US Student William Menkes Completed Internship at L&M PRISK

From May to July, the L&M PRISK team had an additional member. William Menkes, a student at the University of Colorado, practiced corporate intelligence, KYC, and investigative research.

Hannes: Dear William, thank you very much for your great support during the last weeks. Can you please give us some details on the exchange program, you were part of?

William: I was part of an internship program this summer called IES that connects Americans on university campuses with international internship opportunities and business professionals. Furthermore, I completed two courses on Austrian politics and business in relation to the United States as well as a German Intensive.

Hannes: Why did you decide to come to Vienna?

I choose Vienna because it was important to me to work in a German-speaking city to practice my language. I also study international relations and German with a focus on the post-Soviet space. Vienna of course is somewhat of a political hub in Europe with the UN headquarters lying there. I thought it would be the best option to combine these two interests.

Hannes: What experiences did you make during your internship?

While working for L&M PRISK this summer, I learned about KYC reports and corporate investigation. I gained a glimpse into the process of conducting background reports. I also learned about NGOs through research and how business connections are made. I of course made some good connections with you and Johannes and your team. I also learned about the Austrian work culture and professional businesses in general as this was my first opportunity at working for one.

Hannes: Why do you think political risk consulting is important?

William: I am currently studying international relations due to my interest in European affairs and how it pertains to nations in the EU and post-Soviet space today. I believe political risk consulting is especially important in diverse regions of the world such as Europe today. Experts in the geopolitical landscape of a diverse region such as Europe are a necessity in guiding a business’s professional operations through sanctions, trade, ESG, conflict, etc... Specialists in this field offer a variety of expertise an organisation can use to gain a new self-reflective angle on moving forward with international operations.

Hannes: Thank you, William. We wish you all the best for your future.