Naomi Oke, from Harris Academy Greenwich, completed her paid internship at Permira. Hear how the experience strengthened her determination to build a rewarding future.
Naomi has always been hardworking and had drive to achieve, but she lacked the professional experience that so many employers want to see.
“Before my internship I would describe myself as determined and motivated, but inexperienced when it came to the working world – I’d never experienced what the real working environment was like.”
She worked at Permira for four weeks over the summer and had a chance to learn about the world of marketing – a field she’s now interested in pursuing in the future.
“My internship helped me become more focused and determined about what career path I want to take in the future. I came out of it much better connected and confident about my career because I got an insight into an industry that gels well with the subjects I study (Art, Media and Business).”
Preparations for the world of work
Naomi’s time at Permira saw her split her time between the office and working from home, a pattern that’s commonplace in a post-Covid workplace.
“I really enjoyed the hybrid format as I didn’t feel overworked and exhausted because of the opportunity to work from home. When I was in office everyone would greet everybody good morning whilst getting their coffee in the morning. The working environment in Permira is very warm and welcoming as employees would always check on your well-being before work, and then throughout the day you would get catch ups just to see how you are doing with the workload and just the day in general.”
Her day-to-day was varied and taught her a lot, and she had the chance to build her communication, teamwork and presentation skills.
“During my internship I was given the opportunity to carry out many tasks such as, creating imagery for the Permira website, collaborating with the HR department of Permira to do research on Permira’s competitors, using Excel to review Permira’s portfolio companies as well as working with the AI department to create a marketing plan to explore how AI can impact businesses .”
She especially enjoyed the collaborative side to her internship, working on cross-departmental projects that boosted her ability to network with new people.
“The best part of my internship was getting to know the people I was working with as well as collaborating with different departments within the firm because this gave me insight into the different types of areas within private equity such as AI, ESG, HR, investor relations, and charity.”
A new sense of direction
After interning at Permira, Naomi has discovered her passion for marketing – a profession that aligns with her own interests and skills.
“This internship has really piqued my interest in marketing as a whole – and I’ve decided that I’m going to find a job in this industry. I like that there’s a variety of subject areas I can work in, and it’ll allow me to constantly learn.”
Her paid internship has helped her with more than just her future plans – she also had the chance to build a professional network.
“I’ve developed immensely important connections with a lot of people – and many of them are highly experienced in the industry I’m interested in. I realised people are willing to help – and networking can help you get references and ultimately, the job you want.
Career Ready gave me the chance to transfer my skills into a real working environment – it massively boosted my confidence in my own abilities, as well as helping me show others my strengths.”
