Entrepreneurship & Business Development Intern

The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce (MLCIC), in partnership with Texas Internship Initiative, is happy to announce entrepreneurship-focused internships. These seasonal internships are designed to develop the essential skills, assets, and training needed to expand students' entrepreneurial knowledge and better prepare them to enter the workforce. Through these practical experiences, students will learn about entrepreneurship, develop highly coveted skills employers seek in new college graduates, and gain real-world experience all while earning a livable wage of $20/hr. Your application for this position was made possible through this partnership!

Target Cohort: Final-year undergraduate seniors and final-year graduate students enrolled full-time at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Field of Study: Must be pursuing a degree directly related to the specific internship role.
Eligibility: Must possess valid U.S. work authorization (excludes F-1 Visa status).

Position Title
Entrepreneurship & Business Development Intern

Organization
Zenith Body Works Co.

Position Summary
The Entrepreneurship, E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Intern will work directly with company leadership to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, business development, digital marketing, and strategic growth initiatives. This internship provides students with real-world exposure to the challenges and opportunities of growing an online business while contributing to meaningful projects that impact revenue, customer acquisition, and brand expansion.

The intern will receive direct exposure to Shopify e-commerce management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Ads campaign development, website analytics, customer engagement, and digital sales strategies. Students will learn how data-driven marketing decisions influence business growth while gaining practical experience in launching and optimizing marketing campaigns, analyzing customer behavior, improving website performance, and identifying new market opportunities.

Through mentorship and project-based learning, interns will develop entrepreneurial thinking, innovation skills, and business problem-solving abilities while working on initiatives that support the growth of Zenith Body Works' online wellness and recovery product business. This position offers a unique opportunity to learn how successful entrepreneurs use digital marketing, technology, and customer insights to scale a business and create competitive advantages in the marketplace.

Internship Learning Attributes
During the internship, students will develop and demonstrate the following unique entrepreneurial competencies:

1. Business Innovation & Problem Solving

Learn how to identify business challenges, evaluate opportunities, and develop innovative solutions that improve efficiency, customer experience, and business growth.

2. Strategic Business Development
Gain experience in researching new markets, identifying growth opportunities, developing partnerships, and creating strategies that support long-term business expansion.

3. Entrepreneurial Leadership & Decision-Making
Observe and participate in real-world business decision-making processes, including project planning, resource allocation, and performance evaluation.

Essential Job Functions
Business Development
• Conduct market and competitor research.
• Identify new business opportunities and target markets.
• Assist in developing sales and outreach strategies.
• Research potential partnerships and strategic alliances.

Innovation & Growth Initiatives
• Participate in brainstorming sessions to develop innovative products, services, and customer experiences.
• Analyze current business processes and recommend improvements.
• Assist in evaluating emerging industry trends and technologies.

Marketing & Customer Engagement
• Support digital marketing initiatives, including social media, email campaigns, and content development.
• Assist in customer engagement and lead-generation activities.
• Analyze marketing performance metrics and prepare recommendations.

Project Management
• Assist with planning and executing business projects.
• Track project milestones and deliverables.
• Prepare reports and presentations for management review.

Data Analysis & Reporting
• Collect and analyze business performance data.
• Create summaries, dashboards, and recommendations.
• Present findings to leadership teams.

E-Commerce & Digital Marketing
The Entrepreneurial Scope
The intern will gain hands-on experience in digital entrepreneurship by participating in the growth and optimization of the company's e-commerce operations. Students will analyze website traffic, customer behavior, and sales performance to identify opportunities for increased revenue and customer acquisition.

Key responsibilities include:

• Analyze website traffic using Google Analytics and Shopify reporting tools.
• Assist in the development, launch, and optimization of Google Ads campaigns.
• Conduct keyword research and implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies.
• Manage and respond to customer sales inquiries and product questions.
• Evaluate customer purchasing trends and recommend strategies to improve conversions.
• Support email marketing and social media campaigns designed to increase brand awareness and sales.
• Research competitor marketing strategies and identify emerging industry trends.
• Participate in product page optimization to improve search rankings and customer engagement.

Learning Outcomes
Students will learn how entrepreneurs leverage digital marketing, data analytics, and customer engagement strategies to drive business growth. Through real-world projects, interns will gain experience in:

• Customer acquisition strategies
• Digital advertising and campaign management
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Conversion rate optimization
• E-commerce operations
• Data-driven decision-making
• Revenue growth analysis
• Entrepreneurial problem-solving

The Strategic Deliverable
At the conclusion of the internship, the student will prepare a comprehensive Digital Growth and Marketing Performance Report that includes:

• Analysis of website traffic before and after optimization efforts.
• Performance metrics from Google Ads campaigns, including impressions, clicks, click-through rates, conversions, and return on advertising spend (ROAS).
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC) analysis and recommendations for improvement.
• SEO initiatives implemented and measurable impact on search visibility and organic traffic.
• Evaluation of customer inquiries and recommendations to improve the customer experience.
• Revenue impact generated through marketing and optimization efforts.
• Strategic recommendations for future e-commerce growth opportunities.

Final Presentation
The student will deliver a professional presentation summarizing:

• Marketing strategies implemented.
• Key performance indicators and campaign results.
• Growth opportunities identified.
• Business recommendations based on data analysis.
• Lessons learned regarding entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital business development.

Success will be measured by the student's ability to apply entrepreneurial thinking, use data to support recommendations, and demonstrate measurable contributions toward business growth and customer acquisition.

Real-World Learning Opportunities
Students will gain direct exposure to:

• Entrepreneurial business operations
• Strategic planning and growth initiatives
• Customer acquisition and retention strategies
• Market analysis and competitive positioning
• Product and service innovation
• Business financial considerations
• Professional networking and relationship development
• Executive-level decision-making processes

Interns will work on actual business projects that impact company growth and operations rather than simulated classroom exercises.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Integration
Entrepreneurship and innovation are central components of this internship. Students will:

• Evaluate business opportunities and growth strategies.
• Participate in developing new products, services, or operational improvements.
• Research emerging trends and technologies affecting the industry.
• Present innovative recommendations to company leadership.
• Contribute ideas that improve customer experience, efficiency, and profitability.
• Learn how entrepreneurs identify problems, create solutions, and bring ideas to market.

The internship is designed to help students understand how innovation drives business success while providing opportunities to apply entrepreneurial thinking in real business environments.

Qualifications
• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Interest in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, innovation, or management.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, or similar business tools.

Final Deliverable Requirements
At the conclusion of the internship, the student will complete:

Final Business Innovation Project
The intern will prepare and present a professional report and presentation that includes:

1. Business challenge or opportunity identified during the internship.
2. Research and analysis conducted.
3. Recommended innovative solution or growth strategy.
4. Expected business impact and implementation plan.
5. Key lessons learned and professional development reflection.

Presentation Requirements
• 10–15-minute presentation to leadership.
• Written report summarizing findings and recommendations.
• Reflection on entrepreneurial skills developed throughout the internship.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of the internship, students will have developed practical experience in entrepreneurship, business development, innovation, strategic thinking, professional communication, and project execution while contributing meaningful value to organizational growth initiatives.