Summer Intern, Brand Strategy & AI Research

Overview

Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world. 

Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, undergraduate students graduating in 2026 - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED. 

We’re looking for college students who think big, embrace challenges, and thrive in collaboration.

The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week, from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10–12. See below for more details.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Opportunity

The Brand Creative Studio team drives the brand for Emerson Collective and our priority areas, working to change hearts and minds with world-class storytelling and creativity—big ideas such as advertising, marketing, and brand films, all the way to day-to-day content for brand channels. Design is also an output, from logos to event design and more. The Brand Creative Studio's work covers brand management, creative strategy, ideation, digital, production, and content creation roles, so there is a diverse range of responsibilities.  

As the Brand Strategy & AI Research intern, you’ll work with the Brand Creative Studio team to explore how artificial intelligence can inform brand strategy, creative storytelling, and content production. You’ll contribute to brand and campaign development through research, landscape analysis, content creation, and the application of emerging AI tools.

Ideal candidates bring demonstrated experience and proven interest in exploring how AI can inform creative storytelling, production, and content—whether through coursework, personal exploration, or hands-on experience—along with strong research and synthesis skills.

Role and Responsibilities

• Explore and apply AI-powered tools to enhance design, content development and production, and creative strategy.
• Experiment with AI applications in creative strategy, such as trend analysis, visual concept generation, and comparative brand tone analysis.
• Identify and analyze leading-edge examples of AI-driven creative work and storytelling.
• Synthesize research findings into clear, visual decks that surface insights and strategic takeaways.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and refine creative strategy presentations and internal tools.
• Organize information, spot patterns, and communicate findings in a way that’s actionable for creative teams.
• Work to identify and experiment with leading-edge examples of AI-driven content.
• Receive mentorship and feedback from team leads, contributing to projects that inform broader brand initiatives.

Qualifications, Skills, and Requirements

• Rising undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior, preferably pursuing a field that involves AI, data analysis, communications, marketing, or creative strategy.
• Demonstrated strength in research, organization, and distilling complex information into clear, engaging presentations. 
• Strong understanding of or curiosity about AI tools used in creative industries/strategy (e.g., ChatGPT, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Photoshop AI, Topaz, Vrye, Runway, etc.).
• Highly organized with a strong eye for details and clarity–able to make insights digestible for creative teams. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, with an openness to feedback and constructive criticism.
• Curious about brand, culture, storytelling, and what makes certain creative work resonate. 
• Familiarity with advertising, youth culture, and/or content trends is a plus. 
• Eager to learn, grow, and contribute ideas in a dynamic, creative team setting.
• Cares about Emerson Collective’s values, work, and impact.
• Demonstrated interest in exploring how technology and AI can inform brand storytelling and audience insight development.

Internship Details

Compensation

- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).

- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.

- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed. 

Key Dates

- November 18 – January 9: Internship applications accepted; interviews begin on a rolling basis

Applications must be submitted by 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET on Friday, January 9.

(Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)

- January 12 – March 7: Interviews continue and offers extended

- June 10–12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation

- June 15: Internship program begins

- August 7: Internship program concludes

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.