Software Strategy and M&A Summer Intern: 2025

Introduction
The Software Strategy and M&A team is a high-performing group of professionals which provides strategic perspectives on driving revenue growth and profitability for IBM Software. The team is responsible for defining and executing on a broad range of growth initiatives – from identifying and selecting M&A candidates to formulating strategies to accelerate software growth to designing the go-to-market strategies. IBM software executives rely on the Software Strategy and M&A team to provide key insights and drive strategic change across the business.

The Software Strategy and M&A Summer Intern (Intern) is responsible for supporting global strategies and initiatives to deliver targeted business outcomes for IBM Software with a major focus is on driving profitable software revenue growth and accelerating client adoption of IBM core platforms: Hybrid Cloud Data Automation and System Z.

Your Role and Responsibilities

The Intern will support the development of strategies and related initiatives across the Software Business Unit IBM Go-to-Market and Software M&A. Strategies will be developed through research and a consultative data-driven analytically oriented approach underpinned by an understanding of technology sales business dynamics competition strategy and change management. The Intern will use their expertise and experience in software and technology Go-To-Market to help IBM address a variety of challenges and/or opportunities. The Intern will work with cross functional teams including Product Management Development Sales Finance Marketing HR etc. to develop these strategies and frame decisions for senior executives.

As strategies are approved for implementation the Intern may also support change initiatives to ensure that targeted business outcomes are realized. In the case of Go-To-Market this may involve client segmentation sales structure incentives demand generation and the like. For M&A strategy this may lead to identification of lead acquisition targets with supporting strategic fit hypotheses and identification of value drivers and risks. The Intern will build insights through market research internal SME interviews and by engaging directly with potential M&A candidates when appropriate. The Intern will have opportunities to present to and collaborate with senior IBM Executives.

Key Skills

Data Analytics: Deep skills and understanding of data and analytical methods to yield insight including root cause and statistical analyses. This includes advanced use of Excel and data science methods and tools

Structured Thinking: Ability to understand and contribute to the development of structured thinking and frameworks to address ambiguous unstructured challenges

Communications: Outstanding oral and written communication skills as demonstrated through their prior work and educational experience

Dynamism: Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a dynamic fast-paced multi-threaded work environment including dealing with shifting priorities and make progress on multiple fronts with speed and precision

Teamwork: Maintain positive work relationships and demonstrate strong teamwork with peers management and clients. Willingly “give back” to help others on the team

Innovation: Relentless curiosity and a drive to innovate and continuously improve the methods and outcomes used in their work

Software and Technology Go-To-Market: Solid understanding of the information technology industry in particular in software and/or in sales/go-to-market

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Location: This position will be co-located with the Strategy and M&A team in IBM’s office either in in New York NY or Cambridge MA

Mentoring: The intern will be assigned a mentor to act as their guide and coach for the summer and engage in networking learning and development activities

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• At least 4-5 years experience with a major business Consulting firm Software Sales Data Science or Banking/Finance
• Prior experience in software and information technology strategy sales or M&A