International Economics and Finance internship program celebrates State Street's partnership

The International Economics and Finance (IEF) internship program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) provides students valuable insights into the field. State Street (external link) , a prominent American global financial services firm, is a key partner in this initiative. State Street is recognized as a long-term collaborator for its leadership in investment servicing, markets, financing, and investment management globally.

The partnership with State Street started in 2018 with three internship positions, which later expanded to five. Since 2020, State Street has exclusively recruited interns from TMU’s IEF program, hiring over 25 students annually across their offices in Toronto, Boston, Quincy, Sacramento and Kansas. 156 students have taken part in the internship program with State Street, many of which received full-time job offers upon graduation. On October 4, 2024, the Department of Economics held an event to celebrate this collaboration with State Street.

At the event, Anne-Marie Lee Loy, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students for the Faculty of Arts, greeted the attendees and provided context on the collaboration between the IEF program and State Street. Following her introduction, four previous IEF internship students—Jacky Wang, Sharukh Khan, Hajera Noori and Sparsh Taheri—shared their personal experiences with State Street.

Jacky Wang shared the skills that he learned along the way in his internship, from learning Excel to being educated on the industry buzz, students were able to see what the possibilities were after graduation. Additionally, Wang said, “At State Street, it wasn’t just about developing my professional skills, it was also about the senior management team and how they’re able to provide valuable mentorship that I still look back on to this day.”

Sharukh Khan is a graduate of the IEF internship program. Khan, like many other students who attended the event, is a first-generation immigrant student. He noted, “[State Street’s internship] empowered me to break barriers and create a story for myself and for my family, as I mentioned, are immigrants.” Khan continues to thank State Street’s contribution for helping him land a job at RBC following graduation through the vital skills and confidence he learned during his time at State Street.

Hajera Noori spoke about breaking into the industry as a young woman. “Organizations like State Street Corporation were the starting point for me, and I see these as more than just a stepping stone to my career, they are lifelines. They break down barriers faced by many of us from underrepresented backgrounds, particularly young women from immigrant families like myself," said Noori. Notably, Noori has continued her employment with State Street and is currently a Securities Valuation Analyst, Associate 2.

Finally, Sparsh Taheri emphasized the significance of their internships at State Street as international students, saying, “It’s not just a stepping stone, it’s a launch pad.” Taheri continues, “As an international student, my experience at State Street has been particularly significant. They have truly levelled the playing field, providing equal opportunities to all, regardless of background. I have felt valued and supported, and this inclusivity is something I've always appreciated. State Street has shown that diversity isn't just about ticking a box, it's about embracing different perspectives and cultivating talent from all corners of the world.”

Following the students' remarks, Amy Peng, Interim Dean of Arts, recognized and awarded seven key collaborators from State Street—Matthew Cichy, Ergis Rodi, Anuj Singh, Will Kong, Robert Knowles, Ilir Rryta and Cam Rowe—for their contributions to the program. 

Cichy, Rodi and Singh emphasized the amazing contributions that student interns bring to their company. Cichy shared, “It’s always been about culture. You can punch a clock, people work hours every single day, but we always wanted to go above and beyond and feel part of the team. And so we always hold an intern welcoming event, we hold an end of year event for an intern going away because, at the end of the day, this isn't just about working in finance or anything like that, which you'll learn, but it was also about developing the soft skills.”

Rodi echoed Chichy’s sentiments stating, “To all the students, former interns, interns that are here, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all your hard work and dedication for everything that we've seen through the years from all the TMU students… thank you for the award, but I think there is no better award than the text messages or the LinkedIn messages that I get from each and every one of you expressing our gratitude for what this program meant in your journey.”

Lastly, Singh concluded the event with a morsel of advice, “For the students that are in an internship right now, for the students that are here maybe looking for one, talk to each other, help each other because you're your own support system…As you move forward in your career, build relationships, help people, support them, even see happiness in your friends and colleagues, even if you don't always get the promotion and opportunity to have fun, be happy for them because it will pay off at some point.”

The event wrapped up with networking, highlighting the invaluable skills and opportunities State Street offers TMU students. The IEF program exemplifies the synergy between academic learning and real-world experience, enhancing the Faculty of Arts' commitment to inclusive education and experiential learning. 

The Faculty of Arts and the Department of Economics are grateful for the opportunities State Street has offered students.