2026 Summer Strategy Intern

New York, Durham, Los AngelesAt 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 briefsConduct research across culture, social trends, brand landscapes, and influencer ecosystemsHelp uncover human insights that inform brand positioning and communications strategySupport the development of brand, social, content, and integrated comms strategiesAnalyze campaign performance and social/influencer metrics to identify opportunitiesContribute to thought starters, white space analyses, audience profiles, and trend reportsParticipate in brainstorms and strategic discussions (yes, your voice matters)Help craft decks and presentations that clearly connect insight to ideaBring fresh cultural observations and platform-native thinking to the tableWho You AreA rising junior, senior, recent grad, or graduate student pursuing strategy, marketing, communications, sociology, psychology, business, or a related fieldNaturally curious and always asking questions about behavior, culture, and brandsAnalytical but imaginative - you can interpret data and spark ideasInterested in how brands build meaning across social platforms, brand ecosystems, comms, and influencer partnershipsA strong writer and storyteller who can turn complexity into clarityComfortable synthesizing research into sharp, actionable insightsCollaborative, open to feedback, and energized by creative environmentsWhat You'll GainHands-on experience shaping brand, social, comms, and influencer strategies for national and global brandsExposure to the full creative process - from insight to executionMentorship from experienced strategistsA deeper understanding of how strategy drives creativity and business resultsExperience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced agency environmentA network of teammates who will champion your growthOur 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.