This summer, I had the opportunity to spend two months in Stockholm, Sweden to participate in the International Internship Program through the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout the course of this summer, I was a Finance & Data Intern for MyTelescope which is a small tech company based out of Stockholm. MyTelescope has created an artificial intelligence tool that takes search result data from large platforms such as Google, YouTube, Bing, and Instagram to create actionable insights for marketing teams. My main project throughout this summer was to develop a use case for investment analysts and CFOs to use the tool. In order to gain an idea of how to prove that MyTelescope would be beneficial to investment analysts, I reached out to many coverage analysts at investment banks and firms who covered industries that would lend themselves to consumers in those industries searching on these platforms. I began looking into the music industry, entertainment industry, airlines industry, before finally settling on the hotels industry. I was able to get into contact with an analyst who covered major hotel companies such as Hilton and Marriott. Prior to having a meeting, I conducted research into not only how the hotels industry operates, but also how investment analysts evaluate companies discretely with different valuation methods, as well as how they use alternative data found outside of financial statements in their quarterly disclosures to determine if stock for those companies should be held, bought, or sold. Following a meeting with this analyst, I was pointed in a direction that helped me create a report that showcased the capabilities of MyTelescope. In addition to my development of this use case, I was also tasked with testing MyTelescope as if I was a new user. I identified ways to refine the onboarding process, making a tutorial for new users to connect MyTelescope to their AI chatbot of their choosing, whether it is Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft CoPilot. In addition, I helped to refine the user interface for both MyTelescope’s website and the tool itself. I also wrote a document outlining the security measures that MyTelescope takes to protect user data. Many if not all of these suggestions and documentation have already been implemented by the MyTelescope team. Beyond the skills I developed through these projects, I had the opportunity to get to know my coworkers very well and learned of all of the impressive achievements that they have completed throughout their careers. My boss, CEO and Founder of MyTelescope, Rodrigo Graviz, has been incredibly inspirational and somebody I look up to. Going into this internship, I was looking to use this experience to direct me towards a career path. I initially began at the University of Pittsburgh as a Computer Science major. However, I changed my major to Finance following my freshman year due to a change in interest. This past year, I have been exploring potential careers that a finance major could apply, including corporate finance or consulting. My internship at MyTelescope has provided the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work in a startup environment. I have learned that I enjoy working on projects that require me to conduct research, learn about new industries, and utilize data analysis to support any findings. This connects very well to a path in consulting. However, after seeing the path that my boss, Rodrigo, has followed through his career, I have begun to think about launching my own venture or startup, while pursuing a full-time career. MyTelescope is the third company that Rodrigo has launched, following other opportunities earlier on in his career such as working as a consultant for a major political party in Sweden. I was able to listen and learn from his experiences and the attitude he has towards his projects. Following these conversations and this experience in Stockholm, my ideas of what is possible for my career has expanded drastically, far beyond my expectations prior to this summer. Being surrounded by incredibly talented people who dream of building something unique and interesting to them is encouraging. My other coworkers at MyTelescope have accomplished equally impressive feats. This growth of what I believe is possible for myself in my career is the most important takeaway from this program. Academically, this summer has allowed me to make connections between the content that I have learned in classes and apply that knowledge in a professional setting. Although I have taken only a few classes within the business school, those that I have taken provided me with knowledge that assisted my development of the use case report. I was able to utilize financial accounting concepts when evaluating companies in the hotels industry. I also utilized machine learning concepts that I learned in Business Analytics to create a statistical analysis that made a connection between a key performance indicator hotel companies use to data MyTelescope provided. Living in Sweden, four thousand miles away from home, has also been an aspect of this program that has allowed me to grow personally. Observing and living a way of life that is fairly similar while also being vastly different has shifted my perspective. Stockholm is an incredibly beautiful city. The architecture is unique, the public transit is robust, and the locals in Stockholm, and Sweden in general, are honest, humble, kind people. You really feel a sense of community when riding the metro into town, walking through the main streets, and especially during larger events like Midsummer or World Cup games. This is something that is fairly rare in the US, unless you live in a major city like New York. Being from Pittsburgh, it is almost impossible to traverse the area without a car. You miss out on feeling like a part of a community in your day-to-day activities. Sometimes you gain this feeling during a Steelers game or Pirates game, but it isn’t consistent. In a culture that does not interact as often or have these moments of community, it is common to lose empathy or humility for others. In Stockholm, you gain a sense that others respect each other and are considerate. There is a common stereotype that Swedes are often cold. While they are usually quiet, once there is a reason to speak, they are very patient and kind. This aspect of life may seem small or meaningless, but it does make a difference, and it has become something that I value. Now, I am back home in Pittsburgh for the next month, until mid-September. I have the amazing opportunity to be studying at the London School of Economics for this next academic year through their General Course program. Although I don’t know exactly what I will gain out of a year in London or exactly what the future of my career has in store for me, these past two months in Stockholm have prepared me for what is to come. I am incredibly grateful for this experience, and I want to thank the University of Pittsburgh, the Global Experiences Office, and the donors who have made this program possible. I hope to bring the knowledge I learned through this program back to Pitt. This has been one of the greatest summers I have ever experienced, and I can’t wait to see what is next. Hail to Pitt!