What I liked
Spending the summer with Deutsche Bank was one of the most rewarding internship experiences I could ask for. With a worldwide pandemic occurring, I had discounted my expectations for the internship and was pleasantly surprised at the Bank's ability to adapt to a digital internship format.
The HR team at DB was fantastic in adopting the new format, and every day we met virtually with various heads of the US and European groups, gaining valuable insight into the current market environment, and learning what it means to be a part of Deutsche Bank.
The internship was split into two segments: HR and divisional-specific training. In the two weeks with HR, we learned about the Bank's history, heard from various heads of the Bank's four divisions, and received training on financial modeling, market functions, working from home, in addition to many other resources.
During the second segment in the Commercial Real Estate division, I was given full autonomy to familiarize myself with the two case studies, construct an analysis, and present my findings to the CRE team. Additionally, we had regular meetings with the leaders of the CRE divisions, gaining valuable insight into DB's CRE strategy on a global scale. The team was fantastic at making themselves available to answer questions, give insight into their specific roles at the Bank, or simply chat and get to know one another.
Overall, I was most surprised by how many people have worked at the Bank for 10+ years. Initially, I was hesitant on accepting my internship offer due to the negative press the Bank has received over the years. During the internship, however, I was shocked at the progress of the Bank in addressing its past mistakes and implementing restructuring to ensure its longevity. I genuinely believe the Bank takes pride in investing in its employees, and it shows through the uniquely conducive work environment fostered at DB.