“Networking is more than just building contacts; it’s about building lasting relationships for professional growth,” shared Nadine Thomas, assistant vice president of private wealth at NCB Capital Markets Limited. “ConnectCon 2023’ provided a real-world platform for our interns to engage with industry leaders and broaden their horizons.”

Thomas was speaking at a corporate mixer dubbed ‘ConnectCon 2023’ hosted by National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB) at the Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen in Barbican, St. Andrew, to conclude its 2023 summer internship programme.

The event saw close to 40 interns getting face time with various executives and senior leaders from across the business.

“Under normal circumstances, interns might consider business leaders inaccessible, but giving them opportunities like these to spend time, pick their brains, and network with them can help interns step outside of their comfort zone, build their confidence and start making lifelong connections early.”

The interns were also very excited about their summer at NCB, and their prospects ahead.

Tajwin Pusey, a 21-year-old intern assigned to NCB Capital Markets Limited, stated: “I truly enjoyed myself while working at NCB Capital Markets Limited. The interactions I had with customers were very encouraging, and the support I’ve received from my manager really helped to confirm that I was on the right path to doing something that I love.”

Pusey is currently studying banking and finance at the University of the West Indies (Mona), and will be going into his programme in September.

Like Pusey, Reneece Bartley, 19, had a similar recount of her internship experience, noting that the hands-on nature of the job has solidified her desire to pursue a career in computer science.

“I was able to learn so much in just one summer,” Bartley said. “One of the biggest takeaways for me was the emphasis on teamwork, and I really appreciate the exposure to modern coding languages and practices, while working in the IT department.” 

Integrating health and wellness

The mixer also featured a special presentation from Sadé Powell, programme manager for organisational health at NCB. She encouraged the youngsters to work on understanding their sense of self, and putting their best foot forward always: 

“When we think about being our best selves, we have to first understand who we are, so we know what our ‘best’ is. Spend some time with yourself to figure out who you are and what is important to you, and don’t get caught into the trap of comparing yourself to others.”

She also advised the young professionals to incorporate health and wellness into their careers, stating, “Your well-being is an investment, not an expense. As you embark on your professional journey, it’s crucial to integrate a healthy work-life balance into your roadmap to success.”

NCB’s summer internship programme, which started in July and concludes on September 1, offered over 70 interns hands-on experience in departments like Retail Banking, Customer Experience, Innovation, Information Technology, and Marketing.