Learning the connection between financial data and operational decisions

When she accepted an internship with Albion-based Caster Concepts, Maralgoo Ariunbaatar ’26 was excited to see what she could do in the real world.

Before she could do that, however, she had to understand the difference between ground-support casters and ergonomic casters.

“One of the hardest parts has been learning the terminology of the caster industry,” she said. “I didn’t have any background in manufacturing, but I’m learning a lot…And now I can definitely tell you what type of caster you need to move a 15,000-pound piece of equipment without risking damage or instability.”

Beyond learning the names of its products, Ariunbaatar has been applying her Albion majors (accounting and finance, with a minor in data analytics) to support decision-making at the executive level of Caster Concepts. Along with building dashboards to monitor key performance indicators, Ariunbaatar sharpened her analytics skills while preparing reports on performance gaps and industry trends.

“I use the knowledge I gained from my accounting classes to contribute to budgeting and cost tracking,” she added. “This has given me a deeper understanding of the connections between financial data and operational decisions.”

The work is indeed complicated, but Ariunbaatar has gained a great appreciation for simple outcomes. “I like asking ‘What is this data telling us?’ and then building a report or chart or web form that answers that question in a clear way,” she said.

But the biggest lesson she gained from the internship? “I was given the opportunity to manage real tasks, and that level of trust was both surprising and empowering,” she said. “It made me want to do better, double-check my work, ask smarter questions, and be more productive day-by-day. It also taught me how to be more resourceful. When I didn’t know something, I couldn’t wait around for someone to tell me. I had to dig into it, try it, and learn by doing.”

Outside of work, Ariunbaatar has made the most of her access to the Goodrich Chapel stage, ending her days with a few hours on the piano, singing, and editing social media videos. “Music is my creative outlet, helping me stay balanced and grounded, especially after long days filled with data, dashboards, and deadlines,” she said. 

“I love how Albion isn’t just helping me grow academically and professionally, but also giving me the space and support to nurture the creative side of who I am,” she concluded. “Every little thing I’ve done over the past three years has come together this summer. I didn’t expect this much growth.” 

Maralgoo Ariunbaatar is a senior majoring in accounting-CPA emphasis with a minor in data analytics and a concentration in the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management. Ariunbaatar is the child of Ariunbaatar Ishiigudaa and Enkhzul Ayush of Ulaanbaatar and a graduate of the Mongolian-Russian Joint School.