My internship at Puma Capital Group has truly been invaluable. From my first day, I was warmly welcomed by everyone, whether through friendly chats in the kitchen or over walks and matchas outside the office, where people were always happy to share career advice and talk about their own journey. One thing that has remained constant throughout, is the company’s amazing culture; the genuine energy and camaraderie among the team truly embodies the firm’s values and has given me a deeper appreciation of the importance of culture and belonging in the workplace; paralleling the strong sense of teamwork and community I’ve experienced in the healthcare sector. As I reflect on the completion of my internship, I am grateful for the valuable knowledge I have gained, the meaningful relationships I have built, and the lasting memories created during my time at Puma.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent time in and worked with various teams within Puma including Compliance, Marketing, Puma Property Finance and Puma Public Markets. This unique combination has not only allowed me to develop and practice a broad and versatile skillset but has also given me the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of talented and experienced professionals. Throughout my time across these teams, I was trusted with many responsibilities that deepened my understanding of the firm’s values and approach to investment.

In Compliance, I conducted in-depth research in response to SmartSearch alerts and responded to them accordingly. I also reviewed company communications and assets submitted via Diligent Workflow to ensure alignment with FCA regulations - developing a strong sense of regulatory awareness and stakeholder responsibility.

Within Marketing, I supported the planning and execution of events ranging from corporate meetings with stakeholders to the Puma Summer Party. I also assisted with webinar filming for some of Puma Growth Partners’ (PGP) portfolio CEOs, where I met and was particularly inspired by the journey of Shafiq Ahmed, CEO of NRG Gyms. Finally, I drafted LinkedIn posts that showcased the achievements of PGP portfolio companies - gaining insight into the importance of thoughtful, brand-aligned communication.

My time in Puma Property Finance, working with Chris Whyte, one of the senior managers in the team was incredibly insightful. It provided me with the opportunity to review a variety of lending deals, gaining exposure to a range of facility types including acquisition, development, and bridging facilities across various asset classes including Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Co-living apartments and Care Homes. I assessed several credit papers, and even independently drafted and presented a credit paper strengthening my analytical and research skills. This experience served to affirm my interest in Real Estate as one of several areas I am keen to explore further.

When in the Puma Public Markets team, I was able to attend portfolio company site visits, review financial models, and observe auction processes for AIM-listed companies. I also gained hands-on experience with various investment platforms including FactSet, Iress, Pershing Nexus and Eximius, and took part in early-look IPO meetings, giving me valuable exposure to both public company operations and market dynamics.

This cross-company exposure has not only broadened my corporate awareness but has also reinforced my confidence in contributing meaningfully to collaborative, high-performing teams beyond the healthcare sector. As a medical student, keen to explore the corporate world, I came into this internship very optimistically, eager to learn anything beyond a stethoscope, and the professional and technical skills that I have developed whilst at Puma is something I will carry on through my career.

The highlight of my time at Puma was undoubtedly playing Rounders with everyone at the Summer Party. While it would have been much better if our team won, it’s the taking part that counts…right? Nonetheless, as much as I would love to thank everyone individually for the motivation and perspective they’ve shared with me, that would take forever, so instead I’d like to offer a heartfelt, collective thank you to everyone at Puma I’m extremely grateful for the experience that I’ve had and wish you all the very best.