MBA Summer Associate Program Spotlight

Talles de Souza is a Portfolio Manager within U.S. iShares at BlackRock. After graduating from Federal University of Espírito Santo in Brazil, he earned a Master’s in Engineering Management from Duke University and an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. As an alum of BlackRock’s MBA Summer Associate Program, Talles shares his experiences in the program and how it prepared him for a successful career at the firm.

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What were you doing before you joined BlackRock’s MBA Summer Associate Program, and what’s your current title and role here?

Before joining the program, I was at Palantir Technologies, a data analytics company. I was in a business development role there, expanding the company across the globe. At BlackRock, I am currently a Portfolio Manager within U.S. iShares, managing U.S.-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Why did you apply to intern at BlackRock?

BlackRock’s Principles reflect my own personal values – values that I apply not only in my job but in all aspects of my life. I knew that this was the place I wanted to be after earning my MBA at Stanford. As the largest asset manager in the world, BlackRock is of course a unique place to be in the investment management industry, and it offers a wide array of opportunities. But beyond that, at BlackRock we feel a deep sense of responsibility toward our clients and stakeholders, and we act on that in part through our commitment toward a better and more sustainable future. The MBA Summer Associate Program was a great opportunity for me to get to know the firm, showcase my skills and, most importantly, connect with my team and other colleagues prior to returning full-time.

Tell us about your experience during the MBA Summer Associate Program.

Despite my internship experience being fully virtual, I felt immersed in BlackRock’s culture given the close collaboration that happens across projects here and the opportunity to engage with people from various business units across the globe. My team took care to ensure I had the best experience possible, and with their support, I was able to effectively contribute and showcase my skillset and working style during the program. Specifically, Chris Tachiki, who was my manager during the program and has remained a close mentor since I re-joined full time, always made time for conversations and Q&A sessions on all aspects of managing funds. That only reinforced that this was a place I wanted to be long-term.

What was the most surprising thing you learned during the program?

I came into the program with the highest expectations about the people at BlackRock, but even those were surpassed once I got to know my colleagues here. There is an incredible diversity of expertise and backgrounds at BlackRock, and people are extremely willing to help one another – to share their knowledge and experiences, and to help each other grow. It’s truly a One BlackRock culture.

Coming from a background in technology, I was also surprised at how much BlackRock leverages its own technology throughout the Aladdin ecosystem. Our tech solutions and products empower our excellence, especially in dealing with our scale and the sheer volume of assets we manage within our platform.

How did the program prepare you for a full-time role at BlackRock?

The fact that I already knew the team, despite the virtual environment, made my return to the firm full-time much easier and smoother. The day I re-joined, I received several messages and calls from people I had interacted or worked with the previous summer welcoming me back. That made me feel even more included and assured me that this was a great place to build a career.

During the program, I was able to truly showcase my skills through projects that had significant impact on the business. I also learned about our Aladdin ecosystem and began to understand managing funds through virtual shadowing sessions. That initial exposure during the internship experience helped me accelerate the learning curve I needed to become a portfolio manager.

What kind of opportunities did you take advantage of outside of the work directly related to the program?

The team responsible for the MBA internship experience did a phenomenal job of making sure that we engaged with as many people as possible across various business units. At the end of the internship, we presented our projects and results to senior management, which was such a unique opportunity. I also participated in around 70 learning sessions during the internship, the majority of which were held in small groups combining MBA students and BlackRock colleagues across business units and cities including San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, London, Hong Kong and Mexico City.

How did your experience as an MBA Summer Associate help you when you resumed your MBA coursework?

My internship experience strengthened my passion for what we do for our clients and helped me select coursework that would strengthen my career at BlackRock to make me a better and more well-rounded professional. This ranged from classes focused on soft skills – like Interpersonal Dynamics, the most popular elective at Stanford GSB for the last 45 years – to more technical ones in finance, such as Alphanomics, taught by renowned Professor Charles Lee (who was also a Managing Director at the firm a few years ago).

What piece of advice do you have for MBA candidates who are looking to apply to the MBA Summer Associate Program?

One of BlackRock’s Principles is that we are passionate about performance. This includes constantly trying to find better ways to serve our clients and improve our firm by being lifelong students – of the markets, of technology and of the world. Demonstrate the willingness to learn every day and the curiosity to ask bigger questions. Show your passion for learning and act as a sponge for knowledge.

Learn more about BlackRock’s MBA Summer Associate Program.