Choosing Between Internships: Strategy intern @ branding/marketing tech startup VS Business Development intern @ Big4

I'm a rising junior aiming for strategy/management consulting and right now struggling to choose between 2 internships.

Both are off-cycle, so I'll have to take a gap semester.

In theory, which of these would look better on my resume? Which of these would help my networking more? Which of these might be more engaging?


1. Strategy & Finance Intern at branding/marketing tech startup

Company focuses on using tech for marketing/branding, <200 people.

  • Direct report to CFO. Great guy and has director level experience at top IBs and HFs. Top undergrad as well. 

  • Mostly high level: identifying expansions and business growth opportunities, might be some modelling/budgeting work.

  • Interesting topics: VR/AR, Digital marketing, Web3, Metaverse.

  • Startup has already had some cool clients (and a really nice website), but still massively loses out in brand name vs Big4.


2.  Business Development Intern

One of the okay Big4s, has a strategy arm 

  • Referred by connection, but the interviewers really liked me as well. Will be assigned to random partner I haven't met.

  • Department goal is basically to cross-sell and "improve customer experience".

  • Stakeholder management, working with a bunch of departments. Some client facing work: sitting in meetings, POSSIBLY pitching.

  • Red flag? Interviewers said the role might not be what I expected, and would understand if I wanted to cut the internship short (!!!)


Thanks in advance for any ideas. 

 

I'd probably take the MarTech offer. The B4 internship is internal i.e. not client facing. From the description I'd guess you'll basically be wrangling different directors and partners to figure out a go-to-market strategy or offering portfolio (with minimal individual thinking on your end -- more wrangling and formatting). Also lots of note taking. You will absolutely not be doing any pitches to clients

I'd pick the B4 if it were a standard consulting internship

 

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