Finding a Future in Energy: Ned Southwell's Internship at Phillips 66

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Internship Company: Phillips 66

Internship Department: Finance, U.S. Marketing

Internship Location: Houston, TX

Position Before MBA: Senior M&A Analyst at Hanger, Inc.

How did you secure your internship?

I secured my internship through Phillips 66’s formal on-campus recruiting process, organized by the Career Development Office.

What were your responsibilities during the internship?

I was the sole owner of a project exploring a potential brand strategy for placing refined products in one of Phillips 66’s key markets. I built a financial model and collaborated with stakeholders across U.S. marketing, finance and legal to shape the analysis before presenting my findings and recommended path forward to senior leadership.

How did your MBA coursework prepare you for this internship?

While I came into business school with a finance background, Core Finance (MGMT 543), Financial Accounting (MGMT 501) and Managerial Accounting (MGMT 502) sharpened the skills I needed to build a financial model addressing a real-world business problem. Energy Finance (MGMT 606) and Fundamentals of the Energy Industry (MGMT 610) equipped me with industry-specific knowledge to understand Phillips 66’s different operating segments and how they fit together, which helped me hit the ground running from day one.

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How did the internship align with your career goals?

My ultimate goal in attending business school is to transition into the energy industry long term and apply my finance background in a new context. My internship provided exactly what I was looking for, giving me direct exposure to Phillips 66’s integrated business model. Over my ten weeks, I was able to work on issues that are genuinely critical to today’s energy industry.

What was your favorite part of your internship experience?

My favorite part was the conversations I had with Rice Business alumni across the company. Hearing about the many different and interesting paths that they have taken within the company helped me sharpen how I’m thinking about my own post-MBA career goals. 

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Leverage Rice Business’ deep alumni network early and often; it is one of the program’s biggest assets, and the willingness of alumni to make time for current and prospective students is something that you won’t find everywhere. Beyond that, take time to introspect before business school to understand the story that brought you here. Genuine interest in a company or industry, paired with real self-awareness, always shines through in the recruiting process and often sets candidates apart.

Ned Southwell is a Full-Time MBA student in the Class of 2027.