Photo by Tracey Friedman.
Within days of starting her internship at Ernst & Young this summer, Sofia Elhusseini (Stern ’24) found her way to a meeting of the company’s Latinx Professional Network—just one of many forums for finding support and making professional connections on the job, even outside of the many events the Big Four accounting firm organized specifically for interns. “There are so many ways to network at EY if you put in the effort,” Sofia says, citing another example. “Staying in contact and fostering a great relationship with your recruiter can go a long way. My recruiter nominated me to attend a live audience taping of a global webcast with the CEO, and I was fortunate enough to meet him and introduce myself.”
Sofia with Ernst & Young CEO Carmine Di Sibio (Stern MBA '90) at an event this summer. Photo courtesy of Sofia Elhusseini.
Sofia is majoring in accounting through Stern’s BS/MS program, which means she’ll complete her bachelor’s within four years—in May 2024—and earn her master’s through a single accelerated summer that same year, finishing up in August. Her duties as a business consulting intern at EY include budgeting expenses, taking and organizing notes for meetings with clients’ c-suite executives, supporting clients through financial analysis and research, and assisting with reports and presentations. Through that work, she’s been especially grateful for the opportunity to hone her technical skills and familiarize herself with the latest software being used in the financial services industry.
On the job photos courtesy of Sofia Elhusseini
But the people she’s met remain the highlight of her experience. “At first I was nervous since I’m the only intern on my team, but I was welcomed with open arms,” she says. “I work with such a diverse, talented group of professionals that make me comfortable enough to ask questions, learn, and grow.”