Economics major confirms passion for investment banking with Dubai internship 

Terence Mwindaare ’25, an economics major and statistical & data science minor, received an APEX Micro Fellowship to intern at Alpen Capital, an international investment banking advisory firm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During his internship, Mwindaare received first-hand guidance from his supervisor, Alpen Capital’s assistant vice president, Sufiyan Akhtar, who specializes in the executive end of transactions. With his support, Mwindaare conducted market research, developed financial models, and prepared client presentations. Mwindaare affirmed his longstanding aspiration to pursue a career in investment banking.  

“For so many years, I have wanted to have a career in investment banking, and it just reassured my interest in it.” 

—Terence Mwindaare ’25 

Q: How did you learn about the internship opportunity for your Micro Fellowship?  

Mwindaare: I searched for investment banks and came across Alpen Capital in Dubai. I reached out to HR to inquire on whether they were taking on interns. It was a good fit because it was a boutique bank, which would be great for learning due to the smaller team and better access to supervisors.  

Q: What interests you most about the work you did?  

Mwindaare: I was interested in understanding the processes of mergers and acquisitions. My daily responsibilities included financial modeling, research, and preparing presentations.  

Q: Who was your fellowship mentor and how did they help you to succeed in this position? 

Mwindaare: My fellowship mentor was my supervisor, Sufiyan Akhtar, assistant vice president at Alpen Capital. He helped me succeed by teaching me the essentials of investment banking and being a resource for the tasks I was given. 

Q: What are some skills you’ve learned that you see yourself carrying forward in your career? 

Mwindaare: Some skills I learned that would benefit my career include financial modeling, preparation of presentations, professionalism, communication, and many more. 

Q: How has the internship helped you to see what’s next for you?  

Mwindaare: For so many years, I have wanted to have a career in investment banking, and it just reassured my interest in it. 

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2024 on August 11, 2024.