Rachel Oatis

Rachel C. Oatis, Full-Tim MBA Class of 2026
Forté Fellow | Consortium Fellow | MBA Experienced Intern with Florida Power & Light at NextEra Energy

 

Where did you land your internship or full-time role?

MBA Experienced Intern at Florida Power & Light with NextEra Energy.

 

Briefly describe your experience in landing this role. What challenges did you overcome?

My path to this role started with a call from a NextEra recruiter on my way to Marketing & Communications class. She asked if I was attending the National Black MBA Conference and if I would be open to interviewing. I was excited, but a little hesitant because I had no prior energy experience. She assured me that was not a problem and that they would help me find the right fit. That recruiter and her team became a huge support throughout the summer.

I am so glad I took the leap. I had the best summer at NextEra with real responsibility, incredible mentoring, and the chance to build something that will continue after my internship. 

 

Can you share a moment or success story that’s stuck with you during your time during your summer internship?

My project focused on creating a Product Development Playbook for new voluntary offerings for the regulated utility. These are customer-selected services that go beyond providing basic electricity such as smart thermostats, EV home chargers, and smart pool heaters. The playbook lays out how to evaluate ideas, run pilots, scale operations, and track performance with clear stage-gates and metrics.

To strengthen the project and give it practical rigor, I also built an AI assistant that provided insights on market size, ROI, competitive landscaping, and market readiness. Throughout the summer I had countless conversations with senior executives about the playbook and received really great positive feedback on how it could shape the company’s future offerings.

One of my proudest accomplishments was earning my Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt during the internship. This certification deepened my ability to approach problems with process discipline and continuous improvement principles. The combination of technical tools, structured problem-solving, and leadership engagement made this summer one of the most transformative professional experiences I have had. 

 

What’s are your long-term career goals?

I plan to stay in the energy sector and grow as a product and strategy leader. In the future, I would love to build a consulting practice that helps organizations with big ambitions put the right systems and execution in place.

 

What’s one lesson or insight you hope every MBA student takes with them after graduation?

Say yes to the thing you have not done before. Betting on yourself, especially when you are new to an industry, can unlock the most growth. I am grateful I did that this summer. 

 

Is there anyone you would like to recognize for their support?

A huge thank you to Professor Tim Flood for hours of help refining my final presentation including slide design, narrative, and delivery.

Thank you to Professor Navid Mojir whose Product Management course set me up to build a strong playbook.

Thank you to Professor Stephen Arbogast whose Energy Value Chain course gave me the confidence to ramp quickly in a new industry.

And a special thank you to Tim Oliver, KFBS Class of 1998, who is the Vice President of the Division that I worked in for the summer, for his leadership, encouragement, and feedback throughout my internship experience. 

Originally Published on September 8, 2025.

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