Internships That Launch Futures
Each spring, Ignite Global Business students take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it to work in the real world. Through 12–15 week internships and externships, our advanced high-school juniors and seniors collaborate with regional businesses, nonprofits, and industry professionals to solve meaningful problems, support ongoing projects, and build professional experience before graduation.
For our partners, these internships offer an opportunity to mentor emerging talent, identify future interns or employees, and help shape the next generation of leaders in Northwest Arkansas.
Why Host an Ignite Intern?
Partnering with Ignite connects you directly to driven, skilled students eager to contribute to real business outcomes. Each student brings unique strengths in research, analytics, communication, marketing, or operations — and works under the guidance of a professional mentor and Ignite instructor.
Your organization benefits from:
Dedicated, high-performing student interns for 12–15 weeks
Support from Ignite instructors who co-manage student progress
Flexible options for on-site, remote, or hybrid work
A chance to evaluate and mentor future workforce talent
Positive community impact through education and mentorship
Internship Scope & Structure
Ignite Global Business internships take place during the spring semester (January–April) and provide students with 12–15 weeks of hands-on, meaningful work aligned to real business needs. Students are available 6–7 hours per week during the school day and partners can host students from the AM cohort (7:45–10:00 a.m.), the PM cohort (11:45 a.m.–2:00 p.m.), both, or either depending on partner preference and project scope.
Internships are generally unpaid, but can be paid depending on the level of responsibility and project demands. Students work only during their scheduled class time and may complete work onsite or through virtual/hybrid arrangements using tools like Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet.
Previous Internships
Business Strategy, Operations & Analytics
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Collaborated across finance, marketing, and logistics to analyze profitability, manage budgets, and perform competitive market analysis.
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Analyzed retail data, built tools to track business performance, and worked with Sales and Digital teams to improve results.
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Enhanced data collection for market intelligence, supported client acquisition strategy, and assessed retail consumption trends.
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Researched and analyzed business acquisitions and investment opportunities to inform strategic decisions.
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Explored investment strategies, analyzed market sectors, and built AI bots to generate insights on financial opportunities and risks.
Technology, Digital Solutions & AI
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Researched technology use cases, created leadership-ready reports, and streamlined digital project reporting templates.
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Built AI bots and analyzed market data to inform investment strategies and identify potential risks and opportunities.
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Supported order management, event planning, and data analysis while identifying ways to leverage AI in operations.
Marketing, Communications & Social Media
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Helped develop and execute marketing strategies to expand online presence, engage clients, and promote UX services.
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Managed social media content, created photography and reels, and supported in-store and digital marketing efforts.
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Developed new product and marketing ideas while managing social media accounts to grow sales and brand awareness.
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Assisted with social media, newsletters, photography, and event coordination to enhance member engagement.
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Designed marketing materials, captured event photos and videos, and helped promote community programs.
Community, Nonprofit & Education
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Created digital content, conducted focus groups, and analyzed data to study mental performance in youth sports.
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Assisted clients, supported fundraising events, and created video and social media content to increase engagement.
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Collected and analyzed community data to inform future museum programs and exhibits.
A Note on Work Content
Ignite internships are not designed for busywork.
Students do not answer phones, run errands, or spend weeks doing repetitive data entry. Instead, they contribute to substantive, skill-based projects — research, analytics, marketing campaigns, operations support, financial modeling, content development, and more.
Their internship experience mirrors early-career project work: focused, guided, and meaningful.
General Internship Timeline
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Partner submits an internship/project description outlining goals and expected outcomes.
Ignite shares student resumes and coordinates interviews.
Partner selects student(s) for placement (AM, PM, both, or either).
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Student meets mentor/supervisor and receives orientation to the organization, mission, and project goals.
Mentor and student co-create expectations and a rough work plan.
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Student begins contributing to meaningful tasks aligned to their project description.
Weekly check-ins (20–30 minutes) ensure alignment, feedback, and professional growth.
Ignite instructor monitors progress and supports student learning.
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Student takes on greater responsibility, working more independently.
Mid-semester check-in with mentor and instructor to recalibrate goals and progress.
Students produce drafts and deliverables that show emerging depth, structure, and professional polish.
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Student finalizes deliverables, prepares summaries or presentations, and begins wrapping up long-term tasks.
Mentor provides targeted feedback to strengthen the student’s professional growth.
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Student presents their work and outcomes to the mentor and Ignite instructor.
Mentor completes final evaluation and provides feedback on performance and next steps.
Ready to Partner?
Join us in preparing the next generation of business leaders while gaining insights that matter to your organization.
Click below to propose an internship idea — it’s quick, flexible, and impactful.