From interns to associates: How Bread Financial® helps shape early career growth
An internship can be more than a part-time experience; it can be the start of a career. For treasury markets analyst Cameron Shirkey; data scientist Sanket Baheti; and business development specialist Adam Calhoun, early opportunities at Bread Financial® helped them build confidence, explore their strengths and turn meaningful work into full-time roles.
Bread Financial’s Internship Program offers students the opportunity to learn, collaborate and make meaningful contributions across the company. Over 12 weeks in the U.S. and 6 months in India, interns participate in hands-on experiences, professional development opportunities and executive networking.
"I'm inspired by the growth our interns achieve in such a short period of time,” said Megan Hefel, talent partner, mobility programs. “Watching them build confidence, develop new skills, and make meaningful contributions to our business is incredibly rewarding. At the same time, our associates and leaders gain valuable opportunities to mentor, learn from fresh perspectives and help shape the future workforce. It's a true win-win for everyone involved."
These former interns show how asking questions, speaking up and embracing new challenges can shape long-term growth.
Finding his voice: Cameron builds his career
While studying accounting at Notre Dame College, Cameron was still determining his career path. After learning about Bread Financial’s culture, he saw an opportunity to figure out where he fit.
Interning in accounting his sophomore year and in investor relations his junior year, Cameron gained exposure to the work that interested him most. After earning his master’s degree, he returned to Bread Financial a third time in a full-time role in treasury that combined what he valued from both internships: analytical work, business perspective and meaningful connections.
Cameron emphasized that asking questions was one of the most important parts of his internship experience, along with building relationships across the business.
“I was told as an intern, ‘Don’t be afraid to speak up,’” said Cameron. “That advice changed the trajectory of my career. I am much more vocal and not afraid to share my opinions, and I think it’s helped our team and helped me along as well.”
As a college football player, Cameron learned early how to balance the demands of a sport with career preparation. For interns worried about juggling both, he said one lesson carried across the field and the workplace: the value of a strong team.
“My team now reminds me of my college football team,” said Cameron. “There’s that same bond and sense of belonging. Everyone feels welcome, and you never feel intimidated.”
Evolution of ideas: Sanket joins first intern class in India
Sanket began his Bread Financial career in 2024 as part of the first intern class in India. With steady growth, strong mentorship and cross-regional collaboration, he accepted a full-time role on the financial data analytics team and was promoted to a data scientist position last year.
From day one, Sanket immersed himself in the role. He credits the open, supportive environment, especially his manager and teammates, with helping him gain confidence early.
“My internship helped me grasp how the company works, how teams work and how I need to communicate with my team,” said Sanket. “As an intern, everyone was ready to explain everything to me if I was ever unsure.”
When Sanket first walked through the doors, the India office was a much smaller community. Since then, the office has nearly doubled in size, and he has grown alongside it.
“More teams started hiring interns and it feels like there are more chances to share new ideas,” said Sanket. “Now in India, we’ll meet to share ideas more through different company events focused on operational efficiency.”
A key skill Sanket learned from his internship is the importance of communication. Working independently taught him to stay disciplined about keeping his team informed. For Sanket, strong communication and relationship building are central to professional growth.
My internship helped me grasp how the company works, how teams work and how I need to communicate with my team."
Sanket Baheti - Data Scientist, Bread Financial
Building confidence: Adam grows into leadership
Adam’s internship experience came full circle when he had the opportunity to manage an intern of his own. Adam first joined Bread Financial as a corporate strategy intern before graduating from Purdue University and transitioning into a full-time business development role.
Now in his third year, Adam has embraced a new stage of growth: leadership. When he managed an intern last summer, he drew on the example set by the leaders who shaped his own experience.
"I tried to look back at how I was led during my internship and take the things I liked from my managers,” said Adam. “I built off my past experiences to create the best experience possible for my intern.”
That experience also showed Adam how far he’d come. One of his biggest lessons has been recognizing the value of his contributions and speaking more confidently about his work, a skill that became just as important when guiding someone else.
“I’ve definitely gotten more confident throughout my time here, whether it's advocating for myself or advocating as a leader for my intern,” said Adam. “I've gotten to the point now that when I feel strongly about something, I am much more open in sharing my opinions.”
His advice to current interns reflects what he learned over time: take stock of what you've accomplished, and don't shy away from sharing it.
About Bread Financial®
Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, technology, electronics, jewelry, home and specialty apparel through our co-brand and private label credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers. Additionally, we offer Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and saving products that empower our customers and their passions for a better life.
Bread Financial proudly marks 30 years of success in 2026. To learn more about our global associates, our performance and our sustainability progress, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
