Natalia Pinel Lara
Class of 2023
Hometown: Pamplona, Spain
Undergraduate University: Universidad Pública de Navarra
MBA Specialization: Finance
Internship Employer: Mattel
Internship Position: Member of Trade Finance Team
How would you describe the William & Mary MBA experience?
I always say this when I am asked about this experience, but it really depends on how you want the experience to be. It is a great school with awesome staff and faculty and incredibly smart classmates. However, there is much more than that, and to make the most of this experience, each person's attitude towards it is key. The experience itself can be great, but you can make it even better by meeting your classmates, attending events, building relationships beyond your classmates, and, ultimately, being involved in W&M's community.
How has William & Mary helped you to grow your network?
One of the most relevant ways that W&M has helped me grow my network has been through the Executive Partner program. However, the network within W&M is not limited to that. My cohort is formed by people from very different backgrounds and countries, and thus, is another big source for networking. But really, anyone you meet within the W&M community has helped me broaden my network.
What career support did you receive from the Graduate Career Management Center (GCMC)?
The GCMC has helped me immensely in the internship search process. Being an international student, this is tougher, and thus it is very important to be resilient and to make the right decisions. The support has been key to my success. However, it also depends mostly on you, and of course, you need to work hard to achieve the goals you set for yourself.
What was your internship recruitment/interview process like?
My interview process consisted of two rounds. The first round was just behavioral with the recruiter to gather information about my interests and goals. The final round was composed of two interviews: one behavioral and one technical. I had a great experience because all my interviewers were very friendly and made things easier for me.
What were some of the highlights of your internship?
My internship was awesome. Mattel is a very fun company to work for. Something that made my internship different from other folks in my class was that on top of an individual project. I worked on a project with other MBA interns. In particular, my team had to think and present a new product that Hot Wheels could launch utilizing its IP and the main goal of extending their consumer base. This gave me a 360 view of the company and allowed me to meet a lot of people too.
