Intern Profile - Ian Mahoney
Over the summer I worked under The Consumer Federation of
America's (CFA) Director of Financial Services. I spent my time learning the
ropes of the financial services industry while researching and contributing to
reports on issues important to consumers. It was an exciting time to be part of
a consumer advocacy organization. Coming off of the recent financial collapse
and the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, interest in
consumer protection and the financial sector was growing.
I personally spent most of my summer focused on the small dollar consumer
credit industry. I researched issues like installment loans and mobile lending,
collected data, and helped compose reports on those topics. It ended up being
an incredible experience because I was able to work on projects that benefited
consumers while conducting original research and drawing new conclusions. I was
also afforded the opportunity to attend conferences, lectures, and
congressional hearings whenever possible to learn about the industry I was
working in and about the intersection of government and consumer protection.
The best part about working at CFA was the chance to try something new. Over the
course of the first year of the program I was introduced to numerous
different types of organizations that I could work for, through programs like
the Washington D.C. dialogues and networking events. The program expanded my
horizon regarding the different ways that I could get involved with issues I am
passionate about. This drove me to spend my summer working
with a type of organization that I had never interacted with before. I had worked with non-profit
organizations in the past, but never with one that had such a coherent approach to
advocacy. My experience encouraged me to keep
an open mind as I embark on the job hunt and made me realize just how
applicable my training from the program is to many different types of fields.
