Landing Your Investment Banking Internship and Earning The Return Offer

Episode 44 | March 16, 2026

In Episode 44 of the Coffee Chat Podcast, Ben welcomes Ike, a senior at the University of Michigan who recently completed his junior summer internship and received a full-time offer. Ike offers a grounded, insightful walkthrough of preparing for investment banking recruiting, maximizing a summer internship, and finding the right path in finance.

Raised in Washington, D.C., Ike grew up a committed Michigan fan. With both parents and a sister as alumni, attending the University of Michigan felt like a natural decision. He shares that his interest in finance sharpened early:

“The summer after my freshman year…I decided to take the Adventis course. The course helped me hone in on what specific area within finance I was most interested in.”

That early commitment set the stage for his successful sophomore-year recruiting cycle, where he earned an early offer from TD Cowen.

Ike’s internship offered a broad mix of analytical and creative work across Excel, PowerPoint, and deal materials. Each day was different, but one principle guided him: control what you can control.

“I tried to be the first person into the office…make sure I got that return offer. I think that was one of the things that helped me.”

He also recalls a formative “crucible moment”, preparing a deck to be sent directly to TD Cowen’s Head of Biotechnology Investment Banking: “I think I read that email a hundred times before I sent it.” This attention to detail, he says, defined his growth.

On preparation, Ike credits the TAMID Group, where he gained early exposure to financial modeling and equity research. Managing a real $25,000 portfolio helped him build a technical foundation that carried directly into IB interviews.

Throughout the discussion, Ben reinforces a powerful message: focus on excelling in the role right in front of you. Ike echoes this mindset, emphasizing discipline, early preparation, and finding environments that push you to grow.

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