What’s it like to intern at Nike? We go inside the School to Swoosh programme

If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to work at Nike, School to Swoosh might just be the initiative for you. The programme was set up to foster a diverse new generation of creative leaders, with a brilliant internship scheme serving as a core part of its offering. Here, we’re sharing more about this exciting initiative, as well as introducing four talented creatives taking part in the current programme.

What is School to Swoosh?

As one of the world’s leading brands, it’s no surprise that Nike offers a number of internships across its many global offices. However, Nike’s School to Swoosh internship is unique in its mission to pave the way for a diverse new generation of creative leaders. Created with the understanding that you can’t be what you can’t see, the programme actively seeks to break down barriers to the creative industry – inviting talent into the company to learn first-hand.

Founded in 2022, you can think of School to Swoosh as Nike’s educational incubator. The goal is to help young and emerging creatives from a diverse range of backgrounds get their start in the creative world; nurturing them from pupil stage, right up to professional level.

Existing to shake things up, School to Swoosh is designed to nurture and empower early-years creatives, while creating a space to let their ambitions and dreams thrive. It does this in a number of ways: from offering workshops with experts, to one-on-one coaching tailored to individual needs, to a full internship programme.

How do the internships work?

The School to Swoosh internship programme runs twice a year for six months at a time, with places available in Nike’s Hilversum, Paris, Berlin and London offices. Having launched in February 2023, the School to Swoosh team has welcomed 15 interns to date, who were successfully appointed out of over 1,000 applicants in that time.

These internships sit within Nike’s Brand Creative team – the department responsible for the very “voice and soul of Nike,” in the words of Nike’s School to Swoosh Program Specialist and Lead, Bichara Said Hassane. This team works together with the company’s broader marketing teams to deliver engaging campaigns.

Interns can expect to work on varied projects from seasonal marketing campaigns to retail activations. Past examples include working on an event to celebrate Air Max Day, a project celebrating the World Cup; product launches; and the Paris 2024 Olympics. Day-to-day, interns also learn about how Nike operates as a brand, as well as how the Brand Creative department runs – alongside portfolio reviews and other educational initiatives.

As a new programme, the impact of the internships is ongoing and growing, but former interns have already gone on to be hired by major advertising agencies, with some alumni now working independently, or continuing their journeys in creative education. Among them is Julia Albers from the first cohort, now a full-time employee at Nike.

How can you get involved?

To apply for the School to Swoosh internship programme, Nike simply asks that you have a valid student status for the duration of the internship, and that you’re available for six months, full-time. In addition, the team is looking for applicants who show true curiosity, a genuine interest in the creative industry and a desire to create real impact through creativity.

We’ll be sharing more information when applications are next open to submissions, but in the meantime, keep reading for further insight from the successful applicants for the current programme.

Meet the School to Swoosh interns

The current cohort of interns comprises Hayat and Yeojin – two inspiring emerging creatives developing their craft in creative strategy and design respectively. Here, they share their experiences of the programme and their journeys so far.

Hayat Hassan

Pronouns: She/her
Internship Role: Creative Strategist Intern
Based: Amsterdam
See more: LinkedIn

How did you discover the internship, and do you know what helped you land it?
I stumbled across it on LinkedIn while hunting for creative, strategy-focused opportunities. This one immediately caught my eye because it was centred around storytelling – something that’s deeply personal to me.

The application included a task to create a video that highlighted our passion for storytelling. I first considered taking a more brand-focused approach, but instead I leaned into who I am. I talked about why storytelling matters to me, drawing inspiration from Toni Morrison. I believe that staying true to myself helped me stand out and land the role.

What has been your biggest learning from the internship?
At first, I thought the biggest takeaways would be technical, but the most valuable lessons have been about soft skills: How to navigate conversations, understand multiple perspectives, read the room – all while learning the fundamentals.

One standout moment was attending a photoshoot. It gave me insight into how both agency and client teams operate in high-pressure scenarios and helped me reflect on how I show up in those moments.

There’s something magical about seeing how the projects come together behind the scenes: the passion, the creativity, the collaborative spirit. But what stands out most is the kindness and support of the Nike team. It’s not just about the work; it’s about the stories they carry, how they got here, what fuels their creativity and being part of that dynamic has been incredible.

How would you describe your experience of starting out in the creative industries so far?
It’s been an eye-opener. This internship has shown me that I don’t need to compromise who I am to succeed. As a first-generation Somali, stepping into this world has also felt like uncharted territory. But it’s taught me that the qualities I bring to the table – my perspective, my story – are assets, not obstacles.

What are you hoping to do next?
I’m looking to dive deeper into writing and creative strategy, and aim to keep championing gen-z and online subcultures. This programme has helped me realise that I bring a unique perspective to the table, and my manager, Caspar Wood, has been instrumental in helping me refine it.

I see myself stepping into a junior writer or copywriting role and eventually branching into creative strategy. Above all, I want to keep experimenting, stay curious, and be part of the action – constantly learning and pushing boundaries.

Yeojin Min

Pronouns: She/her
Internship Role: Brand Creative Design Intern
Based: Amsterdam
See more: LinkedIn

How did you discover the internship, and what was the application process like?
I discovered it on a job site. After applying, I received a brief with a task that I needed to complete within a week. Then, during the interview I met my amazing mentor, Yasmin, and presented my portfolio as well as the task.

I tried to show a diverse range of skills, including the skills I didn’t capture in my portfolio, to emphasise my strengths in being able to play with many tools. I felt this was important in terms of applying for a brand experience design role, and luckily, it worked.

How would you describe your experience of starting out in the creative industry so far?
I’m from South Korea and have lived in France for the past four years. Even while studying in France, I was involved in various fields and developed many skills.

Sometimes I wasn't sure if my background would fit into the creative industry, but this internship has given me a lot of confidence. I’ve learnt that good ideas come from various perspectives and experiences, and that coming from a different background was my biggest strength.

What were the best things about the programme?
The best part has been actively participating in projects. I also had the opportunity to work as an art director and lead a project with Hayat, who was in charge of narrative. We made a recap video for the School to Swoosh programme, showing how the programme has developed. It was a valuable opportunity to lead a project from the beginning, with the support of the team.

Before this internship, I didn't realise how important soft skills were, such as communication, team spirit and autonomy. This has been the perfect opportunity to experience these skills, as they are essential in achieving the best results.

What have been your biggest learnings from the programme?
I have a perfectionist streak and I talked with my mentor a lot about this. She helped me in learning to manage expectations, and she also shared that learning is more important than results, especially as an intern. I’ve realised the importance of encouragement, to stay motivated and energised for a project. The advice resonated so much, not just for work but for life in general.

I had the opportunity to grow personally and professionally with the help of so many people. I saw that Nike’s amazing projects are rooted in team spirit and a culture of trust and encouragement. I won’t forget the positive energy they’ve shared with me.

What are you hoping to do next in your career?
I would like to work in spatial design. I'm learning specific tools and keeping an eye on what's happening in the design world. I have a lot of learning to do, but feel so excited to go for what I want.