Justin Murray: The Value of Forming Meaningful Relationships

As the world transitions to a new normal, Nasdaq’s annual internship program is too. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have turned circumstance into a learning opportunity for interns joining us this year to participate in meaningful and long-term projects. 

In the Nasdaq Futures Internship Program, we offer a variety of professional experiences for emerging talent through an immersive 10 to 12-week virtual internship program. From Stockholm to the U.S., meet few of the bright minds joining us digitally from all around the world. They are playing integral, hands-on roles to help Nasdaq #RewriteTomorrow. Today, we speak Justin Murray, an intern with the Governance Solutions team, here at Nasdaq.

Tell us a bit about your position and background

This summer, I will be an intern on the Nasdaq Governance Solutions Marketing team, focusing specifically on lead generation for SaaS products. Prior to Nasdaq, I have worked to build my experience across different fields and roles. After my freshmen year, I lived in Chengdu, China working with a fintech startup focused on their fundraising process. Additionally, I’ve held several roles at Stevens Institute of Technology. I served as the Red Bull brand ambassador for the past two years and worked on an executive research team. I was also founder of my own professional development club, and started a company. As a result of my involvement, I was named the Entrepreneur of the Year at Stevens this past spring. Working on this team will help bring in new perspectives and ideas on how to further innovate our existing and upcoming solutions. Governance is an important aspect of all companies, and I am learning how important it truly is this summer.

What is your favorite project you’ve worked on thus far, or one that you’re looking forward to?

My main project for this summer is working with the team to build the foundations of a corporate community, which is bringing together executives and governance practitioners to share ideas, network and learn. Currently, I have been researching products offered by Nasdaq, and our current competitors in the space. After the completion of my research, I will be developing a campaign launch strategy. I am looking forward to delivering an enticing value proposition of the NCBE in a variety of ways. Working with the design team to create advertisements and creating a go-to market strategy for the launch will be an incredible learning experience as well. My hope is to effectively assist in the launch of an incredible product that will help directors and executives across the world.

What about Nasdaq has stood out to you most, now that you are a part of the global team?

Before this summer, I never understood how diverse of a company Nasdaq was. I always thought of them as the stock exchange, but now I understand how they are innovating in numerous markets as well. The main stand out to me is how much of a start-up culture they have. It has allowed me to network based off my interests and tackle a variety of projects and initiatives. The culture here allows me to understand that every idea matters, giving me a great deal of confidence.

How is this internship supporting your goals long-term?

This internship at Nasdaq is supporting my long-term goals in a few ways. I have always been a huge fan of the tech space, especially with tech startups. The process of growing an idea into a full-fledged company that eventually goes public has always been a topic of interest for me. I have a goal of understanding the full process of a company going from an idea to a public corporation. This internship is helping me better understand large businesses from a governance aspect, as well as from the point of view of the company’s board of executives.

This is my first time working a 9-5 job in “Corporate America.” Naturally, I was nervous in the beginning, but learning how a company of this size operates day-to-day has been extremely rewarding. It has been helping me answer the questions: “Can I work for a large company and would I enjoy it as much as I enjoy working with startups?” This experience allows me to have a more flexible outlook on my future endeavors with my career. My experience thus far has been very diversified across different fields. By having an internship that introduces me to different career paths, I am discovering what I truly enjoy working on. Essentially, the goal of this internship is for me to better understand companies and better understand myself. 

What is your goal as a #NasdaqFam intern?

To learn, network and impress. I learn a lot in school but learning through experiences and conversations has taught me more than any class I’ve taken. Understanding that no matter where you are from, how old you are, and how experienced you are that you can still benefit another person through a conversation is powerful. When meeting the rest of the #NasdaqFam, I like to remember how I can learn from every person I talk to as long as I listen and ask the questions I want to ask. Also, every idea matters so do not be afraid of sharing yours. First impressions are very important in business, and your body language and presentation can impact your first impression before you can even complete a sentence. I think of making a good first impression as planting a seed, and that seed can benefit you in due time. Forming meaningful relationships at Nasdaq is extremely valuable because of the knowledge they all hold and how much they enjoy helping you better yourself. By the end of this internship I hope to be more knowledgeable, to have met lots of great peers and mentors, and to leave an impression that exceeds this summer.

What advice would you give to future Nasdaq interns?

Make the most out of every opportunity, keep a busy schedule and seek enjoyable experiences! As you join meetings and meet other employees, seek out ways to provide value and display your work ethic. Usually, while following up about an interesting project, you may want to create your own initiative to help those around you. As an intern, your work ethic, passion and ideas will assist you in providing value and making the most out of every opportunity. Keeping a busy schedule causes you to focus more on being organized, thus allowing you to pursue more opportunities and learn more. A big part of an internship is learning if it is the right company and field for you! The culture at Nasdaq is all about pursuing excellence and constantly innovating, so try your best to discover what you enjoy working on the most. Discovering opportunities for yourself outside your direct team is a great way to find new passions and expand your network. Positivity goes a long way, so remember to have fun while helping Nasdaq on its mission to rewrite tomorrow!

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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