When I started my internship at Commerzbank, I expected to learn a lot about banking. What I did not expect was how much I would learn about people and processes.
Networking is not optional. It is a superpower
If there is one thing that became very clear during my time at Commerzbank, it is this: networking matters. A lot. In a large organization, knowing the right people is often the difference between a problem staying stuck for days and getting it solved with one message. Strong networking skills make it easier to find answers, create opportunities, and move things forward. It is not just a nice-to-have. In an organization like Commerzbank, it is genuinely one of the most important skills you can develop.
I got to know some incredibly nice and supportive people along the way. People who took the time to explain things, who gave honest feedback, and who made the whole experience feel welcoming. I really value those connections and want to give the same kind of support back as I continue on my journey.
Watching the Innovation Lab take shape
I had the unique opportunity to be there when the Innovation Lab was being created. That means I got to see first-hand how a new cluster organizes itself from scratch: how structures emerge, how decisions get made, and how processes are built when there is no playbook yet. Even better, I had the chance to actually help shape some of those processes. Not many interns can say they were part of building the foundation of something new. That was genuinely exciting.
The things I do for fun are the things the bank innovates on
This one surprised me the most. The topics I explore in my free time, things like MCP, Agentic Engineering, and Blockchain, turned out to be exactly the topics being innovated on inside the bank. Walking into a meeting and hearing people discuss the same protocols and frameworks I had been experimenting with at home was a surreal moment. It felt like a strong signal that I am on the right track, and it motivated me more than I expected. There is a real opportunity to help shape the future of banking, and knowing that my personal interests align with that direction is something I do not take for granted.
Prototyping AI Agents with Microsoft Semantic Kernel
On the technical side, I worked on prototyping AI Agents using Microsoft Semantic Kernel. That meant dealing with questions that sound simple but are not. How do you structure a system prompt that is both efficient and secure? How do you orchestrate multiple agents? Which model fits which task? These are the kinds of problems that only show up once you start building for real.
But most importantly
Let’s not forget the important things. I also discovered some great coffee spots during my time there. If nothing else, my internship at Commerzbank significantly leveled up my Frankfurt coffee game. Priorities.
Looking back
This internship gave me a lot more than I expected. It confirmed that the intersection of technology and business is where I want to be. It showed me that large organizations are moving fast on innovation, and that there is room for people who bring both curiosity and initiative. And it connected me with people I genuinely want to keep in my professional life.
