MSIM student Shravani Bhupal was honored for her internship performance at the 19th Annual Research Park Intern Awards ceremony on July 24. The University of Illinois' Research Park is home to over 120 companies and more than 800 interns. Bhupal, who served as an intern at COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab, received the Best Business Innovation Award for her work.
During her eleven-week internship, Bhupal worked on developing data models, automating reporting processes, and creating interactive dashboards that enhanced financial insights and streamlined decision-making across key projects. She collaborated with fellow interns at the Research Park and worked closely with interns from COUNTRY Financial's corporate office to align solutions with finance leadership needs.
"As project manager and data developer for the Technology Finance project, I built a centralized Power BI dashboard that consolidated complex financial data into an intuitive, interactive format," she said. "This solution provided leadership with clear visibility into performance trends, supported faster decision-making, and showcased innovation in financial reporting."
Julia Hart, DigitaLab's site director, served as Bhupal's supervisor and nominated her for the Best Business Innovation Award after receiving glowing feedback from the project’s sponsors.
In her nomination, Hart noted that Bhupal's "precision, innovation, and ability to bridge technical and business needs earned praise from leadership, who highlighted her fresh perspective and strong communication on complex financial data."
Bhupal discovered the internship opportunity during the Research Park Career Fair. She enjoyed her experience at DigitaLab and its culture of "curiosity, teamwork, and innovation." She also enjoyed participating in intern events at the Research Park, where she could network, learn, and grow with "an exceptionally talented group of interns."
"I appreciated the collaborative ecosystem, which combined professional skill-building workshops, mentorship, and social opportunities, creating a unique environment for both technical and personal development," she said.
After graduation, Bhupal would like to work in an organization where she can use her skills in data, analytics, and strategy to solve real-world business challenges.
"I'm passionate about creating solutions that combine technology and business impact, whether that means optimizing operations, improving decision-making, or driving innovation. My goal is to work in a role where I can make a tangible difference while continuing to grow and learn," she said.