You’re in the room for a reason: How Aisha built confidence and clarity during her internship at Chime
When Aisha Sanwal was growing up in Las Vegas—a city powered by tourism and hospitality—she quickly learned how much business underpins everything. Her interests led her to study finance and pursue roles that introduced her to the world of financial services as well as to the attorneys who help regulate and shape it. From then on, working at the intersection of business and law stuck with her.
After a transformational stint at PwC and time getting her feet wet at a global law firm, Aisha realized she wanted to build a career where she could use her business background to advocate for consumers. That path led her to law school.
This summer, Aisha joined ChimeⓇ as our first-ever Legal & Compliance intern, an experience which she says has forever shaped her future and solidified her decision to stay in fintech.
Why Chime?
Aisha’s journey to Chime started with a LinkedIn scroll. New to San Francisco after moving from New York for law school and without a local network to lean on, she turned to social media to explore internship opportunities.
“I saw an internship opening at Chime, and it caught my attention because I had seen its credit card before ,” she says. “It was the first time Chime was hosting a legal and compliance intern, which made it even more exciting.”
Through conversations, Aisha learned that she’d get exposure to six different practice areas—an unusual opportunity for a first-year law student. Even more compelling? She’d get to see how Legal and Compliance, often siloed in large organizations, intersect and collaborate at a fast-paced fintech company.
Building skills and paving the way
Going into the summer, Aisha set several clear goals: improve her legal research and writing, gain a better understanding of business strategy and operations, and build the confidence to lead in rooms she hadn’t been in before.
She started off by tackling intellectual property issues and turned her findings into a writing sample, something lawyers frequently need to demonstrate their prowess. She also worked with the Commercial team, gaining insight into business strategy and negotiation, sharpening her ability to spot issues and ask the right questions.
“I learned so much by watching how attorneys on the team respond to questions, and even more from the questions they ask in return,” she says. “Observing them helped me understand what to look for and how to approach future projects. It’s not just about legal research; it’s about digging deeper to understand the financial impact behind the decisions we make.”
Self-starter in a fast-moving company
Aisha’s work was a mix of shadowing, researching, drafting, and presenting to internal and outside counsel. By balancing multiple projects she learned to take ownership and deliver value proactively.
She researched case law and regulatory requirements, participated in investigations, and analyzed Chime’s internal policies and agreements. But her work wasn’t limited to the legal function: “At Chime, I wasn’t just working with lawyers,” she says. “I was talking to engineers, the marketing and people team, as well as finance partners to understand how all the pieces fit together.”
One highlight? Doing research for an attorney, then weeks later using those findings to draft language and see it be incorporated into a contract. “It was a huge personal achievement to see my work as a first-year law student validated in that way,” she says.
A culture of mentorship and connection
Throughout her internship, Aisha worked closely with several mentors who took time to explain the why behind edits and decisions, which has helped her learn more, grow faster, and build confidence.
“One of my mentors, Roxanna Gonzalez, Lead Commercial Counsel at Chime, showed me what it means to be a great manager and leader,” Aisha shares. “She made it clear that feedback isn’t personal—it’s about solving problems together and improving your skills.”
Beyond legal work, Aisha loved being part of a broader intern community. “In other programs, you often don’t interact with anyone outside your team,” she says. “At Chime, however, I learned a lot about software engineering and how to use AI. This got me to think creatively about how I might apply new tools to my own work.”
She also volunteered at GLIDE, a community service experience that reaffirmed why she was drawn to Chime in the first place. “Chime doesn’t have to give back to its community, but it does in so many ways,” Aisha says. “That matters because being part of a mission-driven company is quite rare.”
Advice for future Chime interns
Aisha’s biggest piece of advice? Be curious—and be visible.
“My desk was initially near Chime’s Bank Partnerships team and others who report directly to the C-suite” she recalls. “By taking initiative, introducing myself, and asking others about their work, I built stronger relationships and knowledge about the industry.”
She encourages future interns to believe in themselves: “You might feel like people are questioning why you’re there,” she says. “But so much of that is in your own head. Remember: you’re in the room for a reason. They saw potential in you. Believe in yourself and remember your why.”
Looking ahead
As she wraps up her internship, Aisha is walking away with sharper legal skills, a deeper understanding of fintech, and a renewed passion for consumer-focused law. More importantly, she’s learned the value of being bold, building relationships, and asking the right questions.
“Working at Chime affirmed what I hoped was true,” she says. “I want to stay in fintech. It’s where I can use my legal training to really help people—and that’s the kind of impact I want to have.”