Lincoln National : Several Lincoln Financial Interns Share the Value of their Summer Experience and Lessons Learned

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Several Lincoln Financial Interns Share the Value of their Summer Experience and Lessons Learned

28 July 2022

"I want to walk away with results that have made a positive impact on the team and the company, even after my internship is over."

That's the goal of Emma Chan, a rising senior at Penn State University who is interning with Lincoln Financial's Corporate Brand Strategy team. She is one of 149 interns who joined the company this summer.

Her responsibilities included conducting competitor market research, organizing data and shadowing meetings with advertising agencies. Initially attracted to the robust internship program and Lincoln's employee-focused culture, Chan was inspired by the meaningful work and activism Lincoln participates in through the Lincoln Financial Foundation.

Since the start of her internship, Chan has learned the most about diligence, time management and collaboration. She plans to continue enhancing her skillset while making a meaningful impact on Lincoln.

"By the time my internship ends, I also hope to have gained eclectic hard and soft skills, such as software program familiarity and public speaking skills," says Chan.

Throughout her experience thus far, Chan has made meaningful connections with her manager and team members. She has also embraced opportunities outside of her daily responsibilities, including presenting market research on media trends and organizing data for the Advertising side of the Brand Strategy team. She encourages future interns to do the same.

"Don't be afraid to ask questions and accept as many opportunities as you can. Don't let fear hold you back from having a well-rounded experience," says Chan. "This is the time to learn outside of a textbook and meet with people who are always willing to help you. Take advantage of that and build your network while you're at it!"

Pyper Haarala, an Actuarial Development Program Intern at Lincoln working in Long-Term Disability Pricing, shares Chan's sentiments. One of her biggest breakthroughs for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln student has been learning to accept help and appreciate collaboration.

"One of my personal weaknesses is that I am slow to ask for help and often attempt to puzzle through problems myself, but my experience at Lincoln has allowed me to break free from that individualistic crutch," says Haarala. "While learning to be collaborative, I've also enhanced my independent problem-solving abilities."

Haarala's primary project of the summer focuses on comparing Lincoln's rates with competitors' and assessing target markets where Lincoln's products are highly competitive.

Lincoln's internship program is Haarala's first opportunity to work for an insurance company and network with other actuaries. With aspirations of working as an actuary at a large company such as Lincoln, she is confident that her internship experience is providing her with the necessary skills for a successful career in her field.

"Beyond developing a greater understanding of the insurance field, I now have improved confidence in my technical skills," says Haarala. "My programming experience was limited before this position, but I now know how to maneuver a variety of platforms to get the results I need. These skills will absolutely be necessary in any future actuarial position I hold, so I am grateful for the opportunity to develop them now so early in my career."

Oluwadara Dina will return to Morgan State University with some new skills of her own. She is a Software Engineering intern at Lincoln. As a Software Engineering intern, she interacts with software developers and IT employees to learn about their roles and the software tools they use daily. Her participation in codeLinc, a hackathon hosted by Lincoln Financial Group at Morgan State University, gave Dina a glimpse into Lincoln's work culture and the limitless professional development opportunities Lincoln has to offer. Since joining Lincoln's class of summer interns, Dina has learned a variety of new skills that she plans to apply to her future career as software developer or UX/UI design specialist.

"From my experience as an intern, I've learned the syntax of Java, how to create a simple website using HTML and CSS and even more about the different roles in the IT field," says Dina.

For future interns, Dina emphasizes the importance of being gracious and building connections.

"Be grateful for any opportunity you have been given," says Dina, "and be thankful for the people who support you in any way, shape or form. A 'thank you' message goes a long way."

With interns representing more than 75 colleges and universities across the country, this year's class of interns is the largest in Lincoln's history. Additionally, all interns have been invited to attend Lincoln's first in-person internship summit at its Radnor headquarters on July 28-29th in honor of National Intern Day.

For more information about the summer internship program and other early career programs, including current openings, please visit Lincoln's Careers Site.

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