Des Moines is a "Goldilocks" Destination for Young Professionals

This story was contributed by Madison Duong, Marketing Coordinator at Bankers Trust.

As we approach the New Year, I’m reflecting on how grateful I am for the internship experience that helped me establish my career in Greater Des Moines this year. I interned at Bankers Trust – which has one of the best internship programs in Des Moines – in 2023 and 2024 and couldn’t think of a better place to begin my career. 

I’ve always loved living in Greater Des Moines. For as long as I can remember, my mom has worked in Downtown Des Moines. I vividly remember all the times my brother and I visited my mom during her lunch hour as kids. We’d walk through the skywalk – which I thought was the coolest thing ever – and always grab lunch at South Union Bread Café. Some of my other favorite childhood memories were formed in the Civic Center, at Principal Park and on Court Avenue. 

As I researched internship programs during my sophomore year at the University of Northern Iowa, I was interested in spending the summer back home. My aunt and uncle – proud Bankers Trust employees – encouraged me to check out the bank’s program. I applied, interviewed and accepted an offer to join the Marketing team the following summer. 

Bankers Trust’s interns not only work on projects within their departments; they also collaborate on a group project, interview Executives and board members, participate in local intern networking programs, and represent the bank at community events. By participating in the DSM Intern Connection program, I had the opportunity to build connections with both established and up-and-coming leaders, which helped me better understand the corporate world and how to best represent myself in the workplace. It also allowed me to connect with interns in different programs throughout the city. I especially enjoyed the Executive Luncheon, where interns could engage in thoughtful career development discussions with local C-suite executives. At the 2024 event I had the incredible opportunity to give remarks about my experience as an intern at Bankers Trust and in the Greater Des Moines area. 

As I considered life after graduation, Greater Des Moines seemed like a natural fit. It’s always felt like home. While I had considered moving somewhere new, like Arizona or Minnesota, I decided that the transition to post-grad life would be overwhelming enough without moving to an entirely new place. I chose a comfortable and familiar community, close to most of my family and friends. 

While I’ve lived in Greater Des Moines my entire life, I’m still discovering local gems and new favorites. It truly is a “Goldilocks” city, with a tight-knit community that’s smaller than your average capital but big enough to provide a wide array of weekly activities and a high quality of life. It’s easy to meet people and cultivate strong relationships and connections, yet big enough to attract a variety of employers and organizations. Greater Des Moines can be bustling and vibrant, but it still has its peaceful and serene moments.