Summer Internship Wrap-Up

We invited our interns to reflect on their summer experiences and share their key takeaways. Their thoughtful insights provided valuable perspectives on the internship program, and we are so thankful for their impact on our team.

Zoe Egly

One thing I think about a lot is how much life can change in a year. A year ago, I was getting ready to head into my senior year at Liberty University and I had no idea what my life would look like after graduation. Was I stressed out? Oh, for sure – but I knew that God had a plan. I didn’t have to wait very long to see part of the plan revealed when I met Bill and Melissa during a PYAW recruiting trip to Liberty. This is where the story takes a turn, and I knew it was truly a God thing. I would be graduating with a marketing degree – I didn’t have any finance experience beyond the required classes. PYAW, for the first time ever, was rolling out a Marketing internship program for the following summer. I signed up for an interview and found myself moving to Knoxville two weeks after graduating college.

I knew coming into the internship that there currently wasn’t anyone in a marketing role, so my internship would largely be self-directed and would include drafting a strategy blueprint for a marketing position to be created. Enter crazy imposter syndrome. I was confident in my abilities and knowledge, but when it’s real life and not a textbook anymore… eeep!

This summer was a lot of learning and growing, and truly wouldn’t have been the summer that it was apart from the Lord. When you are pioneering an internship position that didn’t exist before, it is a lot of collaboration with your entire team and requires humility and a teachable spirit. It also helps a lot if you are open and honest in your one-on-one meetings with your supervisor. I truly think that being a naturally open and honest individual aided me immensely in my communication.

This really was one of the most fun summers of my life, and I am so excited to share that PYAW offered me the opportunity to join the team as the new Marketing and Events Coordinator! I am so thankful for the opportunity and look forward to working with the team to serve our clients the best way that we can.

Sage Clement

As I conclude my internship at PYA Waltman Capital, I must express my deep gratitude for the invaluable experience. Working with such a polished team that promotes learning at every opportunity has been truly inspiring. I could go on to describe the type of work I encountered, but my most profound takeaway has been the culture of this firm. The intentionality behind each decision and interaction, from the top down, is honestly indescribable. The culture of intentionality thrives because the team actively chooses it day in and day out, which is evident in the way clients are cared for. My goal to learn more than the knowledge I had available to apply was certainly achieved thanks to a firm that values learning opportunities, deep dives, and occasional rabbit trails over knowing all the right answers. 

When I interviewed for this position during my first semester at college, I was simply trying to get familiar with the interviewing process. In fact, when I stood up and shook Bill Waltman’s hand on the second floor of my school’s business building, I had no clue he was the president of the firm! Come to find out, that burst of confidence is what secured me the internship- not my competency in financial planning or my recent grade in accounting. All this to say- take chances, get out of your comfort zone, develop a zeal for learning, and most importantly, practice your handshake!!

Maddie Gainey

During the first week of my internship, a coworker said this to me: “The number one thing that dictates your success is how likable you are.” At first, I was skeptical, but now that my internship is over, I can easily say that my coworker’s advice could not be more true. Yes, intelligence is nice to have and certainly beneficial, but a high IQ is not necessary to succeed; and while a good work ethic is essential to succeed, without a positive attitude, work ethic (and intelligence) is meaningless. Why? Because your attitude influences not only how you approach daily tasks, but also how you interact with others and perceive opportunities.

I certainly experienced challenges during my internship. However, I refused to dwell on the things that I could not control. Instead, I forced myself to remain positive and I noticed how my attitude influenced my performance and interactions with others. Adopting a positive mindset helped me stay motivated and engaged, even during days that were particularly tough. Ultimately, this led to a more productive and rewarding internship experience for which I am extremely grateful. 

Maybe you are reading this and feeling overwhelmed by the challenges in your own journey. Perhaps you are striving to balance intelligence and work ethic, but something still feels missing. While I cannot promise that embracing a positive attitude will guarantee you millions or prestigious awards, I can assure you that adopting a positive attitude will profoundly impact your path to success. So, to whoever is reading this: run. Run beyond intelligence. Run beyond work ethic. Run towards a positive attitude, because it is this attitude that has the power to transform not just your work, but your entire life.

_{PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.  PYA-24-24}