Mohammad Islam, ’25, reflects on public finance experience and future goals.

Mohammad Islam, ’25, a senior finance major, spent the summer of 2024 interning with Stifel, a financial services firm specializing in public finance. Initially drawn by the internship’s proximity to his home, Islam’s interest deepened after researching Stifel’s role in the public finance sector. The position allowed him to immerse himself in the intricacies of investment banking while developing hands-on experience in a field he hopes to pursue post-graduation.

Throughout his interview process, former La Salle Adjunct Professor Lisa Rae, MBA ’92, offered invaluable support.

“She told me to utilize resources like La Salle’s online interview website, Big Interview, to prepare for each round,” Islam recalled.

Islam’s work schedule at Stifel was intense, with four 10-hour days each week. His mornings began with status updates to his managing directors, ensuring they were aware of his progress on assigned tasks. On days he had additional capacity, he proactively requested more assignments, sometimes even working on the trading floor, where he assisted traders with market research and tendered option bonds.

“My Financial Analysis Seminar prep class that I had taken in spring of 2024 helped strengthen my knowledge of fixed income instruments,” Islam said.

A highlight of Islam’s internship was a capstone research project that involved tendering bonds, a process where companies buy bonds on the open market and offer investors a premium.

“The end goal of the project was to create a process used to solicit bids for products from potential vendors—a request for proposal document detailing the bonds we aimed to buy back, and the premium offered,” Islam explained.

Islam was grateful for the practical knowledge he gained, which complements his coursework in finance at La Salle. He looks forward to applying his skills to roles in investment banking, particularly in debt capital markets, and he hopes to support other La Salle students interested in the field.

—Rafiga Imanova, MBA ’25