HWS News
23 July 2025 Finding the Future of Finance at Bank of America
Esme Pham ’26 landed a Global Payment Solutions Summer Analyst internship at Bank of America with help from the Finance Trek to New York City and the HWS Alumni Network.
This summer, Esme Pham ’26 is interning with Bank of America as a Global Payment Solutions (GPS) Summer Analyst. The highly competitive 10-week program introduces students to the intersection of finance, technology and global commerce through comprehensive training, a mentorship program, networking events, speaker series and more.
As a member of the innovation team within the bank’s GPS division, Pham is contributing to a range of projects, developing concept materials and gaining firsthand insight into how a major financial institution operates in global markets.
“No two days are the same,” she says. “There’s a mix of ongoing projects, feedback-based updates and meetings—some where I take notes and follow up on action items and others where I’m there just to learn. I connect with people across teams, and it's been a great balance of observing, contributing and gradually taking on more responsibility.”
As an economics major with a minor in data analytics, Pham says her classroom experience laid the groundwork for this internship. The real growth, she adds, has come from stepping inside the day-to-day operations. “It’s the kind of context and depth you can’t get from a textbook or lectures,” she says. Bank of America’s “intellectually stimulating, innovative and far from repetitive” environment is fully supporting Pham’s interests and career aspirations.
To secure the internship, Pham leaned into the support system available at HWS. She first heard about the opportunity during last year’s Finance Trek in New York City, an annual program led by the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, where students meet with alumni, parents and industry professionals at top financial institutions. After learning about the internship, Pham connected with the HWS Alumni Network and extends her appreciation to Kiersten Hamilton ’12, director of CashPro Product Manager at Bank of America, and Christina Mitrow ’22, treasury sales associate at Bank of America. Throughout the application process, the two offered guidance on the internship program and their work, which confirmed Pham’s interest in joining the team.
On campus, Pham serves as a Research Assistant, Writing Colleague and Economics Teaching Fellow. Last summer, she worked on campus as a Summer Research Fellow, gaining hands-on experience with data analysis, mapping tools and fieldwork ranging from deploying sensors to analyzing preliminary results. In May, she was inducted into the Alpha-Xi Chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Honor Society for Economics.
Reflecting on her summer at Bank of America, Pham says the internship has given her a clear sense of direction. “Everything about the experience so far has aligned with what I want long-term. Plus, my team has been incredibly supportive—I’ve learned so much from them and the broader culture, which is genuinely welcoming and collaborative."
