RF’s Internship Initiative offers opportunities to underrepresented college and business school students. We aim to recognize talented individuals, provide educational opportunities, and reward hard work.
As we wrap up Summer 2023, we are proud to send off our summer college interns as they enter their junior year. Our Internship Initiative offers real-world finance experience and private equity educational opportunities to promising college students throughout the school year. This summer, we had the pleasure of having Jing He and Sierra Brown join our team. Jing and Sierra are future 2025 graduates attending the University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Davidson College, respectively.
See below for a highlight of Jing and Sierra’s summer experience with the RF Investment Partners’ team!
How has your experience with RF prepared you for your future and the next step in the professional world?
“My experience with RF has undoubtedly prepared me for my future endeavors in the professional world. During the internship, I gained invaluable experience in financial modeling, particularly through working on a mini-LBO and building a comprehensive LBO model. These hands-on experiences equipped me with essential skills and knowledge in deal analysis and financial decision-making, which are crucial in the investment banking industry.
Moreover, the RF internship strengthened my research skills, which are vital for conducting thorough due diligence on potential investment opportunities. From learning about the stakes in a deal to receiving exposure to real-world scenarios, this internship experience provided me with the insight to assess risks and opportunities with greater confidence.
As I look forward to my investment banking internship at Jefferies next summer, the foundation laid at RF will undoubtedly be a significant advantage. The exposure to financial modeling, deal analysis, and research will give me a head start in understanding the intricacies of deal transactions.”
– Jing He
“Overall, my experience at RF has not only honed my technical skills but also instilled a deep interest in the financial industry. I am so incredibly grateful for this experience and the amazing people I have met along the way!
Before RF, I was uncertain about what career I wanted to pursue after college. I knew I loved finance; however, I didn’t know if I wanted to do Investment Banking or Consulting. After my internship, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in Investment Banking. I now know what I want to pursue a career and have a deeper understanding of the technical questions I might get asked during interviews, all thanks to RF.”
– Sierra Brown
What is a key moment from your experience with RF that stood out to you most?
“A key moment from this experience that truly stood out to me was when I encountered a challenging roadblock while working with the LBO model. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t seem to figure out a particular aspect of the model. It was during this time that the associates at the firm stepped in and demonstrated their support and dedication to our (the interns) growth and learning.
Instead of just providing a quick solution or telling us what to do, they took the time to set up multiple meetings to walk us through the process step-by-step. What made these sessions exceptional was their approach to teaching. Rather than simply giving us the answer, they employed guiding questions to help us arrive at the solution ourselves. This method not only made us understand the concept behind the flow of financial models but also fostered a deeper grasp of why certain line items appear in different places within the model.
This moment exemplified RF’s culture as a whole—a culture that prioritizes mentorship, collaboration, and a genuine passion for sharing knowledge. It reinforced the idea that at RF, learning is not just about completing tasks but about fostering a true understanding and appreciation for the work we do. This supportive and nurturing environment encouraged me to push my boundaries, learn from challenges, and grow personally and professionally.”
– Jing He
“Building the LBO model was the highlight of this internship. The model was difficult as I had never done anything like it before; however, it was a fun and rewarding challenge. It gave me the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the technical interview questions that I have been studying in preparation for investment banking interviews.
For example, by seeing how deferred financing fees flowed through the model, I was able to finally understand what capitalizing vs. expensing something meant!
One moment that I will remember from building this model was when Max took time out of his day to help Jing and me set up our cash flows. He made sure we did not just learn how to set up a cash flow but also why it is set up in a certain way and how it impacts the balance sheet. I will definitely look back at this model often, and remember all the great people I met and experiences I had during my time with RF.”
– Sierra Brown
Would you recommend the RF internship to other individuals?
“I would recommend this internship to others given the opportunity to work with an amazing team while receiving exposure to real-deal experiences. The lessons I learned from this internship will undoubtedly serve as valuable tools in my future professional endeavors.”
– Jing He
“I would definitely recommend this internship to other individuals! I can honestly say that the amount of learning I did on the job at RF was unparalleled to any finance course I have taken. Everyone at RF wants you to learn as much as you can!
Outside of work, I was studying for technical interviews and teaching myself accounting. I was confused about what goodwill was and in what circumstances it could be impaired. Even though it was not related to the assignments that I was doing, Tyler was willing to answer my questions. Additionally, after every morning meeting, the Associates would sit with the interns and answer our questions. At my first meeting, I was super confused by what was being said; however, by the end of my internship, I understood what was going on due to the RF team’s willingness to answer all of our questions.”
– Sierra Brown
