My Experience
As a full-time summer intern, I worked directly with the research department and investment committee. My primary responsibility involved analyzing emerging investment managers through the firm’s proprietary database and drafting detailed reports that were evaluated by the investment committee. My research reports enabled Altura to have in-depth data about possible investment opportunities for clients readily available when they ask for recommendations. This speeds up the investment committee process and ensures a timely response to client requests and inquiries.
As a woman and Hispanic-owned company, Altura promotes social equity by promoting diverse and emerging small cap managers to some of the nation’s largest institutional investors. Many of these emerging managers are minority and women-owned thus promoting the advancement and inclusion of these communities in the asset management space. In fact, through its own breakthrough research, Altura found that small, nimble, emerging investment firms tend to perform better than their larger peers.
Therefore, given the firm’s mission, my work also promoted the advancement of minorities and women in the asset management field. Additionally, I also worked directly with the CEO to organize and coordinate the logistics and action plan necessary to market two new investment products to mid-sized institutional investors. Over the course of the internship I reported to both Jay Garcia (CFO & COO) and Monika Mantilla (President & CEO).
The primary skills I applied throughout the course of my internship that were specifically developed through the MBA program are in the analytical, organizational, and communication areas. As I had to develop specific judgment calls and supporting arguments for my views on the diverse emerging managers researched, I was able to employ the deductive reasoning skills used throughout the core curriculum. Moreover, when presenting my ideas to the head of research and CFO, I was able to enhance my communication skills and effectively understand the importance of laying a strong foundation of evidence to support one’s views and ideas. Deciphering the gray areas between what constitutes a “strong” or “poor” manager and acknowledging that sometimes one’s instinct is necessary to make a final decision also brought back many of the ideals I learned and explored through the leadership classes in the business school. Finally, through my work with the CEO in developing the marketing strategy for two new investment products, I was able to employ the organizational and strategic skills developed through the classes offered in the marketing and strategy core. Thus, the MBA curriculum helped me immensely to successfully fulfill my internship responsibilities.
There were several key challenges I faced throughout my internship. Firstly, working in a small business environment was a bit of a corporate culture shock as all of my previous employers were large institutions with hundreds and even thousands of employees; the most employees present at any one time in the office were 4 (including myself, the CEO and CFO). Consequently, the office had a very personal and warm culture, which while appealing took some adjustment. Moreover, seeing all of the intricacies involved in running a business was also very eye- opening and insightful. Juggling and prioritizing ad-hoc projects in the midst of my primary responsibilities was also challenging but I was able to successfully manage the unpredictability of the environment and hone-in on my multi-tasking abilities. Realizing that time was a precious resource for my supervisors, the majority of the time I worked independently which was both a blessing and a curse, particularly when I was learning the ropes and processes of the organization. However, overall I was able to quickly overcome the challenges faced and effectively adapted to my role and responsibilities.
This experience gave me a solid foundation for analyzing and evaluating emerging investment managers. It gave me the tools necessary to effectively assess manager performance holistically, evaluating both the qualitative and quantitative factors inherent in the investment manager business model. I was also able to first-handedly observe how a small business operates and the challenges associated with running a lean yet growing enterprise. Additionally, working directly with the founders and owners of the firm was an invaluable learning experience that provided me with great insight into the investment management industry overall. I was also able to gain an in-depth understanding of the technical and logistical issues associated with launching a new investment product and the various hurdles that sometimes evolve in the process. Working for a minority and woman-owned firm also provided a fresh perspective and heightened the value of diversity in corporate America in my eyes. Overall, I had a positive and rewarding experience working at Altura Capital Group over the summer.
