Internship Spotlight – Aubrey Steinberg, Royal Bank of Canada

Aubrey Steinberg is a Finance major set to graduate in May 2020.  This summer she interned for Royal Bank of Canada as a Sales and Trading Summer Analyst in New York, New York.

How did you get this internship?

I attained my internship with RBC through Wall Street Student Scholars, networking with alumni, and maintaining a close relationship with my Career Counselor

What was a typical day like?

My day to day changed every 3 weeks depending on the product I was rotating on. On average I would get to the office around 5:30 – 6:30 am and update the desk on overnight news, economic releases, and major happenings that effected the specific product I was working with. Then I would attend any morning meetings, take notes, and help where I could. Following that, the bulk of my day consisted of shadowing salespeople, traders, and research analysts while taking notes and asking good questions. If I was given small projects I would complete them at my desk, and work on my end of rotation pitch which I would present in front of my team, typically 30-40 people each time. I left the office around 5-5:30 every day.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of the summer was the sheer amount of learning I was able to do. I met so many industry leaders and intelligent people, so it felt like I was learning a textbook worth of information every day. It was overwhelming at times, but I am so thankful for the experience.

If you worked on a big project, please describe it below:

I worked on 5 major projects over the summer, but my favorite by far was the client project I did with one of my Managing Directors on the Equity Sales desk. I was asked to do a deep dive into our client data, and present solutions and findings into how we could better grow the account and make more revenue in the long term. It was such an amazing experience working with an MD who has been in the industry for over 20 years. He treated me as his equal/partner and it really allowed me to take creative approaches to my solutions.

What did you find most challenging about your internship?

The most challenging part of my internship was multitasking. As an intern, you’re expected to complete the assignments from your team, while also shadowing, creating good relationships, and networking with other teams at the same time. It’s a daunting task to undertake, but it taught me so much about time management and communication. Outlook and Google Calendar are my two best friends now!

What advice do you have for other students looking for a similar internship?

My advice is to be persistent and build a network. Network, network, network! In the finance world, your network is your biggest strength. Wall Street is a very small place and the more people who can speak well to your name, the better.

How did Eller prepare you for your internship?

Eller prepared me incredibly well for my internship. At the end of the summer, the interns were required to pitch a stock or bond in front of the majority of the trading floor. This was incredibly intimidating, but given my experience with presenting, I was able to stand out and perform at a very high level. I was able to speak clearly, use no notes, and feel confident, all because of my experience in Eller. Additionally, Eller taught me how to feel comfortable talking to people in the office and working in teams.

Anything else you would like to share about your internship experience?

I performed well this summer because of my time here in Eller. I hate to be this person and brag but my presentation skills, my networking skills, and my ability to converse and talk to people were far above that of my Ivy League colleagues and the company definitely noticed. I had multiple people ask about U of A and Eller because they were so impressed with how the school had prepared me. I can’t thank you all enough, I truly did well because of this school and the programs it offers.