Hudson Aikins is from Brambleton, Virginia and uses he/his pronouns. He is a sophomore pursuing a dual degree in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology and Finance.

Hudson Aikins will be interning for Prudential (PGIM) in the summer of 2023.

We asked Hudson to share both his internship and Pamplin experiences with us.

How did you find your internship? What is your title and what will you do for them? 

I had my eye on PGIM for a long time, ever since their CIO Roben Dunkin came to speak at my MGT class. I was searching for internship opportunities on Handshake, and I happened to see their Real Estate Summer Analyst Position open, worked with Professor Cordova, my Career Advisor, on my resume and cover letter before I applied for it just before the school year started. I will be an analyzing commercial real estate deals and providing loans to customers who want to buy apartment buildings, office buildings, etc. I will also be investigating ways to improve the analysis process of my position through introducing new technologies into the job.

What do you think will be your favorite part about the internship?             

My favorite part of the internship will probably be meeting my new colleagues and getting integrated into a new work culture and environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun talking to all the other interns as well as the people in the office. I feel like the bonding will go a long way for establishing future relationships and partnerships.

What type of student would you recommend to apply to this internship and why?

PGIM is very much a culture that strives to innovate and bring new processes and technologies into their products. A student who is very much interested in Finance and Technology as well as capable of being a fast learner and a team player should apply to this internship.

What do you want to do after graduation? 

I want to gain some experience in the corporate world either as a Project Manager for a Technology Company or as an Analyst for an investment firm. I love both Tech and Finance, and I have been working on a startup idea within the Real Estate industry.

What advice would you give to an incoming Pamplin freshman?

Get involved early and often. Have at least a part-time job or a club internship position by the end of your first semester. This opens doors to the amazing faculty and staff in the university who can refer, vouch, and nominate you for positions within the university and elsewhere.

What is your favorite part about being a management and or Pamplin student?

The possibilities about what skills you acquire can be translated to. Being a management student means you are taught all the necessary business skills which you can apply to any field. It's like learning to be a doctor and having a choice on where you want to practice your skills. The potential for students, especially in the EIT major are endless.

What is your LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hudson-aikins/

If any, what organizations are you in and what do you enjoy about them?

Organizations: Pamplin Dean's Advisory Board, Innovate Living-Learning Community, Entrepreneurship Club, Saving Hearts Foundation, Pamplin Tech Fellows Program

All these organizations help develop me professionally and allow me to practice my skills within a safe environment before I apply them into the real-world. The positions I am in allow me to create real change within the Pamplin College of Business and what I hope long-term, is to leave a positive mark and legacy on the people I work with and make it a top Business School in the nation.