MBA Summer Intern, AI Retail Project

Faherty Brand • New York, NY

21h • Onsite

About The Position

Faherty Brand is seeking an MBA candidate with a strong technical foundation and curiosity about AI's potential in consumer retail for a 10-week summer internship. The role focuses on a high-impact AI project where the intern will identify a business problem, design and prototype an AI-powered solution, and deliver a proof of concept. The project scope is broad, potentially covering marketing, merchandising, customer experience, or operations. The ideal candidate will possess an AI-first mindset, hands-on technical ability, and creativity to apply emerging tools to consumer problems, with a background in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field, combined with business acumen.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an MBA program with an anticipated graduation of 2027
• Undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, data science, or a related technical field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• Demonstrated ability to build — you’ve shipped code, built models, or developed AI-powered tools in a professional or academic setting
• Comfort with Python (or similar) and experience working with LLMs, ML frameworks, APIs, or data pipelines is strongly preferred
• An AI-first mindset with genuine consumer curiosity — you naturally ask “where could AI create value here?” and have experience applying AI tools (generative, predictive, or agentic) in consumer-facing or business contexts, not just academic ones
• Familiarity with the retail or consumer landscape — prior experience in e-commerce, DTC, retail tech, or a consumer-facing brand (through work, internship, or coursework) helps you understand where AI can create the most meaningful impact for our customers and business
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills — you can translate technical complexity into clear business language and are equally comfortable presenting to engineers and to executives
• Highly collaborative with a hands-on, entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Responsibilities

• Identify and scope a high-impact AI use case in partnership with your internship manager — drawing from across the business (marketing, merchandising, customer experience, operations, or beyond) — and build a clear problem statement, success criteria, and project plan within the first two weeks
• Design and build a working AI prototype or proof of concept — using tools such as Python, LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic), machine learning frameworks, or no-code/low-code AI platforms — that directly addresses the identified business problem and demonstrates measurable value
• Conduct a landscape analysis of relevant AI tools, vendors, and methodologies applicable to your chosen use case — for example, if working in marketing, evaluating AI-driven budget automation platforms; if working in merchandising, evaluating predictive analytics or demand forecasting tools — and develop a clear recommendation on build vs. buy vs. partner
• Partner cross-functionally with stakeholders across the relevant business area (marketing, technology, finance, or operations) to gather data, validate assumptions, and ensure your solution is grounded in real operational constraints and Faherty’s brand values
• Present a final capstone deliverable to senior leadership at the conclusion of the internship — including your working prototype, a clear articulation of the business case, an implementation roadmap, and a point of view on how Faherty can continue to scale AI adoption across the organization

Benefits

• 10-week, paid summer internship
• Based out of Faherty’s New York HQ in the Financial District
• Embedded within a cross-functional team
• Regular touchpoints with senior leadership
• Real exposure to how a purpose-driven, high-growth retail brand makes strategic decisions
• Project-based role with ownership from scoping through prototype delivery
• Full support of Faherty’s leadership team

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern