Charlenne Gonzalez
Alumna, Finance and International Studies; Indianapolis, IN
"Once I came to IUPUI, doors really opened for me. I realized all of the possibilities available and what a good choice I made in coming to IUPUI. It’s really a great school."
Charlenne Gonzalez, a recent Kelley graduate in finance and international studies, uncovered the secrets to success in a tough job market – multiple internships and a can-do attitude. Gonzalez’s understanding of the value of real-world experience paid off with not one, but two job offers several months before graduation. Later this year, she’ll take her Kelley degree and a wealth of practical knowledge to Deloitte Consulting in Chicago where she’ll work with clients as a business advisor.
“I had internships beginning freshman year,” says Gonzalez, a native of the Dominican Republic who’s been in the United States since fifth grade. “I think all of the different work experiences I had, plus being involved on campus, gave me an advantage when interviewing for jobs this year.”
In all, Gonzalez completed five internships while at IUPUI, the most recent at Citigroup’s national headquarters in New York City last summer. She also traveled to Shanghai, China, for a summer internship studying international business. Two other intern opportunities were arranged through Kelley’s Career Placement Office (CPO) – a one-year, part-time position with UPS and an internship with Umbaugh & Associates, an accounting and financial firm that advises local governments.
The first in her family to graduate from college, Gonzalez admits she was a bit awestruck during her first days at IUPUI. She quickly found her stride, however, with involvement in a variety of student activities, including Delta Sigma Pi, the international business fraternity, Kelley’s Diversity Council and the school’s student fairness committee.
“Once I came to IUPUI, doors really opened for me,” explains Gonzalez. “I realized all of the possibilities available and what a good choice I made in coming to IUPUI. It’s really a great school.”
Gonzalez also participated in the prestigious Diversity Scholars Research Program. Throughout her college career, she worked alongside Kelley finance professor Catherine Bonser-Neal. Gonzalez’s research project, which culminated with a presentation at the end of her senior year, focused on the Chinese banking system and was based on Gonzalez’s summer trip there in 2007. It was Bonser-Neal, Gonzalez says, who helped her make the most of her Citigroup internship experience.
“I had a choice of 15 different internship programs at Citigroup,” Gonzalez explains. “Thanks to Professor Bonser-Neal, I was placed on a great team – Markets and Banking – the team with the most responsibility that reported directly to the CFO. I was able to learn a great deal.”
