Scholar interview – Anika Cuganesan

2025 Women in Finance Scholar, Anika Cuganesan, shares her experiences interning at Spheria Asset Management.

As part of the Pinnacle Women in Finance Scholarship, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a four-week internship at  Spheria Asset Management , one of Pinnacle’s affiliated fund managers. Due to the nature of reporting season, I was kept busy with a wide variety of tasks including reconciling and updating financial models, verifying and checking data, supporting analysts with company research, and completing an independent research project on the impact of AI on Spheria’s portfolio positions.

A key highlight of my internship was the opportunity to attend meetings with companies in which Spheria holds investments. Listening to the portfolio managers’ questions and even getting the chance to ask my own was an invaluable experience.

My Finance and Marketing majors both came in handy throughout the internship, but the depth of what I learned on the job far exceeded what I could have gained in a classroom alone. There really is no substitute for hands-on experience.

The culture at both Spheria and Pinnacle was something that stood out to me. Everyone was genuinely willing to take the time to explain things, include me in meetings, and invest in my learning. It’s an environment where curiosity is encouraged.

If you’re considering applying for the Women in Finance Scholarship, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s a remarkable opportunity to gain real industry experience and start building a network that will stay with you long beyond the internship itself.