2027 MBA Internship Program - KKR Capstone

Student Careers at KKR•Menlo Park, CA

6d•$170,000 - $175,000•Onsite

About The Position

KKR Capstone is seeking current 1st-year MBA students (graduation date: Spring 2028) for our 2027 MBA Internship Program. The internship is 10-weeks in length and will take place in our New York and Menlo Park offices. Following the conclusion of the internship, 2028 full-time offers as Associates may be extended to exceptional performers. KKR Capstone is the portfolio operations and value creation arm of the global PE fund, KKR. We partner with our deal teams and portfolio company management teams to drive the most important operational issues on the CEO and Board of Directors’ agenda, including top-line growth, cost optimization, organizational structure and capability, capital investment, and strategic M&A initiatives. We work as owner-operators, not advisors, which means we have full accountability to drive change and deliver results at our portfolio companies. On a day-to-day basis, KKR Capstone executives interact with a broad range of company personnel including the Board, C-suite and line-level operators. The majority of KKR Capstone team members have previous experience in management consulting. While our executives heavily leverage the skills and experience gained in consulting, they spend the bulk of their time identifying, rapidly prototyping, and implementing operational improvement initiatives (i.e. less time doing PowerPoint, more time dealing with real general management challenges and executing real initiatives). KKR Capstone is a unique “CEO University” for MBA graduates. We provide opportunities for high-performing candidates to drive real operating change and value creation in a private equity environment, gaining valuable experience as general managers. KKR Capstone executives are expected to take ownership of key priorities and initiatives at the portfolio company, are held accountable for individual results, and are typically the primary agents of change within the organization. Over time, team members can rise within KKR Capstone, transition into opportunities within the broader KKR firm, or take senior operating roles inside or outside the KKR portfolio. Due to the unique hands-on operating experience that KKR Capstone executives gain, ~70% of alums who have left the team in the past decade are now C-suite execs, and more than 1/3 are CEOs. In appreciation of the sponsorship that many former consultants have to return to their prior firm, KKR provides competitive tuition reimbursement for qualifying new joiners.

Requirements

Current 1st year MBA student with anticipated graduation date of Spring 2028.
Unquestioned integrity, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to teamwork and excellence.
Genuine enthusiasm and curiosity for real assets investing.
Strong understanding of fundamental business analysis.
Outstanding professional and academic performance record (e.g., top tier performance ratings, early promotions, top class rankings).
Comfort using AI and data tools (e.g., for rapid analysis, scenario modeling, or process automation) to accelerate operational diagnosis and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Partner on a wide range of value creation levers, including growth and commercial strategies (sales force effectiveness, pricing and packaging, consumer insights, cross-portfolio commercial opportunities).
Drive efficiency and cost optimization initiatives (zero-based budgeting, organizational design, G&A efficiency, technology cost optimization, procurement).
Lead strategic and organizational initiatives such as carve-outs, merger integration, synergy capture, and AI opportunities and risks assessment.
Partner with deal teams on late-stage diligence efforts, helping KKR identify, size, and scope value creation efforts, and support 100-day planning.
Identify talent needs and assist in recruiting and hiring top talent into portfolio companies.