Intern Feature: Bryan Cleary

During the summer of 2016, I worked as PGA Tour’s finance intern at the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. Over the course of the tournament, I was responsible to ensure the accountability of on-site revenue, while also assisting in all financial transactions between the PGA Tour, the Tiger Woods Foundation, corporate sponsors, and TPC Boston. I was able to leverage this experience with the PGA to land my most recent internship this past summer working for Brown Brothers Harriman in New York City. As a structured products analyst, I conducted primary research in order to identify attractive investment opportunities within the market.

HOW DID YOU FIND THE OPPORTUNITY?

I had identified early in my sophomore year that I wanted to pursue a career a career in investment research, particularly in fixed income and structured products. As a result, I began networking as much as possible with professionals already in similar roles throughout my sophomore year. During that summer, the opportunity with the PGA arose through a connection I had made during the year. Having had this experience, I found myself much more prepared during the interview process with BBH, after applying though the IsenbergWorks career portal the following school year.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

My experience working for the PGA Tour stands out as a highlight of my undergraduate career. Having the opportunity to interact with Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and the best players in the world on a daily basis, while also being given the responsibility for all on-site revenue the tournament generated was a truly unique experience. Transitioning to this summer in New York, I found it highly engaging to work in a fast-paced Wall Street office. The hours were long, but I found the experience to be highly challenging and rewarding as I learned deep levels of CLO valuation by synthesizing a model that incorporated tranche spread, duration, and weighted average life.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER STUDENTS?

My biggest piece of advice for other students would be to pinpoint exactly what you are interested in as early as possible, and then to find a mentor who is already in a similar role. Over the course of my time here in Isenberg, I have been fortunate enough to have met some exceptional individuals who have consistently challenged me to achieve the goals I had set for myself early in my undergraduate career.