2026 Summer Strategy Intern

2026 Summer Strategy InternAt McKinney, we believe in creating unfair attention for brands. Great strategy turns cultural tension into creative opportunity and business growth. We're looking for curious, analytical, culture-obsessed thinkers to join us for Summer 2026. If you're the kind of person who asks "why?" before "what," who studies how brands show up in culture, social, comms, and influencer spaces and who loves connecting human insight to business impact we want to meet you. This isn't a coffee-run internship. You'll work on real briefs with real teams for real clients. What You'll DoPartner with creatives, account teams, media, and production to shape smart, inspiring briefs Conduct research across culture, social trends, brand landscapes, and influencer ecosystems Help uncover human insights that inform brand positioning and communications strategy Support the development of brand, social, content, and integrated comms strategies Analyze campaign performance and social/influencer metrics to identify opportunities Contribute to thought starters, white space analyses, audience profiles, and trend reports Participate in brainstorms and strategic discussions (yes, your voice matters) Help craft decks and presentations that clearly connect insight to idea Bring fresh cultural observations and platform-native thinking to the table Who You AreA rising junior, senior, recent grad, or graduate student pursuing strategy, marketing, communications, sociology, psychology, business, or a related field Naturally curious and always asking questions about behavior, culture, and brands Analytical but imaginative you can interpret data and spark ideas Interested in how brands build meaning across social platforms, brand ecosystems, comms, and influencer partnerships A strong writer and storyteller who can turn complexity into clarity Comfortable synthesizing research into sharp, actionable insights Collaborative, open to feedback, and energized by creative environments What You'll GainHands-on experience shaping brand, social, comms, and influencer strategies for national and global brands Exposure to the full creative process from insight to execution Mentorship from experienced strategists A deeper understanding of how strategy drives creativity and business results Experience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced agency environment A network of teammates who will champion your growth Our Point of ViewWe're committed to building a culture that reflects the world we're speaking to. We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply. Different perspectives unlock better insights and stronger strategies. SalaryWe offer a competitive salary of $18/hour for up to 40 hours/week. Right to Work in the USYou must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we are not providing or sponsoring assistance with obtaining work authorization. We are in the office Tuesday Thursday. We look forward to meeting you! Ready to shape something iconic?Submit your video, resume, and a brief note telling us what cultural trend, brand, or social moment has captured your attention recently and why. Dates: The Summer 2026 program runs from June 3 August 12. We start all employees on Wednesdays.