After excelling on her summer internship with global financial services firm BNY, Business Management student Nailah Khan has secured a place on their highly competitive graduate scheme, a full year before graduating.
This summer, Nailah was immersed in high-impact initiatives within BNY’s Foreign Exchange Markets team, including developing AI-driven solutions to streamline key operations. She also played an active role in day-to-day business activity, gaining valuable real-world experience.
Alongside her internship, Nailah and her peers took part in BNY’s Business for Good competition. Their project, Liberty – an AI-powered assistant designed to support underrepresented candidates in early careers – won the competition, triumphing over 405 participants worldwide.
The team travelled to BNY’s global headquarters in New York to pitch their idea to the executive committee and CEO Robin Vince, where they were announced as the competition winners. Nailah described the experience as “unforgettable” and said it was especially meaningful to present Manchester on the global stage.
On winning the competition, she commented: “It was an emotional moment, especially as I feel that London often dominates the narrative, so representing Manchester on a global stage and winning, meant everything. It was a proud reminder that Manchester is a strategic growth location for a reason as it’s full of emerging talent.”
Reflecting on her graduate offer, Nailah said: “Returning to my final year with a graduate offer from BNY already secured has been incredibly empowering. It’s a reminder of how important it is to start building your career while still at university. The value of internships or placements can’t be overstated, they give you real-world experience, confidence, and often, a direct path into competitive industries.”
She also credited the role of Salford in her success, particularly the employability support she received: “I had amazing support from the Salford employability team, especially Sian, who helped me polish my interview skills. That preparation paid off: my managers later told me I was one of the strongest candidates, which led to my placement in one of the most demanding business areas.”
Sian J, Employability Advisor at the University, commented: “A student’s career path may be significantly benefited by the early connections they make through internships and placements. In order to develop these priceless industry connections, students must seize these opportunities while they are still in university, especially in the highly competitive graduate field.
“I’m thrilled that Nailah’s efforts have paid off, and I’m excited to see what she has ahead of her.”