Internship Spotlight: Zunaash Rasheed ’25, Strategy&
Zunaash Rasheed applied the strategy skills she learned at SOM during a consulting internship in Dubai.
We asked rising second-year MBA students to check in from their summer internships, where they applied the lessons of their first year at Yale SOM.
Internship: Strategy& Middle East, Dubai
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Go-to work lunch: Krave or Healthy & Co
Favorite thing about internship city: Dubai’s food scene is a foodie’s paradise, offering everything from local Middle Eastern flavors to gourmet global dishes.
This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Strategy& Middle East, a management consulting firm that works extensively with government clients across the region. I was staffed on a healthcare project, where my team focused on addressing both mental and physical well-being challenges faced by healthcare workers.
Prior to arriving at SOM, I had worked as an internal consultant for the provincial government of Pakistan. While I found public-sector work incredibly rewarding, I also wanted to gain exposure to a wider range of industries. Strategy& provided the perfect balance, allowing me to explore diverse projects while maintaining my passion for public sector transformation.
During my first year, I received the Strategy& Middle East Women’s Fellowship and visited the firm’s Dubai office as part of the program. I was impressed by the welcoming culture and insightful discussions about challenges faced by women in consulting. Additionally, the firm connected me with a mentor who provided invaluable support throughout the internship application process.
But I ultimately credit SOM with providing the support and resources that allowed me to land the internship. Through the school’s network, I was able to connect with second-year MBA students and alumni who shared their experiences at the firm. SOM’s case-based learning environment and club activities also helped me prepare for the intense interview process, which involved a “super interview day” with three back-to-back case interviews.
The collaborative and team-oriented culture at SOM also proved invaluable during my internship. The experience of working with diverse teams on cases and critical problems equipped me with the confidence and skills I needed to tackle the healthcare project at Strategy&. Additionally, the networking strategies I honed at SOM helped me build meaningful relationships with my summer colleagues, further enriching the internship.
Outside of work, the firm arranged some fantastic lunches, dinners, and fun activities. These moments offered a great way to bond with the team, making the whole experience even more memorable.