At Interac, internships and co-op placements are more than just temporary roles; they’re launch pads for meaningful careers. These programs bridge academic learning with real-world experience, giving students the chance to collaborate with leaders, contribute to impactful projects, and grow in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
For National Intern Day, we spoke to ten employees who started in the Interac Internship Program to learn more about their experiences.
Name: Saptak Bhadra, IT Operations Analyst
Data Analyst Intern (2023-2024)
How would you describe the culture at Interac?
The culture at Interac fosters an environment where every voice is heard and every contribution is valued. Even during my time as an intern, my opinions were not only welcomed but thoughtfully considered. When suggestions didn’t align with the broader vision, the reasoning was clearly and respectfully explained. This spirit of openness and inclusion is deeply woven into the fabric of the Interac identity.
Name: Zoe Cassar, Associate Product Manager, Payments – Product Operations and Client Experience
Marketing and Brand Intern (2021-2022)
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting their first internship?
My advice to someone starting their internship at Interac is to take advantage of the ownership you’re given. Interns at Interac can make real contributions to large-scale projects due to the lean team structure. Don’t hesitate to network across teams; it’s the best way to explore your interests and open doors for future opportunities.
Name: Priya Patel, Talent Programs Coordinator
HR Assistant Intern (2023)
What was it like transitioning from an intern to a full-time role at Interac?
When my internship was coming to an end, I felt I had barely scratched the surface of what I wanted to complete and achieve here, I knew I needed to come back. The process of transitioning from my internship to full time was very smooth. Even though I had a year in-between, everyone welcomed me back and just picked up where I left off.
Name: Deelan Sabido, End User Services Coordinator
Help Desk Technical Analyst Intern (2023-2024)
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting their first internship?
If you get the chance to intern at Interac, my advice would be to make the most of it. I know it sounds a little cliché, and it’s the advice that everyone gives — but I think you really must make the most of it if you’re here. Interac is filled with a diverse group of professionals from all sorts of industries – not just finance or fintech. There are so many individuals here with unique perspectives and a wealth of knowledge that you might not be able to get at any other company.
Name: Mahmoud Sabra, Associate Product Manager, Solutions Acceleration
Innovation Intern, Research and Foresight (2023)
What was the most important lesson you learned during your internship at Interac?
One of the most important lessons I learned during my internship was the importance of strong teamwork and being able to collaborate with people from various teams.
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting their first internship?
I recommend interns reach out to experienced professionals within the organization they’re working at to expand their network and learn from their expertise.
Name: Matthew Sgromo, Client Strategy Specialist
Commercial Partnerships & Client Solutions Intern (2023)
What was the most important lesson you learned during your internship at Interac?
A lesson I took away from my internship at Interac is that pressure is a privilege. I learned how to drive internal and client conversations by aligning priorities with value, while collaborating cross-functionally to propose solutions and deliver results. I also developed agility, adapting quickly to change, taking initiative to solve problems, and turning data into insights that enable smarter decisions.
Name: Divyanshu Singh, Software Developer
Software Development Intern (2023)
What was the most important lesson you learned during your internship at Interac?
I learned that an internship is a great opportunity to prove yourself as an asset to the team and pave your path to a full-time opportunity. During a typical recruitment process, the recruiter has just a few hours to judge you based on the interview rounds, but during an internship you get four months to rectify mistakes, learn gradually, and most importantly, develop interpersonal bonding.
Name: Eric Sotkowy, Innovation Delivery Specialist
Innovation Intern (2020-2024)
What was it like transitioning from an intern to a full-time role at Interac?
The transition from my internship to a full-time position felt seamless, like a natural next step. I was excited to keep learning and take on new challenges in payments innovation.
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting their first internship?
My advice to future interns is to ask questions. You’re surrounded by experts who want to help you grow. Take time to connect with people; relationships make the experience even richer.
Name: Colby Taylor, IAM Security Specialist
Software Developer Intern (2023)
How did you know that Interac was a place you wanted to grow?
I knew that Interac was a great place for me to grow because everyone was so helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. The architecture team was always so willing to help troubleshoot my issues. I knew that I wanted to work at Interac to have a chance to learn from all of the extremely knowledgeable experts.
Name: Rabia Zaki, Talent Programs Coordinator
People and Culture Intern (2024)
What was the most important lesson you learned during your internship at Interac?
The biggest lesson I learned during my internship was how to take ownership and trust my instincts. I was given space to lead projects, speak up, and learn through doing, which helped me grow both personally and professionally.
