3 minute read
Taking Stock of Success
A prestigious internship at Citi in New York City has already launched Abdiel Martinez ’21 into his dream career.
When international business major Abdiel Martinez ’22 enrolled in a course taught by business professor Richard Lewin, he wasn’t looking for a mentor—he was looking for a challenge. He found both.
“I wanted to take Dr. Lewin’s International Financial Management class because I heard it was one of the toughest courses offered in my major,” says Martinez. “I had a lot of questions that went beyond the class, so I started regularly showing up to his office hours. Dr. Lewin always says that his mission is to make his students ‘dangerously employable.’ When I landed an interview at Citi for a summer internship, I knew I wanted him to help me prepare, and that culminated in a real and ongoing mentorship.”
Martinez landed the coveted internship, thanks in part to Lewin’s guidance, and spent 10 weeks last summer at Citi’s global headquarters in the Big Apple. In his role as a sales and trading analyst, Martinez rotated between trading desks, researching market trends and gathering information to pitch to senior sales personnel. Martinez thrived in the fast-paced, competitive environment.
“The opportunity to pitch gives you an opportunity to differentiate yourself, and it’s also a good way to quickly learn what types of events move the markets,” he says.
Martinez also indulged his passion for cryptocurrency by designing a presentation that caught the attention of one of the firm’s managing directors, and later, the head of Citi North America. He left that internship with an offer to return to Citi’s Global Markets division fulltime after graduation, all before he started his final year of college.
A Network of Support
“One of the things that struck me when I first set foot on campus was the spirit of community. I toured a lot of other schools, but walking around Rollins, you could just see the level of engagement. Within the first week, I attended a career fair and talked to my eventual mentor about the differences between the international business and economics programs. That helped me determine my path.”
Access to Expertise
“As part of Rollins’ Career Champions program, I was paired with Brandon Burns ’07 ’09MBA, a portfolio manager at City National Rochdale. He has a ton of experience in the field I want to work in, and having access to him is a phenomenal resource. Knowing I can text him with questions or for advice has been a total game changer.”
Building Relationships
“One of the things I learned at Rollins is that people are happy to help if you just ask. During my internship at Citi, I took part in a virtual crypto series with over 700 other interns from all over the world. The chief operating officer for North America was leading the call, and I asked a question during his presentation. Later, I sent him a follow-up email thanking him for answering my question, and just that personal touch was enough to land me a one-on-one chat with him.”
Charting Your Own Course
“After my internship, I decided I wanted to get certified through the Chartered Market Technicians Association. I developed an independent study course with Dr. Lewin focused on preparing for that exam, which will help me stand out after graduation even more. The fact that I have the freedom and support to help me prepare for this specific goal, and that I get course credit for it, is just another reason why I’m glad I chose Rollins.”
Liberal Arts in Action
At Rollins, we have a whole office dedicated to preparing you for the world of work. From prestigious internships to real-world experience right on campus, the Center for Career & Life Planning helps set you up for immediate success and long-term leadership. Learn more at
