From IT Internships to Impacting Global Platforms
State Street is a leading global services provider for institutional investors and the second oldest operating bank in the United States. In 2007, they established a presence in India to support their operations around the world. Today, over 8000 professionals located in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai provide a range of services, which broadly includes Business Operations, Global Corporate Shared Services and Global Technology Services as well as corporate support functions. Recently, State Street India was named as one of the “Best Workplaces for Women 2021” by the Economic Times.
We spoke to Nitish Kumar - a software developer, Lahari Vuyyuri - an application developer, and Poojitha Jonnala- production environment support, about their experience of joining State Street, India. They started their professional journeys with State Street through a six-month internship in the technology function and have transitioned to full-time employees during the course of pandemic. Let’s learn, how the internship has helped them to apply their skills and knowledge to practical solutions that enhances the way State Street works and delivers solutions to clients.
Tell us about yourself.
Lahari: I graduated with a degree in Computer Science a few months prior to joining the State Street IT internship in June 2021. I have an affinity towards data science and data management topics. State Street is the perfect place for me or any candidate interested to build a career in these areas.
Poojitha: I graduated in Computer Science and joined State Street as an intern in January 2020. Gradually, transitioned to being a full-time employee in July 2020. During free time, I love to sketch and play badminton.
Nitish: I joined State Street as an intern in January 2020 at Hyderabad. My interests include learning about new technologies, observing the night skies, and tracking constellations.
Why did you decide to apply for an IT internship at State Street India?
Lahari: The moment I saw the job description, responsibilities and the technical skills required, I felt it was a great match for me. I was at the start of my career, so this was a great opportunity for developing my technical skills and to understand the corporate industry. State Street is also known for its diversified culture and employee support programs, so the choice was very clear.
Poojitha: As a fresher, I always wanted to start my career in a reputed company in-order to improve my skillset. State Street is one of the largest asset servicing and management companies in the world. Working for such a large organization was an opportunity to experience the workflow, team cohesiveness, structure and learn how to balance both work and personal life.
Nitish: I wanted to be a part of State Street because of its past accomplishments and legacy in custodian banking. I was well-aware and excited about the work culture, friendly work environment and diverse culture at State Street.
What did you enjoy the most about the internship at State Street?
Lahari: I would say an internship, for any fresher, is a start of their career and I believe it is where the foundation is laid. It not only made my technical skills stronger but also improved my interpersonal and communication skills. The interactive sessions conducted for all the new joiners have been fun and engaging, and got us better acquainted with State Street business and its culture. I have met wonderful people within the team who have not only been helpful but also kept me going ahead in this hybrid work environment by extending their support.
Poojitha: I worked as an intern in the office for two months before working from home as the pandemic set-in. During my work from office, I could interact easily with my team members in person and could reach out to my team members for any issues without any hesitation. We also had team lunches, which were memorable moments during my internship. Although I’m new to remote working, I still feel well connected with my team.
Nitish: It started with butterflies in my stomach. From wearing a business attire to calling everyone by their names, including managers, it was exciting! Post completion of my onboarding trainings, I was deployed into a real project, where I had great opportunities to learn user interface development related technologies and to develop a screen as required for the project.
What attracted you to stay and further build your career at State Street?
Lahari: The day I got an offer to be a full-time employee at State Street, I was sure that I wanted to stay. At State Street, I get to work on projects related to data science and data management that interests me and enhances my knowledge of SQL, PL/SQL, data modelling and warehousing concepts. The work culture, equal opportunity and transparency is commendable. Most importantly, I enjoy being part of a supportive team.
Poojitha: The internship at State Street allowed me to explore new skills with practical experience on projects that were technically advanced. With flexibility, work life balance and team support, it was an easy decision to make.
Nitish: I found an intellectually diversified culture at State Street, where I could reach out to anyone for support and clarity. It is a very inclusive work environment, with supportive framework, flexibility with an immense opportunity to learn.
Tell us about your current roles.
Lahari: I am working for the enterprise data management team, which is a part of the middle-office function. It feels great to be a part of this role as this is closely related to my interest in data management, one of the core processes at State Street.
Poojitha: I am a part of the billing transformation project. Initially, I worked in a group responsible for solutions within the Oracle Revenue Management and Billing (ORMB) program, which meant developing new or enhanced reports. I recently moved to ORMB production support team where I work on JAVA technology to provide code fixes for any issues raised in the production environment. I am excited about this project as it replaces the manual process like data entry and performing multiple steps, which helps the business focus more on improving analytical capabilities. It also allows them to plan better and manage existing investments.
Nitish: I work as a front-end developer in the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) team. CCAR is a regulatory framework introduced by the Federal Reserve in order to assess, regulate, and supervise large banks and financial institutions - collectively referred to in the framework as Bank Holding Companies. There are lot of new technology and learnings, which makes my role interesting.
What is your advice to anyone who wants to join State Street or the finance industry?
Lahari: Where you are right now isn’t where you’ll end up. In order to reach where you want to be, you will have to gain knowledge. It’s a continuous process. I believe at the initial stage of one’s career, everyone starts small, but to go to a stage you’ve dreamt of, you need to put in hard work and effort. Your organization plays a critical role in shaping your career.
Poojitha: For anyone who wishes to join State Street, I would say it provides the opportunity to improve or build new skill sets and also to move to other projects based on your interests. At the same time, it means you need to try and understand what interests you, have the capability and willingness to learn continuously and develop.
Nitish: A boss says ‘do’, but a leader says, ‘let’s do’ and State Street is full of leaders. Everyone is very collaborative and helpful. State Street provides a great culture with an amazing work environment. This is the right place for the ones who want to join the industry.
Thank you.
Are you interested in jump-starting your career in finance or technology? As a student, you can apply to one of State Street internship programs or, in some locations, to part-time opportunities. If you have already graduated or will soon, you can apply to one of development programs or start regular full-time work in an entry-level position. No matter how you join State Street you’ll have a structured onboarding and the support of your manager and colleagues while learning your job.
Click here to learn more about career opportunities at State Street in India.
