For College of Staten Island student Mark Gad, a recent internship at Blackstone offered more than just technical experience, it provided a glimpse into the many paths a career in computer science can take.
Gad, a Computer Science major at CSI who expects to graduate in 2027, recently completed a three-week, full-time internship through Break Through Tech, a program that connects students with leading technology employers. The opportunity placed him in Manhattan at Blackstone, where he worked alongside professional engineers at one of the world’s largest private equity firms.
During the internship, Gad collaborated with fellow interns and senior engineers on a project focused on improving the building blocks, or “components,” that power web platforms used across the company. The work gave him firsthand exposure to the collaborative nature of real-world software engineering.
“We worked together to divide work, communicate ideas, and understand each other’s strengths when it came to different parts of the project,” Gad explained. “It gave me real-world experience solving software engineering problems and showed me what real engineering teamwork looks like.”
While the technical work was valuable, Gad says the people he encountered at Blackstone made the biggest impact on his experience.
“The most impactful part of Blackstone was the people,” he said. “Meeting someone new and having a coffee chat with them was part of the schedule every day. My mentors were incredibly important to my success.”
According to Gad, the engineering team he worked with went out of its way to support interns, offering both technical guidance and career advice.
“They were generous with their time and patience and genuinely interested in helping me learn,” he said. “They encouraged us to ask questions about the industry, offered advice on technical choices, and shared insights about their own professional journeys.”
Those conversations, he said, helped broaden his perspective about his future in computer science.
“Before, my mind was closed on a certain way of thinking about my future career,” Gad said. “This internship showed me all the different paths I could take based on the people I met and spoke with.”
The internship was made possible through Break Through Tech, which helps connect students with opportunities at companies like Blackstone while providing mentorship and professional development along the way.
“Through the program, students can obtain real-world industry exposure, professional development opportunities, and mentorship,” Gad said. “They supported us during the internship and created a setting where students could learn from one another and from specialists in the field.”
Reflecting on the experience, Gad says the internship taught him several lessons that will guide him as he continues his academic and professional journey.
“Some of the biggest takeaways I got were to never be closed-minded about your career, that you’re always learning and growing in your profession, and that you never start off perfect at anything,” he said. “Those lessons are going to help me so much moving forward.”
Gad also credits CSI’s Computer Science program with helping prepare him for opportunities like this one.
“The Computer Science program at the College of Staten Island has given me a strong technical foundation and the opportunity to explore the field beyond the classroom,” he said. “Through coursework, projects, and teamwork with classmates, I’ve been able to develop my problem-solving abilities and gain knowledge across many computer science topics.”
He also noted that the broader university environment encourages students to seek out experiential learning opportunities.
“CUNY encourages students to explore internships, which helped me get ready to seize chances like this one,” Gad said. “I now have the technical expertise and confidence to keep advancing in the field.”
Looking ahead, Gad hopes other students will take advantage of similar opportunities.
“My advice to other students is that CUNY has tons of opportunities to offer with internships,” he said. “Students should ask questions of professionals they meet and participate in as many internship programs as possible. Spending time interacting with professionals in the industry can be incredibly helpful when considering your own career path.”
Ultimately, Gad says his goals are simple: to build meaningful technology solutions and contribute to impactful work.
“I hope to graduate and pursue a career doing what I love,” he said. “My goal is to build meaningful projects and solutions to problems a company might have. I love creating solutions that help people do their jobs better and improve what a team or company is trying to achieve.”
