By Eliza Phares
This summer, I interned at Ernst & Young in their Detroit office, researching tax policy
and assisting companies with applying for tax credits and incentives. I developed both my
research and writing skills, as well as my professional network, through the internship. I was also
able to explore Detroit through a different lens, living and working in the city. Before starting
this internship, I was intimidated by the corporate culture, given that I only had experience
working in local government and non-profit settings. I also had little experience with tax policy,
so I knew the learning curve for both would be steep. By using the BLI Habit Start Where You
Are, I recognized my current strengths in policy analysis and research while identifying areas
where I can grow. I knew to seek out mentorship and friendship in the office, and luckily, I found
a group of interns and mentors both in my office and around the United States to help me learn
more about tax policy and opportunities for a career going forward.
This did not come without challenges, however. Halfway through my internship, the
scope of US tax policy drastically changed with the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This
was a learning opportunity for me to stay ahead of the curve and create briefing documents and
PowerPoints for my managers about how our clients were going to be affected by these changes.
This required a lot of late nights and confusion over changing rules and complex regulatory
language. But it taught me how to digest a lot of information in a quick amount of time and how
to present it simply. Using the BLI habit Always Ask, I relied a lot on the seniors and managers
on my team to explain regulations to me that I didn’t understand, to make sure my contributions
were accurate and timely to the needs of the team.
This experience wouldn’t have been possible without the BLI’s support, which helped me
participate in this internship by offering housing support, allowing me to grow both
professionally and personally. I look forward to continuing to grow my tax and policy
knowledge, research skills, and professional network. Wherever I end up after graduation, I
know this experience will give me a leg up on my leadership journey.
