Noah Bay, COL & WH ’25, Washington, DC
This summer, I had the privilege of interning at TriSpan, a lower middle market private equity firm with offices in New York City and London. My internship at their New York office began with a week focused on refining my Excel, PowerPoint, and accounting skills through Wall Street Prep before delving into live deal projects.
TriSpan demonstrated a strong commitment to exposing interns to various stages of the deal process and the operational aspects of running portfolio companies. I had the valuable opportunity to participate in several quarterly board meetings, gaining insights into how private equity firms enhance the operational efficiency of their portfolio companies and foster growth throughout the holding period.
One of TriSpan’s funds specializes in investing solely in restaurant chains. My role involved close collaboration with portfolio restaurants, as well as the task of identifying potential chains aligning with TriSpan’s investment criteria. I assisted analysts and associates in crafting presentation slides for the investment committee. Moreover, I undertook a significant long-term project where I curated a presentation highlighting unique restaurant chains across the United States that merited further exploration by the firm. Beyond enhancing my PowerPoint skills, I was also engaged in a project analyzing five years’ worth of usage data from a tech company. This undertaking pushed my boundaries and demanded creative formulation of formulas, leading to efficient time management. The combination of these diverse projects over my 10-week internship provided a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted skills crucial for success in the deal-making process.
TriSpan’s inclusive approach extended beyond work tasks, with weekly team lunches, post-work social events, and even recreational activities like pickleball in Central Park. These occasions allowed me to receive substantial mentorship from senior professionals both within the work context and at these firm-wide gatherings. Immersing myself in the financial industry for the first time and spending a summer away from home enabled me to acquire numerous new skills while refining those gained from prior internships. I am thankful for the support provided by the Career Services office and eagerly anticipate returning to campus equipped with my freshly acquired knowledge.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2023 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
