Summary
Explore the OneUnited Bank Internship Program, aimed at nurturing aspiring professionals with technical skills and personal growth. Meet three of the seven accomplished graduates across various roles, highlighting the program's versatility and impact.
Looking for an internship? The OneUnited Bank Internship Program was created by senior leadership to help develop aspiring young professionals across different career paths.
Our program not only equips interns with technical skills but also fosters personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, communication, and collaborative teamwork.
Meet seven distinguished graduates from our program, who held position across Marketing & Social Media, Human Resources, Customer Service, and Retail Banking: Part 1: Marcus McDowell, Addonis Parker Jr., Arielle Pugh, and Ruben Rocha. Part 2: Keausha Bradley-Macklin, Anderson Pierre, and Sam Zilberstein.
Each journey of our graduates is remarkably different, showcasing the versatility and relevance of the program.
Keausha Bradley-Macklin
“The work we do at OneUnited Bank serves a greater purpose. The more you grow with the Bank, the more your impact does as well!”
What unique skills did you gain?
I’ve gained great time management and multitasking skills. As a Social Media Intern, we juggled several projects and tasks simultaneously. Your work can change in a moment’s notice because of a world event or crisis, which may call for all hands-on deck! Success required flexibility, consistent communication, effective prioritization of tasks, and the ability to keep up in a fast-paced environment.
How did OneUnited Bank change your relationship with money?
I gained a variety of personal finance insights from my daily work on educational financial content and through our #OneTransaction Virtual Conference. This was my first introduction to wills, trusts, and life insurance. With these new insights, I opened my own life insurance policy to build and protect my wealth. Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche hosted an amazing session on the importance of separating money into a “bills” account and “spending” account, which I’ve implemented in my own life to properly manage my money.
What was your favorite project?
My favorite project was my pitch on creating videos to market our service, BankBlack EarlyPay, where you can be paid up to 2 days early when you enroll in direct deposit. I take pride in the final product and its continued use in various marketing pieces.
How has the program’s leadership component transformed your perspective on your own potential?
Through stepping into the lead position for our social media calendar, I developed experience leading a group as I was required to review all graphics and captions for proper formatting and communicate with the team to ensure we were meeting our deadlines. By pitching my ideas and receiving feedback back from my team leaders, I honed my leadership potential. I’m grateful for Anderson Pierre, who leads with compassion and care. He taught me how to stay organized when editing video projects and performing other creative tasks.
Were you better prepared for the workforce after your internship with OneUnited?
Definitely! I learned to always present tasks at their best so your manager can focus on important improvements, not minor mistakes. At work, one thing you should ask yourself is, “How can I make my team or managers’ job easier?” and “How can I make improvements or make systems more efficient?” Creating solutions is one way to make yourself a valuable asset to your team. It shows that you care about the work and the future success of your team!
Anderson Pierre
“This experience has motivated me to always aim for greatness, accept challenges, and use my abilities to contribute significantly to the company and the larger community.”
What unique skills did you gain?
OneUnited granted me the space to leverage my bachelor’s degree in digital film production and skills in graphic design, video editing, and script writing for marketing purposes. Although I had previous management experience, this unique internship experience further developed my leadership and communication skills.
How did OneUnited Bank change your relationship with money?
Since I am required to create financial content all the time, I’ve learned a lot about money and how to invest for the future so that I can leave an estate of wealth for my family.
What was your favorite project?
Every campaign I participated in left an impact on me. With each project, I developed as a leader and team player.
How has the program’s leadership component transformed your perspective on your own potential?
The leadership training component has aided in my advancement from an intern to a manager. I’ve gone on to embody the same mentoring mentality for the development of the incoming intern teams.
Were you better prepared for the workforce after your internship with OneUnited?
Yes, I gained a strong foundation of practical skills and knowledge, exposure to real-world settings, mentorship, and the ability to contribute meaningfully. This has ultimately boosted my preparation for the marketing industry and instilled confidence and flexibility within me.
Sam Zilberstein
“OneUnited Bank has definitely set a high standard for the type of companies I want to work for. I understand the significance of working for a company that positively impacts the community.”
What unique skills did you gain?
I gained enhanced graphic compositions skills through our former Vice President of Social Media & Marketing. They had a great eye for small details and taught me how to prioritize different aspects of a graphic and how to make content look cohesive using a style guide.
How did OneUnited Bank change your relationship with money?
Working at OneUnited transformed my political standing regarding money. I wholeheartedly believe that working to close the racial wealth gap will relieve a multitude of issues within our society.
What was your favorite project?
As a songwriter, it was fun listening to people’s unique song submissions for the OneUnited Jingle Contest.
How has the program’s leadership component transformed your perspective on your own potential?
Since I’ve often been appointed to train new interns about the company, its practices, and the graphic design programs we use, I’ve thought about potentially becoming an instructor.
Were you better prepared for the workforce after your internship with OneUnited?
Absolutely, considering I was hired full-time by OneUnited Bank immediately after the internship. I possess the collaborative spirit and have had a great experience with the OneUnited Bank team.
