathy and creating spaces where others can thrive.

Working together to bring this event to life taught us the importance of listening to different perspectives, empowering our peers to lead, and celebrating one another’s strengths.

Seeing first-year students engage deeply with the panelists during the Q&A affirmed our purpose: to connect, uplift and help every GSM student navigate their career journey with confidence.

What truly sets UC Davis GSM apart is its culture of collaboration. From peer feedback to WiLA’s Senior Connect mentorship program, there’s always someone willing to help you navigate your next step. These networks of mentorship and friendship create lasting impact and shared growth.

WiLA Creates a Space for Real Growth

“Confessions of Former Interns” served as a reminder that growth happens when we share openly and lift each other up. For many first year MBA students, it turned uncertainty into inspiration and sparked a mindset of curiosity and courage.

At WiLA, we’ll continue to create spaces where ambition meets authenticity, and where every story helps another student take their next step forward.