Turning ideas into reality on my MBA internship

A Full-time MBA internship can open doors to new sectors and experiences. Natalia shares how her Full-time project helped her transition from a career in finance and strategy in the steel industry, to business development in a UK-based forensic tech SME.

Why did you choose to undertake an internship for your capstone module?

I’m someone who prefers action, turning ideas into tangible results and working closely with people to make things happen. After completing MBA modules and projects, and gaining insights from multiple frameworks and strategic approaches, I felt ready to step into the UK work environment. The internship felt like the ideal “testing ground”, a space to apply what I had just learned and explore how I wanted to shape my post-MBA journey.

How did you choose which company to work with for the internship?

Internships in the UK are highly competitive, so it’s less about choosing from many options and more about being strategic and clear on what you’re looking for.

With support from my mentor, I worked on a summer project with a startup at the Venture Centre at Warwick. That experience made me realise the impact you can have in SMEs; businesses facing real scaling challenges where your contribution is tangible and visible.

I was later introduced to the CEO of Smytec, a company within forensics, transitioning from years of R&D and prototyping into a growth phase. They needed someone to structure and professionalise their sales process. Although they didn’t have an established internship programme and I have never done sales before, I positioned my internship as a low-risk opportunity for them to assess mutual fit. It proved successful, and I have since secured a full-time role with them.

What was your experience of working in your internship company like?

My three-month internship was broad and hands-on: marketing and sales initiatives, operational procedures, customer demos and training, client meetings, and travel.

Two key projects I led were the implementation of a CRM system and a branding and identity refresh, both critical to supporting scalable sales growth in an SME.

While modules like Sales Excellence and Marketing provided frameworks, the real value of the MBA was learning how to diagnose a company’s needs and determine which strategy to apply. That’s why I was able to proactively propose and lead these initiatives rather than simply execute assigned tasks.

How will the internship support your future career goals?

I aspire to become a CEO, someone who transforms complexity into opportunity and delivers meaningful results for stakeholders.

Moving from a multinational environment, where I worked in finance and strategy within the steel industry, to an SME in the forensic technology sector focused on business development has stretched me significantly. It has exposed me to contrasting contexts, from structured bureaucratic corporate environments to fast-paced, evolving growth companies, and proven that I can adapt my skillset to deliver impact in both.

I believe this experience has been relevant in developing the judgment, resilience, and ownership mindset required to lead organisations, scale businesses and drive sustainable impact, capabilities I will need to eventually step into a CEO role.

Tell us about your internship highlights

What I enjoyed most was the speed of execution, seeing ideas quickly turn into reality.

For example, instead of a low-profile launch for our U.S. subsidiary, I proposed a formal grand opening 3 weeks before it, and led the agenda, including the development of a targeted PR strategy. This resulted in multiple media interviews and published articles, helping us gain traction in the U.S. market and build valuable partnerships that continue to strengthen our presence there.

Have you had support from the CareersPlus and Employer Relations during the internship?

Yes, their support was key before, during, and after my internship.

They helped me identify my key selling points, refine how I articulated them in my CV, and work on areas for development. Their approach is highly personalised, not just templates or platforms, but meaningful conversations that translate into actionable insights.

Do you have any advice for prospective MBA applicants on how to make the most of the internship?

Don’t spend too much time worrying about whether your choice is the “right” one or overthinking every possible outcome. An internship is the perfect space to experiment, with a new industry, a new role, or a different way of working. Embrace uncertainty and trust your upgraded skills. After an MBA, you evolve, and your goals evolve with you. The internship helps you shape that next version of yourself and sometimes discover ambitions you didn’t know you had.

What’s next for you?

I plan to remain in the UK for the short term and drive significant sales growth in the company where I completed my internship, now my full-time role. This includes expanding across Europe and the U.S., our key markets.

Mid-term, I see myself settling in Spain or Italy, potentially as part of the company’s international expansion strategy, leading a new office, or through a strategic career move aligned with that geography.

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