Early Career Journeys at Barings

Antoine Kahaleh

Senior Associate, Barings Real Estate Team—U.S.

Antoine first joined the firm as a U.S. summer intern in 2020.

What did a typical day look like for you as a Barings summer intern?

Throughout the summer I worked on daily investment analysis and gained hands-on experience working on live deals with analysts and directors, including pulling market research, competitive analysis, screening new investments and data integration. I also worked on a larger project where I analyzed an investment opportunity to pitch to the investment committee at the conclusion of the summer.

What type of training did the internship program offer?

To kick off the summer, we had a full week of credit training with our entire internship class, as well as Excel training. This was a great time to connect and learn with interns from other teams before we all went into our individual business groups for the remainder of the program.

Did you have any interaction with senior leadership or senior investment team members during the summer?

This was by far my favorite part of my experience. The exposure to senior leadership was unmatched by any other internship or firm I had previously worked for. I was able to meet with our CEO in a small group of six, meet one-on-one with the Head of Real Estate multiple times, as well as having reoccurring meetings with senior leadership and others for check-ins and career advice. I received a lot of great advice and words of wisdom from many people across the firm.

“I felt that Barings gave me a wide range of successful career mentors that built an incredible team centered culture that I wanted to be a part of to learn from the best.”

What was your biggest challenge and your biggest highlight?

One of the biggest challenges of interning in summer of 2020 was obviously the pandemic and not being able to build as many connections in-person. This also became one of the biggest highlights as I was able to spend time with teams across the country because I was not tied to a specific office.

After graduating from The University of South Carolina, Antoine joined Barings as a program analyst on the Real Estate team in the Los Angeles, CA office.

How did your contributions and day-to-day work change from when you were an intern to an analyst?

I very quickly transitioned from being a resource on deals to analyzing and presenting them on my own. One of the great things about being an analyst at Barings is you don’t have to “wait your time” to be heard. From the very first month, I was given the microphone at investment committee and presented my analysis to our senior leadership, which is unique across the industry.

What made you want to come back to Barings as an analyst?

I felt that Barings gave me a wide range of successful career mentors that built an incredible team centered culture that I wanted to be a part of to learn from the best. Additionally, the different teams all seemed to provide exciting career paths that would provide options as my career grew.

“The beautiful part of the progression of intern, to program analyst, to senior associate at Barings is that it allows you flexibility within a structure.”

What was the most exciting project or deal you worked on as a program analyst?

I was the primary underwriter on a luxury hotel in downtown San Diego with incredible restaurants, rooftop pool and bar, nightclub, and great views of the city. Working on this project was extremely complicated and intellectually challenging but exciting to see all of the work go into a project that is benefiting the city of San Diego.

After two successful years in the analyst program, Antoine was promoted to Senior Associate as a full-time member of the Barings Real Estate team.

Can you provide some perspective on your career growth and what this journey was like for you?

The beautiful part of the progression of intern, to program analyst, to senior associate at Barings is that it allows you flexibility within a structure. I have been able to take on different roles and responsibilities every three to six months allowing myself to grow and learn quicker. The biggest benefit of the program is that it gives you a clear path for career growth and expanded responsibility for high performers. I experienced first-hand the way Barings focuses on growth and culture which provides both opportunities from a career perspective but also an environment where you can learn, perform, and have personal balance.

“Working in a smaller team allowed me to contribute meaningfully and gain significant deal exposure early on in my career.”

Inka Pearson

Senior Associate, Barings Global Infrastructure Debt Team—U.K.

Inka first joined the firm as a U.K. summer intern in 2020.

What made you choose the Barings internship program?

I chose the Barings internship program as I was keen to gain firsthand experience, learn from industry experts and develop my understanding of the asset management industry. Despite working remotely, the virtual onboarding and training process ensured a smooth transition into the company culture, fostering connections with colleagues and gaining key financial analysis skills.

What was your experience like as a summer intern?

I was responsible for delivering a research report on the European renewable energy industry, providing a recommendation for Barings’ investment opportunities. I was assigned a mentor from both the London and New York teams, which allowed me to broaden my understanding of the infrastructure debt landscape across countries and connect with colleagues that I may not have had the chance to, had my internship been in-person.

After completing her final year at the London School of Economics, Inka started with Barings as a program analyst on the Global Infrastructure Debt team.

How did your time as a summer intern set you up for success as a program analyst?

Given I had interned with the team the prior summer, I had a good sense of the team dynamic and where I would fit in. I was thrown straight into the deep end and entrusted with meaningful responsibilities when supporting live deals.

“I am thankful for the support and mentorship I received from my colleagues and the Early Talent team. Both have both played a significant role in my growth and I look forward to continuing my professional development at Barings.”

What was your analyst program experience like?

There is certainly no denying that the first few months were tough! The learning curve was steep, there was so much information to absorb and there were absolutely days when I doubted my choice of career, but I am so grateful for this experience as I was forced to ask questions and spend time working through things myself. Working in a smaller team allowed me to contribute meaningfully and gain significant deal exposure early on in my career.

After two years in the analyst program, I received the exciting news that I would be promoted to the Senior Associate and become a full-time member of the team.

Can you provide some perspective on your career growth and what this journey was like for you?

I am thankful for the support and mentorship I received from my colleagues and the Early Talent team. Both have both played a significant role in my growth and I look forward to continuing my professional development at Barings. Barings is a great place to work and I encourage anyone contemplating a career in finance (whether you have any experience in finance or not!) to apply to either the summer internship or analyst program.