Innovation Strategy Intern

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, B2B, Big Data Technology, Business Strategy, Data science techniques, Effective communication skills, Machine learning techniques, Marketing Strategy

Job Description

Examples of Allstate’s innovation successes in recent years include:

• Exploration of AI risk assessment technologies that resulted in a new B2B big data venture, Arity – a startup with the backing of a Fortune 100 company
• Exploration of emerging device (e.g. smart phone) protection space that resulted in $1.4B acquisition of SquareTrade Inc.
• Exploration of digital protection space that resulted in $525M acquisition of identity protection company InfoArmor Inc.
• Exploration of peer-to-peer space that resulted in a new P2P car sharing venture, Avail – a startup with the backing of a Fortune 100 company
• Exploration of the future of consumer data and AI that resulted in a series A investment in a leading Web3 startup, Inrupt, followed by joint development efforts

Innovation projects typically feature cross-functional teams with expertise in Business Strategy, Product, Technology, and Design. We work in a variety of different spaces, industries, and emerging technology areas. Example areas of exploration include: AI/ML (incl. generative AI), future of automotive (EVs, autonomous vehicles), climate risks, and Web3 (de-centralized consumer data). 

The Innovation Strategy Intern will help Allstate and the innovation team to identify and develop new innovation opportunities. He/She/They will work with cross-functional teams and collaborate closely across the Allstate enterprise to deliver innovative strategies, capabilities, products, partnerships, and businesses. 

This role will provide meaningful experience for someone interested in going into management consulting, a start-up or other entrepreneurial venture, or with an interest in innovation at large organizations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the design and execution of market intelligence and/or consumer research. Involves gathering, collating, and analyzing data from a variety of sources to deliver actionable insights to our Innovation project teams on market opportunities, product positioning and/or consumer needs and attitudes about specific products or technologies.
• Help define and build a repeatable market research process to enable strong intelligence within the innovation team.
• Lead the thinking on new or improved sources of information to enable more actionable insights to our innovation team and strategic partners.
• Work collaboratively with a cross-functional and cross-enterprise stakeholder group that includes senior Allstate executives to understand project needs and deliver insights through clear action-oriented communication – rooted in a warm, collaborative engagement style. This will require designing and structuring crisp discussion messaging and materials for senior level meetings, and taking on presentation roles in these meetings. Interpersonally, this will require developing relationships across multiple levels of the organization and earning influence and credibility along the way.

Job Qualifications

Current Sophomore or Junior pursing Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Data Science, Entrepreneurship or related area of study

For the Innovation Strategy Internship, the ideal candidate will bring:

1. A growth mindset (interest and openness in learning new things) with an interest in developing new ideas into a meaningful product. The right fit candidate will be comfortable working in ambiguity where he/she/they must decide the necessary action steps and is comfortable with questioning the status quo and generally accepted beliefs.
2. Powerful and Effective Communication: The right fit candidate will possess excellent presentation skills, powerful communication ability, and strong interpersonal skills.
3. Business Acumen: The right fit candidate will be passionate & conversant about business with a keen eye for disruption through technology and/or big data/analytics. Critical thinking skills are vital to this role, including broad business acumen to tackle a wide range of issues in an integrated fashion (e.g. market landscape, technology landscape, consumer landscape) and the ability to identify and define problems, collect data, establish facts and demonstrate a ‘nose for value’ to discern what is important and draw valid conclusions.
4. Analytical Excellence: Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to bring a creative approach and demonstrate “next level of thinking”.
5. Stakeholder Management: An ability to develop strong relationships with a track record of delivering on expectations of stakeholders.
6. Strong Academic Track Record: The right fit candidate will have demonstrated success in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree from a top academic institution.

Compensation offered for this role is $23-$32/hr and is based on experience and qualifications.

The candidate(s) offered this position will be required to submit to a background investigation, which includes a drug screen.