The Power to Connect: helping the next generation gain real-world experience
A connection through the MGI community has helped Junru Rong (Stella) turn university learning into valuable real-world experience through a two-month internship with MGI Midgley Snelling LLP in the UK.
Stella, an Accounting and Finance undergraduate at the University of Birmingham, joined the firm’s Audit Department to gain practical experience and explore where a career in finance could take her.
From university learning to hands-on audit
During her internship, Stella gained experience across the audit cycle, preparing working papers and testing client purchasing controls. She also supported the team with engagement planning, giving her the opportunity to see first-hand how audit work comes together in practice.
For Stella, the experience helped bring what she had been learning at university to life. It also gave her the chance to learn directly from an experienced team and take on real responsibility.
“It was fantastic to apply my university learning to real-world scenarios, which really reinforced the importance of precision and professional judgment in audit work. Beyond building my technical skills in Excel and financial analysis, what made the experience truly special was the team.”
— Junru Rong (Stella) | China
The experience has also helped Stella think about what comes next. She plans to pursue a master’s degree focusing on Accounting Analytics or Business Analytics, reflecting her particular interest in how AI tools and data analytics are transforming the financial sector.
Longer term, she hopes to build a career in audit or financial analysis, bringing together her financial knowledge with her interest in technology.
A connection that opened the door
The opportunity came about through Cathy Zhang, Stella’s aunt and an MGI associate, who connected her with the team at MGI Midgley Snelling.
For Cathy, it has been particularly rewarding to see what came from that introduction.
“So proud of my niece Stella! Glad I could connect her with the fantastic team at MGI Midgley Snelling LLP for her audit internship. Wishing Stella all the best with her further studies and bright career ahead!”
— Cathy Zhang | Cathy Accounting Firm, China
MGI Midgley Snelling were equally pleased to play a part in Stella’s early career experience and see her contribution to the team over the two months.
“We wish Stella every success with the remainder of her studies and in her future career – we’re sure there are many exciting opportunities ahead!”
— Sarah Squires | MGI Midgley Snelling LLP, UK
First MGI meeting in Athens
Before beginning her internship, Stella had also joined Cathy at the European Conference in Athens, her first MGI event. It was an opportunity to experience the wider MGI community first-hand, meet members from across the network and get a sense of the relationships that connect MGI members around the world.
Stories like Stella’s show what can come from making the right connection. After attending her first MGI meeting in Athens, Stella went on to gain hands-on experience at MGI Midgley Snelling — another meaningful step as she explores the career she wants to build.
It is a simple example of the Power to Connect in action, and of how the relationships across our MGI community can create opportunities for the next generation.
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