Powering a New Generation

“There are so many strong takeaways I have that will help me in both my academic and professional career… I truly had a fantastic summer here and I can’t wait for our paths to cross again.”

Leaving the building on her final day of work for the summer, power billing intern, Rose Harnett, couldn’t help but share a few words of gratitude for her time spent at NRG. This summer, Rose and approximately 30 other interns from the NRG MBA and Centralized Summer Internship programs worked hard, honing their skills to prepare for the next step in their careers.

Internship programs at NRG are designed for graduate and undergraduate students with a genuine interest in the energy industry, business, and/or sustainability. The goal for our internships is to provide organization-wide exposure to the business and a clear understanding for how we operate in the marketplace. They provide an opportunity for students to develop individual skillsets, learn from purposeful mentorships, and network throughout the company with hands-on projects.

This year’s program kicked off in June with two days of in-person onboarding, team building, and leadership presentations at our headquarters in Houston. From there, interns enjoyed a hybrid work environment from either the Houston, Pittsburgh, or Princeton office.

Aside from various in-office activities, our 2022 class had the chance to tour a local power plant and pack lunches for school-age children during a volunteer opportunity with Kids’ Meals. Of course these experiences were just the tip of the iceberg for this year’s group.

Here’s a closer look at what our interns had to say about their summer with NRG.

What interested you about being an NRG intern?

I was interested in working in the energy industry, so I sought out several energy companies at our recruiting event. NRG stood out to me because their recruiters seemed interested in being there, and they were enthusiastic about the company. Also, an operations manager joined in the recruiting event, and they were able to speak to the specific job responsibilities.

Stephen Walior - Asset Porfolio Intern – University of Texas ‘23

It offered me an opportunity to gain experience in the field that I want to pursue after college, while also being in a very interesting industry. It was also enticing because NRG is a very well known and successful company with [thousands of] employees.

Zane Carlson – Business Sales East Intern – Gettysburg College ’24

What were some of your key responsibilities and projects?

My main responsibility was to set up and price RFPs (request for proposals) for brokers. From there, I added various margins, submitted our price to the brokers, and hopefully won the contract. I also helped sales support, fixing errors in different aggregations in Salesforce.

Zane Carlson – Business Sales East Intern – Gettysburg College ’24

I assisted the team in a number of departments like marketing, innovation, and business model. There, I was able to conduct market research and gather survey insights for the teams.

Juliana Gianni – Sustainability and Advisory Services, EV Services Intern – Dickinson College ‘24

How did your understanding of NRG and the energy industry change during your time here?

I learned that NRG’s core values are truly present in everything we do, not just a promise made in external communications.

Merrick Fowlks – Talent Intern – UH Clear Lake ’23

As an MBA intern, I completed site visits to the Smart Home and T.H. Wharton power plant. These visits allowed me to interact with folks on other teams. Working alongside the other MBA interns and the full-time rotational associate team also helped me learn more about their teams and the projects they were working on.

Katie Cowan – MBA Intern, Customer Experience – UT Austin ‘23

What was your favorite experience this summer at NRG?

Touring the operating power plant. I was able to see, in-person, how everything works and the challenges the plants deal with. This gave me a lot of perspective for when you are dispatching those assets on the desk.

Stephen Walior - Asset Porfolio Intern – University of Texas ‘23

I really enjoyed the HBCU Scholarship event. I got to meet [President and CEO] Mauricio [Gutierrez], the scholarship winners, and fellow colleagues who celebrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).

Merrick Fowlks – Talent Intern – UH Clear Lake ’23

Did you learn about any career opportunities that you didn’t know previously existed?

I learned about the go-to-market team and how I can work with other departments to come up with new strategies and expand on product ideas for them to hit the market.

Macy Pham – Go-To-Market Intern, Green Mountain Energy – University of Houston ‘24

Before joining the internal audit team, I knew very little about the day-to-day life of somebody working in this field. During my internship, I learned about many opportunities through the finance department and beyond.

Mason Gonzales – Internal Audit Intern – University of Houston ‘24

Did your internship experience give you a sense of inclusion at NRG?

Yes, I immediately felt integrated, like I was an important asset to my team. The whole summer I was treated as a member of a team rather than an intern. I was given an equal opportunity to voice my opinion, propose ideas, and contribute to projects, just like any full-time employee.

Katie Cowan – MBA Intern, Customer Experience – UT Austin ‘23

Yes, everyone on the team was kind and wanted to share their knowledge with me.

Rumi Mordi – Intern, DE&C – University of Houston ‘23

What surprised you most about your internship experience?

I was most surprised about the opportunities to interact with high-level people on a regular basis. I was not expecting to have the chance to hear them speak, network with them, and present to them.

Juliana Gianni – Sustainability and Advisory Services, EV Services Intern – Dickinson College ‘24

The network I was able to build and the support I was given from leadership. I was able to meet over 25 new people in the 10-week program.

Katie Cowan – MBA Intern, Customer Experience – UT Austin ‘23

There are so many different departments within NRG, and they all have a hand in the success of the company.

Mason Gonzales – Internal Audit Intern – University of Houston ‘24

What advice would you want to pass on to future interns?

Ask questions! Employees at Green Mountain Energy and NRG are so kind and will definitely answer them. Also, don't be afraid to propose a new perspective or idea to the team. That's what interns are for. We provide a fresh look to people who have been working on things for years, so be confident in your ideas and insights.

Macy Pham – Go-To-Market Intern, Green Mountain Energy – University of Houston ‘24

The best advice I can pass on is to seek discomfort within your role. Go out of your comfort zone and create an even more valuable experience for yourself. I wish I had been more active in meeting new people. Also, if you are ever feeling bored or not challenged, talk to your managers until they have to give you something to do that will show you go above and beyond.

Mason Gonzales – Internal Audit Intern – University of Houston ‘24

Following another successful season of internships, it’s time to officially start planning for our 2023 class! Interested in learning more about NRG and what an internship here could mean for your future? Visit nrg.com/students.