Kaitlyn Keeler, a rising senior at the University of Hartford, is a finance major and international studies minor on a three-year, accelerated track to obtain her B.S.B.A. Currently, Kaitlyn is interning with Aetna, a CVS Health company, in the Finance Internship Program. Although her internship experience is fully virtual as a result of the pandemic, her role within the Enterprise Economics team has challenged her to take a leadership role, be resilient in difficult times, and to actively work to foster strong relationships with colleagues and leaders while working in a remote environment. Kaitlyn discovered this opportunity through Handshake, a career search platform introduced by Celia Lofink, undergraduate program director for management, marketing, and entrepreneurship in the Barney School of Business Lofink is also the faculty advisor for the Barney Leadership Council, a club Kaitlyn is involved with on campus with a focus on leadership and service initiatives.
Kaitlyn is currently exploring an internship offer with a local wealth management firm for the fall semester as she considers a future career as a financial advisor. The opportunity arose unexpectedly when professors at the Barney School recommended her for the role. She is particularly grateful for the many professors in the Barney School who she feels have helped her to grow both academically, professionally, and socially by challenging her to step outside of her comfort zone and pursue new opportunities for learning and professional development.
Kaitlyn Keeler '21, a finance major and international studies minorI believe the University of Hartford has provided me with unique opportunities to develop and fine-tune my leadership skills and this quickly became apparent in the way I naturally led many groups. This also allowed me to begin working on some of the skills and learning objectives I set forth before beginning my internship, particularly presentation abilities and speaking skills.
Kaitlyn explains that walking through the halls of Auerbach Hall (home to the Barney School of Business), you know you can always turn to any professor in the building for advice, feedback, or guidance. Particularly, she would like to thank faculty members Deborah Kidder, Kenneth Goroshko, and Ken Goldstein who have continued to challenge her in her studies as well as provide academic and professional guidance outside of the classroom. Professors such as these, and many more always eager and willing to help, are what she feels make the Barney School such a great place to learn and grow.