Maddy began her USAA journey as an intern, unsure of exactly where her career in finance would take her. Today, as a member of the Finance Future Leaders Program, she’s gaining hands-on experience, building confidence, and discovering new strengths while creating a path toward a meaningful, long-term career at USAA.
Q: When you think back to your time as an intern, what stands out most about where you were starting out?
A: When I look back at my time as an intern, the first thing that stands out is that I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work in finance, and I had chosen finance as my major in college, but beyond that, I didn’t have a clear direction for where I wanted to land after graduation.
When I joined USAA as an intern in the summer of 2023, I was a little nervous and unsure of what came next, but I knew USAA would be a great place to explore different opportunities and figure out the direction I wanted my career to take.
Q: How has your role or day-to-day work changed since those early experiences?
A: As an intern, a lot of my experience was centered around learning the business, researching different areas, and networking with people across USAA. It gave me the opportunity to learn about different career paths and discover what interested me.
Today, my role includes both recurring responsibilities and new learning opportunities. I might build a report from scratch or work alongside different analysts on my team to better understand their responsibilities and the work they do. That hands-on experience has been one of the biggest changes from my early days as an intern.
Q: Looking at “then vs. now,” what growth are you most proud of?
A: The growth I’m most proud of is becoming more willing to put myself out there and take on assignments that may feel challenging or unfamiliar. When you’re in college or first entering the workforce, it can be easy to avoid trying something new because you’re afraid you might fail.
Over time, I’ve learned to raise my hand and take on opportunities, even when I may not get everything right the first time. I’m much more confident in my ability to try new things, learn through the experience, and keep growing.
Q: How did the Finance Future Leaders Program shape your development or confidence?
A: The program has given me opportunities to work on projects and assignments that I wouldn’t typically experience in a school environment. As I’ve taken on new projects and been asked to support different types of work, I’ve been able to build my confidence along the way.
Having those opportunities to learn through real experiences has played a big role in my growth. I’ve become more comfortable taking on new challenges and trusting myself to learn as I go.
Q: What does building a long-term career at USAA mean to you now?
A: When I first joined USAA as an intern, the possibility of building a long-term career here already meant a lot to me. I was familiar with the company, its mission, its core values, and the people we serve.
Now that I’ve experienced the work environment firsthand and met people across the organization, building a career here means even more. There’s something special about working for a mission-driven company, and that’s something I’ve found at USAA.
When Maddy first joined USAA as an intern, she knew she wanted a career in finance but wasn’t sure where that path would lead. Her internship gave her the opportunity to explore, learn, and begin discovering where she wanted to grow.
Through hands-on projects, networking, and exposure to different areas of the business, Maddy gained a clearer understanding of the opportunities available in finance and began shaping a career path that felt right for her.
As part of the Finance Future Leaders Program, Maddy has learned to embrace new challenges, raise her hand for opportunities, and become comfortable learning along the way. Each new experience has helped build her confidence and adaptability.
Today, Maddy sees USAA as a place where she can continue learning, take on new challenges, and build a meaningful long-term career while contributing to a mission that matters.