Some HBS students take an entrepreneurial approach to their summer internship search—identifying organizations they admire, networking creatively, and pitching unique project-based roles that align with their skills and interests. These self-driven efforts often lead to meaningful, high-impact internships that wouldn’t exist through traditional recruiting channels. If your organization is contacted by an HBS student with a tailored proposal, it could be the start of a mutually valuable partnership. Read on for one student’s experience designing her own summer role with fashion brand Anine Bing—and how her proactive outreach turned into a strategic internship opportunity.

Not every summer internship starts with a job posting. For Jessica Zukhovich (MBA 2024), her summer role with fashion brand Anine Bing began with inspiration—and a bold outreach.

Founded in 2012, Anine Bing is a contemporary women’s fashion brand that blends European simplicity with California energy. Known for its elevated essentials and modern aesthetic, the company has carved out a niche in the affordable-luxury space, with a global presence across more than 100 markets and strong e-commerce and wholesale businesses.

After hearing Anine Bing’s founders speak at HBS’s Retail & Luxury Goods Conference, Jessica Zukhovich (MBA 2024) was struck by their entrepreneurial journey and the brand’s rapid growth. Inspired by what she heard, she saw a unique opportunity—and took the initiative to pitch herself for a summer internship, even though the company had never hosted an MBA intern before.

From Inspiration to Initiative

Jessica reached out directly to the company, proposing a way she could contribute. “I actually guessed the founder’s email using an online email verifier,” she said. “Especially for early-stage companies, the founder's email is often just their first name at the company’s domain. Warm introductions are great, when possible, but if you're cold outreaching, I've found direct work emails are much more effective than LinkedIn or alumni platforms.”

Her message landed with the Head of Strategic Finance, who welcomed the conversation and scheduled a call to explore potential projects and align on goals. “They had never had an intern before, so this was a brand new program that we workshopped together based on both of our expectations,” Jessica said.

Designing a Meaningful Internship

Jessica brought a background in investment banking and private equity, but she was ready to try something new. “I thought my experience working on strategic initiatives with portfolio companies would be relevant,” she said. “I had also never worked in the consumer sector, but I relayed how passionate I was personally about the space and the brand, and that I was very eager to learn.”

Over the summer, Jessica worked on three strategy projects: one focused on international expansion, one on retail strategy, and one on e-commerce brand positioning. “I presented the findings of my projects to the department heads and C-suite, and they actually incorporated my recommendations into their strategic plan for the following year.”

Getting the Full Picture

Jessica’s internship provided more than just project work—it gave her a comprehensive view of how a fast-growing fashion business operates.

“I was able to interact with all the various departments and sit down with all the department heads to learn more about how their teams function and how they collaborate,” she said.

She also credited the strong support she received from her manager, who “was very hands-on throughout the summer and guided me through all of the company data, operations, and functions, coordinated intros with all the department heads, and even was a sounding board as I thought about my own personal career ambitions.”

Jessica returned to investing after graduation and said her experience with Anine Bing helped her see operations from a new angle. “This role actually taught me a lot of valuable information to consider from an investor's point of view.”

Advice for Students Pitching Their Own Internship

Jessica encourages students who are interested in crafting their own summer internship to stay persistent and strategic.

“Don’t get discouraged if you’re not hearing back right away. I reached out to around 50 companies,” she shared. “Most didn’t respond, but a handful were interested, and I ultimately received two offers.”

She recommends choosing the right company, leading with value, and getting specific. “Position yourself as a resource. Many smaller companies don’t have the time to work on strategic projects that would be valuable to their business, so pitch them on specific analyses you can do that would help them move the needle—and make clear that you’re a self-starter who won’t require heavy oversight.”

Whether you’re pursuing a niche industry, a brand you admire, or simply trying something new, with a proactive approach and a clear value proposition, you can create your own opportunities.