WORK EXPERIENCE
American Enterprise Institute • Adam Smith Institute • Institute of Economic Affairs
A number of short stints at various British and American think-tanks have given me a firm understanding of how think-tanks operate and run their operations. As Summer Honors Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, I spent a week examining the issue of political alientation under scholar Tim Carney. I returned to the IEA in 2022 as a fellow on Freedom Week, an intense course of seminars and lectures on liberty and policy. Finally, after winning the 2021 Young Writers on Liberty Contest, I spent three weeks interning at the Adam Smith Institute, where I worked first-hand on research papers, drafted podcast scripts, and organised events for the Institute.
House of Commons – Parliamentary Researcher
I have significant experience in British politics, having worked for a Member of Parliament during my gap year and alongside my studies. This role enabled me to better discern who governs and what the most effective levers of change are in various cases. Having to work on diverse areas of policy, from building regulations, to security and foreign policy, has given me an excellent grasp of many interrelated subject areas. I also leveraged this time to build up a significant network across and outside 'the bubble.'
JP Morgan Chase and Co - Intern
In July 2019 I interned at JP Morgan’s Wealth Management Division, an experience that gave me a deep and meaningful insight into the world of finance and banking. It enabled me to translate the theoretical aspects of modern finance that I’d read in books by Philip Coggan and Michael Lewis and gave me a real understanding of the needs and role that global finance plays today. The truth is that it’s far greater than you think. Credit and financial institutions underpin almost every aspect of modern society and without them, the world would almost literally fall apart. What we saw in 2008 was only the tip of the iceberg.
Through working on a research project on blockchain and other innovations in fintech, I was excited about the potential these technologies have. Take blockchain for instance: if used correctly, it could result in a super-transparent system which would enable a crack-down on criminal activity and money laundering. This would lower costs for not only the banks themselves but society as a whole.
I also made the most of my time to speak to as many people as possible, from senior Managing Directors to other interns. This enabled me to learn a great amount as well. I wasn’t scared to get stuck in and ask when I didn’t understand, which is why the experience was so valuable.
Institute of Economic Affairs - Intern
In addition to my internship at JP Morgan, I also spent some of the summer of 2019 undertaking the Sixth Form Internship at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a prestigious Westminster think-tank. The internship allowed me to explore and research many topics including housing policy, immigration, the role of the market, justice in healthcare, and more. My favourite part was assessing what makes a strong argument, and subsequently participating in group debates. I worked in a group of three, and over the week we researched points against the statement ‘Cash should be abolished’. The leadership and discipline that I demonstrated not only contributed to our group winning the debate, but also to us being awarded ‘Strongest Group Argument’. In addition to this, I was awarded the 'Best Intern' award at the end of the week.
The Economist Group - Intern
In August of 2018, I was one of 8 to be selected from a pool of over 800 applicants for an internship at The Economist Group, a world-leading quality-press newspaper. Throughout the internship, it was fascinating to gain a deeper understanding into the practices and functions that exist within a media organisation. It was also captivating to examine the role that the media plays in current-affairs and politics. By attending editorial meetings, working on various projects, and asking questions to journalists, advertising agents, and columnists, I was able to gain a significant understanding into the workings of one of the world's most prestigious newspapers.
Boots UK
Throughout my time at Sixth-Form, I worked part-time at Boots Pharmacy, where working in pharmacy allowed me to gain an understanding of the procedures and laws related to the sale of medicine and drugs. I also managed the team on a Sunday, managing rotas and delegating jobs to other team members.
The job also allowed me to develop my leadership and communication skills, especially working in a fast-paced retail environment. It was critical to be able to prioritise, and to manage my time effectively. Though not officially part of my job, working here allowed me to put into practise some of the techniques I had read in business books and journals. For instance, I often re-arranged products and counters to increase sales, and I was congratulated for my intuition and helpful suggestions that improved the customer experience.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do, and it is apparent that Adam loves his job. Never has a room lit up more, than when Adam walks in!” – Bhageera Sivakumaran, Pharmacy Colleague.