Global Atlantic Financial Group initiated its Early Career Recruiting and Internship Program to address the pressing need for increased diversity and innovation and a robust talent pipeline.

“Our organization recognized the challenges of a homogenous workforce, limited innovation, and a shortage of early-career talent,” explains Ashley Silva, Global Atlantic’s AVP of talent acquisition.

“Over the past four years, we expanded our internship program from 11 to 75 participants, strengthening our brand, enhancing candidate experiences, forming valuable diversity and school partnerships, and accessing top diverse talent.”

Silva explains that this initiative has transformed Global Atlantic, making it more diverse, innovative, and well-positioned for sustained growth, while reinforcing its commitment to its continued success.

“Through this initiative, we've not only provided significant opportunities to emerging talent but also successfully transitioned them into full-time roles, resulting in a tangible impact on our diversity metrics,” Silva says.

Global Atlantic's internship program is a dynamic 10-week initiative spanning seven offices in the United States and Bermuda. Designed to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience, the program offers opportunities across a spectrum of domains, including investments, technology, operations, actuarial roles, and more.

Global Atlantic's internship program embodies a multifaceted mission, empowering the organization and reflecting its corporate responsibility commitment.

“We provide early career talent with extensive exposure to the insurance and financial services industry, fostering skill development and real-world experience through hands-on learning and collaboration,” Silva points out.

Interns benefit from a robust support system that includes specialized training through WallStreet Prep, individualized one-on-one mentorship, and mid-summer performance reviews to track their growth and development.

Interns have access to Global Atlantic’s Diversity Business Networks, fostering connections and providing unique insights into its inclusive workplace culture. Interns also receive paid company holidays, a 401k match, medical benefits, and a stipend for housing.

Diversity is a core focus of Global Atlantic’s internship program. The company actively seeks individuals from diverse backgrounds, nurturing an inclusive and equitable environment.

“This enriches our workplace culture, fuels innovation, and enhances our ability to connect with clients, strengthening our competitiveness,” Silva explains.

“We take pride in our commitment to corporate responsibility, exemplified by initiatives such as the ‘Day of Inclusion,’ when interns engage in volunteering events that promote diversity and community involvement.”

Interns are also encouraged to participate in Global Atlantic's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Challenge, which showcases their creativity and commitment to these vital principles.

Global Atlantic prioritizes transitioning early talent into full-time roles within the organization. Upholding rigorous talent assessment standards, interns are offered opportunities to make a tangible impact during their internship.

To assess the effectiveness of its Early Career Recruiting and Internship Program, Global Atlantic employs a comprehensive evaluation framework that gauges multiple dimensions of success.

“First and foremost, we use an engagement survey administered both halfway through the summer and after the internship,” Silva explains.

“This feedback mechanism allows us to gain valuable insights into our interns’ experiences, enabling us to identify areas of improvement and areas that resonate with them.”

The results, she says, have demonstrated the program's impact, with an impressive Net Promoter Score (NPS) consistently exceeding 70 and reaching 90 in summer 2023 across all areas of the business.

Global Atlantic also uses its conversion rate to measure the program’s success. An impressive example of this is in 2023, when 92% of Global Atlantic’s offers to interns to join the company full time after graduation were accepted.

“Beyond these quantitative measures, we also consider the longer-term journey of our interns within Global Atlantic,” Silva adds.

“We track their progress as a cohort and benchmark their performance against candidates hired externally at a similar level. Our data consistently reveal that our intern classes outperform their peers, boasting higher performance ratings.”

Silva says that Global Atlantic's Early Career Recruiting and Internship Program is a beacon of corporate responsibility, concurrently achieving three vital objectives:

• Industry exposure for early talent;
• Fostering diversity; and
• Seamless talent transition.

“It adds immeasurable value to our organization,” Silva notes.

“At Global Atlantic, our internship program isn't just about learning; it's about launching careers and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workforce that drives our success globally.”