What's Northwestern Mutual's Corporate Summer Internship Really Like?

Here at Northwestern Mutual, summer is our favorite season.  

As the summer winds down, we asked members of our 2026 intern class to reflect on what they learned, what surprised them and how their time here has helped prepare them for what’s next. 

Real work, real impact 

"NM's internship program is so unique because it gives us a chance to make a real impact in such a large, robust company. It's easy to feel intimidated by a new place, especially as an intern, but the entire program has been designed to accommodate all of us and make us feel truly at home. And because I feel so comfortable here, I feel compelled to network and build relationships, all while accomplishing real, meaningful work." 

"Honestly, the amount of real ownership you are given. I wasn’t just shadowing people or doing filler work, I was handed an actual project: updating a 12-to-14-page Power BI report that tracks Copilot and agent usage across the company. Knowing that my work has real visibility and impact instead of just sitting in a folder somewhere has made the whole summer feel a lot more meaningful." 

Skills to help you grow 

"Easily the most important skill to being successful in this internship is the ability to learn and adapt. The whole reason we are here, as young, inexperienced workers, is to gain the knowledge necessary to build a good foundation for our careers. If you begin this internship thinking that you already have all the tools you need to be successful, without being open to failure and innovation, you won’t gain nearly as much from the experience as you could." 

"You need to be willing to learn. You need to come to work every day eager to make mistakes and learn from them, and eager to use the expertise around you to figure out more about the field you want to work in." 

Lessons you’ll carry forward 

"The most important lesson I have learned is to not be afraid of failure and use it as a learning tool. You will absolutely make mistakes in your journey as an intern, but what matters is how you choose to learn and grow from those mistakes." 

"Always ask for help, and honestly, it's something that I’m still in the process of working towards. Professionals who have experience under their belt don’t expect us to know everything as an intern, especially because at one point in their lives, they were in the same boat we are in. My advice for future interns would be to not feel discouraged from asking questions. If anything, it demonstrates your willingness to learn and desire to grow."  

Life at NM 

"I am surprised by how many opportunities there are to connect with people from a wide variety of career paths. It's easy to meet professionals within your specific field, but I have found that people from different departments and professions are also willing to take the time to meet with you. The willingness of employees to connect with interns is a unique and valuable part of the culture here at NM." 

"What surprised me most about the internship at NM was how much people enjoy working together. Everyone here is willing to help you learn and grow as a person and as a professional. I was also surprised by how much NM has to offer, from the gym and food options to volunteer opportunities. NM has a big footprint in the Milwaukee area, and they make it easy to get involved in something positive.” 

Preparing for what’s next 

"The most helpful aspect of my internship was the opportunity to work on real-world software development projects in an enterprise environment. Being able to collaborate with experienced engineers, contribute to meaningful work, and navigate large-scale systems gave me valuable insight into what a career in software engineering looks like." 

"What's been most valuable in preparing me for my future career is learning how to take ownership and lead initiatives independently. My team trusted me with meaningful responsibilities that allowed me to manage projects, collaborate with stakeholders, and develop solutions from concept to implementation. While supporting the Revel in Tech conference, I helped design and build registration and communication processes using SharePoint, Microsoft Forms and Power Automate. Working directly with stakeholders and delivering solutions that improved the attendee experience strengthened my problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills." 

Interested in becoming an intern? We offer paid corporate internship opportunities across a variety of career interests, including real estate, marketing, finance, investments, and more. For more information, check out our NM Internships page.