This summer, I had the chance to intern at Tom, Dick & Harry Creative Co. in the strategy department, working directly with Chief Strategy Officer Jason Donahue. I went into this internship wanting to dig deeper into brand strategy and account planning, and I’m leaving with more clarity and passion for this field than I ever expected.
From June to August 2024, I jumped into a variety of projects—everything from helping develop brand blueprints and writing creative briefs to conducting social listening research for clients and potential new business. One of the highlights was helping out with some of the final stages of TDH's new brand positioning, and an acronym for CRAFT. It was incredible to be part of something that felt so integral to the agency's future.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was becoming proficient with Meltwater, a social listening tool I hadn’t used before. After diving into YouTube tutorials and even getting creative with AI to perfect my searches, I eventually cracked the code—literally, as these resources helped me perfect the code used to conduct advanced searches on Meltwater. This experience not only sharpened my research skills but also showed me the power of resourcefulness and creative problem solving in strategy work. Not to mention, I was thrilled when the research I conducted contributed to helping us win a new business account!
Another memorable project was developing a deck that unpacked key findings from the One Show 2024 Insights Report, focusing on Craft and Purpose—two important focuses at TDH. Sharing these insights with the agency was such a rewarding experience!
Jason's advice to "fail faster" really stuck with me. It’s a reminder that testing ideas and assumptions early—whether they work out or not—is key to learning and growing in this field. This mindset shaped how I approached every task during my time at TDH.
I’m incredibly grateful to Colin MacGregor, our internship coordinator, for his support throughout this journey. I'd also like to give thanks once again to Jason Donahue for being such a supportive figure and mentor throughout this internship, and for teaching me the ropes of strategy/brand planning. Also, huge shoutout to my fellow interns, Victoria Wesloh, Nora Cunnea, and Walker Johnson—I couldn’t have asked for better, more talented people to collaborate with. 😊
As I wrap up this chapter, I’m more convinced than ever that strategy is where I belong. I’m looking to connect with other strategists and am actively seeking entry-level roles in brand strategy, social strategy, or account planning. This internship has given me a strong foundation, and I can’t wait to build on it.
Thank you, Jason, Colin, and the entire TDH team, for an unforgettable summer. I’m excited for what’s next! 🎉
Student at New York University
2moThank you for this warm welcome! So excited to learn and work alongside this incredible team❤️