Pioneer intern series: Edmond Lee

February 25, 2019

Edmond Lee is preparing to start his professional career at Deloitte this summer, but he is no stranger to Deloitte. During his time in college, Edmond has gotten to know the Deloitte team in Virginia and New York through several internships with the organization, starting in his freshman year as one of Deloitte’s first Pioneer Interns. Learn how his experiences as an intern have shaped his career path.

Finding my path

At the University of Maryland, I walked into our fall career fair in late 2015. I was a finance major convinced that I was made for Wall Street. When I walked in, I felt nervous at first. To shake the nerves, I decided to walk up to the first booth that I saw. I still remember walking up to Deloitte and meeting the recruiters. One of them suggested that instead of graduating early in three years, that I try adding an accounting major. As a freshman, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but with their guidance, I was soon sitting in the career center ready for the first of two in-person interviews for the Pioneer Internship.

I had no idea that my next interview would be with the person who would be the one to set my career on the path I had dreamed of. I sat down with an audit & assurance managing director in the McLean, VA office. I was so worried about the interview because I knew nothing about accounting or auditing or advisory services. But, very quickly, I realized that she was more interested in getting to know more about me, my interests, and my experiences. I told her about my love for music and how I had performed at Carnegie Hall my senior year of high school. I also shared my passion for community service and providing aid deep in the Amazon. Then, she told me about how her kids were musically gifted. She told me about Impact Day and the amazing things that Deloitte does for the community. She also shared her Deloitte story. After we wrapped up the interview, I left smiling from ear to ear knowing that I did not want to work anywhere else. I had to see for myself if it was as amazing as she had described.

The right fit

My Pioneer and Discovery internships included experiences with the DC Deloitte Greenhouse, risk and financial advisory, audit & assurance, and tax teams in the DC Metro Area. These were great experiences, but I could still feel myself looking for the perfect fit.

I think one of the most important things I look for in a job is the opportunity to make a tangible difference. I do not just want to be a cog in a giant machine. I want to be able to see how I am helping my team perform the best it can. I love how mergers and acquisitions (M&A) works in close-knit teams. The team usually consists of personnel at different levels. There is no room to hide here. Every person needs to give the project his or her all. There is no better feeling than after the project ends when you know that you and the people around you were responsible for making a difference.

Looking ahead

I have spent three years with the title of Deloitte intern. While it’s been a great experience, I am ready to see what I can do now that I am on the other side. A Deloitte leader once told me "M&A can get tough. Stick it out and trust me when I say it will be worth it in the end." I have already seen how challenging and intense the work can get. But, my absolute favorite thing about Deloitte is that you are in full control of your future. You are the one who charts the path for yourself. You are the one who decides, at the end of the day, who you want to be.

Explore

Learn more about Deloitte’s student leadership opportunities.