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Acquisitions and Divestitures Internship Takeaways

By James Cox

August 24, 2022

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James Cox
James Cox

It’s been almost a week since I completed my MBA summer internship with Johnson & Johnson Acquisitions & Divestitures. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on what a great experience it was and I want to share a few lessons learned:

1. Deals require exceptional agility – Every deal is unique with regard to size, location, and time to name a few, not to mention $$$, and if a deal falls through you’re back to square one.

2. Somebody is already looking at your problem set. Take advantage of the ample resources readily available to you and network with internal/external partners rather than re-create the wheel.

3. Acquired employees deserve our empathy. Mergers and acquisitions can be quite complex, so it’s easy to overlook the many and often life-changing challenges acquired employees face; our support during these trying times can make all the difference.

I can honestly say that my time with J&J was everything I hoped it would be and more: I gained valuable experience in HR, made an impact in A&D, partnered and networked with subject matter experts, and made a few friends along the way!

Thank you to everyone who shared in making this experience not only meaningful but fun as well.