Katie Geraghty ’26 and Anna Hamner ’25 made Charlotte their classroom at a fintech software firm, Intapp, and Krispy Kreme’s global tax team.
Charlotte’s glass-lined skyline has long signaled opportunity for bankers and accountants. This summer the Queen City welcomed two Martha and Spencer Love School of Business students who wanted to test themselves in a market known for both financial muscle and southern hospitality.
Katie Geraghty ’26: Building client-focused skills in fintech
A double major in business analytics and finance, Katie Geraghty accepted a client-success internship with Charlotte-based software firm, Intapp, that serves financial-services companies nationwide. Three days a week she commuted uptown, balancing phone consultations, data troubleshooting and an intern project designed to improve customer self-service resources.
“Moving to Charlotte let me step outside my comfort zone,” said Geraghty, who is from Westchester County, New York. “The city’s pace is different from New York, and working here has expanded my network and perspective.”
Early in the program she completed company training certificates and presented what she learned to managers and mentors. The experience gave her confidence to lead client calls and strengthened her problem-solving abilities.
“The Porter Center helped me refine my résumé and interview skills, and earning Excel certification in MIS has been invaluable,” Geraghty said. “Speak up and ask questions early. The more you engage, the faster you grow.”
Outside the office, she explored the South End, joined local running clubs and spent weekends at Lake Norman, proving that professional growth and quality of life can coexist.
Anna Hamner ’25: Navigating global tax at Krispy Kreme
Graduate student Anna Hamner joined Krispy Kreme’s global tax team, splitting her week between remote work and the company’s support center. Her largest assignment was a comprehensive state and local tax calendar that helps the organization track deadlines and avoid penalties.
“I loved Charlotte during my audit internship last year, so coming back made sense for building connections,” said Hamner ’25, a 3+1 Master of Accounting candidate from Asheville, North Carolina. “Even though Krispy Kreme is global, the corporate office feels close-knit and supportive.”
Daily tasks range from documenting audit requests to summarizing new legislation. The small staff size means interns sit near senior managers, creating natural opportunities for mentorship.
“Networking is the skill I want to master next,” Hamner said. “Maintaining connections is just as important as making them, because opportunities come through people you know.”
Advice from her managers has shaped her career plan. “They encouraged me to start in public accounting to build breadth before moving into corporate tax,” Hamner said. “This internship confirmed that tax is where I want to focus.”
And yes, she added, fresh doughnuts are available in the office every day.
About internships at Elon University
Elon’s nationally recognized Student Professional Development Center works with undergraduates and graduate students from their first year to build personal development plans, résumés and effective networking skills. Through internships students earn academic credit, gain firsthand workplace knowledge and develop professional abilities that set them apart in the job market. The university partners with a wide network of employers who actively recruit Elon students for internships and full-time positions.