Success Story: Zachary Watterson ’19 lands PricewaterhouseCoopers internship

Success Stories | Mar 06, 2018 | admin

By Maja Tarateta

Whenever a presidential candidate—or even a president—came anywhere near Logansport, Indiana, Zachary Watterson’s father would take him to hear the candidate speak. There was John McCain in Indianapolis in 2008, and later, Watterson watched President Barack Obama’s motorcade pass by during his first term.

These early exposures to presidents stayed with him—so much so that when Watterson, BS ’19, was browsing for internships online last year and came across one at the White House, he felt compelled to apply, even though the application was due the next day.

“I knew it would be a great opportunity to be exposed to public service,” he said.

He quickly got recommendations together and applied. After interviewing, Watterson landed the internship and worked in the White House Office of Public Liaison in Washington, D.C., last summer.

“The highlight was seeing how the federal government and the executive branch operates, how the president is scheduled each day,” he said, along with working with the business leaders and sports teams that visited the White House.

“I do have an affinity for public service,” Watterson said. “But I would like to get experience in the private sector that would allow me to offer more in public service down the road.”

He’ll get his chance this summer, when he starts his next internship, this time in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I’ve always had an interest in entrepreneurship and running my own business,” said Watterson. “This internship will allow me to work with entrepreneurs and help them improve their businesses, solve issues, and grow.”

Watterson’s passion for entrepreneurship was born when he and his brother started their own business in high school, making machine-washable car mats and logoed floor mats, which they continue to run today. After speaking with many Gabelli School alumni who work at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he was convinced the culture there would be a good fit for him.

“I’m looking forward to this summer and learning a lot and hopefully getting an offer to stay at PricewaterhouseCoopers for a few years,” he said. “I’d like to eventually get my MBA and really embrace the culture there. I look forward to learning what makes businesses run and grow, and how to help improve how they operate.”

Coming from a small town in Indiana, and watching TV shows and movies that showed New York City as the mecca for business, “I knew it was where I wanted to be,” he said. And now, he said, he’s thrilled to be there.