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Introduction

The Software Strategy and M&A team is a high-performing group of professionals which provides strategic perspectives on driving revenue growth and profitability for IBM Software. The team is responsible for defining and executing on a broad range of growth initiatives – from identifying and selecting M&A candidates to formulating strategies to accelerate growth to designing go-to-market strategies. IBM software executives rely on the Software Strategy and M&A team to provide key insights and drive strategic change across the business. 

 

The Software Strategy and M&A Summer Intern (Intern) is responsible for supporting global strategies and initiatives to deliver business outcomes for IBM Software, with a major focus is on driving sustainable, profitable software revenue growth and accelerating client adoption of, and value from, IBM’s core platforms: Hybrid Cloud, Data, Automation and System Z.

Your role and responsibilities

Responsibilities

The Intern will support the development of strategies and related initiatives across the IBM Software Business including Go-to-Market and Software M&A.  Strategies are developed through research and a consultative, data-driven, analytically oriented approach underpinned by an understanding of technology, sales, business dynamics, competition, strategy and change management. The Intern will use their expertise and experience in software and technology to help IBM address a variety of challenges and/or opportunities. The Intern will work with cross functional teams, including Product Management, Development, Sales, Finance, Marketing, HR, etc. to develop these strategies and frame decisions for senior executives. 

 

The Intern may also support strategic change initiatives to ensure that targeted business outcomes are realized. In the case of Go-To-Market, this may involve client segmentation, sales structure, incentives, demand generation and the like. For M&A strategy, this may lead to identification of lead acquisition targets with supporting strategic fit hypotheses and identification of value drivers and risks. The Intern will build insights through market research, internal SME interviews and by engaging directly with potential M&A candidates, when appropriate. The Intern will have opportunities to present to and collaborate with senior IBM Executives.    

 

Key Skills

 

Insights from Data: Deep skills and understanding of data and analytical methods to yield insight, including root cause and statistical analyses. This includes advanced use of Excel and data science methods and tools

 

Structured Thinking: Ability to understand and contribute to the development of structured thinking and frameworks to address ambiguous, unstructured challenges 

 

Communications: Outstanding oral and written communication skills as demonstrated through their prior work and educational experience

 

Dynamism: Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced, multi-threaded work environment, including dealing with shifting priorities and make progress on multiple fronts with speed and precision

 

Teamwork: Maintain positive work relationships and demonstrate strong teamwork with peers, management, and clients. Willingly “give back” to help others on the team 

 

Innovation: Relentless curiosity and a drive to innovate and continuously improve the methods and outcomes used in their work

 

Software and Technology Go-To-Market: Solid understanding of the information technology industry, in software and/or in sales/go-to-market

 

Location:

This position will be co-located in IBM’s office either with the M&A team in New York, NY or with the Strategy team in Cambridge, MA

 

Mentoring:

The intern will be assigned a mentor to act as their guide and coach for the summer and engage in networking, learning and development activities.

Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred education
Master's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise
  • Technical or data-intensive undergraduate degree
  • Currently enrolled in an MBA program at a top school, graduating in May 2027
  • Experience with a major business Consulting firm, Software, Sales, Data Science or Banking/Finance
Preferred technical and professional experience
  • Prior experience in software and information technology strategy, sales or M&A

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

The IBM Finance organization is responsible for driving enterprise performance and transformation.  We are the financial stewards of IBM, delivering IBM’s financial strategy, developing new business models, and mitigating enterprise risk. Do you have a passion for creating business value? Join our team in accounting, financial planning, pricing, business controls, tax, treasury, business development (acquisitions & divestitures), and global financing.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.


Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.


Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.


Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business. 


At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.