ICSC Launch Academy
Retail is at the heart of every community, and since local communities continue to grow and evolve, it is imperative that the marketplaces industry hires talent reflective of the people it serves.
Launch Academy provides summer internship opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) undergraduate students to learn more about the development and management of marketplaces and spaces where people shop, dine, work, play and gather.
Through a paid summer internship, an immersive virtual learning experience, and access to a mentor as well as a network of industry leaders from across the country, the Launch Academy provides participants with the tools and exposure essential to pursue a successful career in the marketplaces industry.
- Paid summer internship (in partnership with sponsor company)
- Interview and resume support
- 30+ hours of Marketplaces Industry-focused pre-internship education (hybrid-format), including a mandatory orientation, plus:
- Professional development
- Networking
- Continuing education throughout the summer
- An industry mentor and coaching
- Travel and relocation assistance grants available (based on financial need)
- ICSC student membership and discounted event registration
- Identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander, and/or Native American
- Enrolled as a current freshman, sophomore or junior (undergraduate) at an accredited 4-year college/university
- Availability to participate in all Launch Academy activities, including pre-internship sessions and summer continuing education (schedule forthcoming)
- An expressed interest in retail real estate; all majors are encouraged to apply
- Completion of real estate and/or business/finance-related courses preferred
Application Requirements:
- Complete Application
- Resume & cover letter
- College transcript (showing minimum 2.5 GPA)
- Essay: In 250–500 words, express your interest in retail real estate
-
A list of 2–3 professional/academic references
Application Round |
Application Deadline |
Hiring Deadline |
Internship Period |
|---|---|---|---|
Early Application* |
October 3, 2022 | January 2023 |
May/June – August 2023 |
Standard Application |
January 16, 2023 | April 2023 |
May/June – August 2023 |
*Within each Round (Early and Standard), applications are considered on a rolling basis. The Early Application Round might be most appealing to previous Launch Academy participants and/or students with some experience in the commercial real estate marketplaces industry. All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Phase 1: Apply & Access |
Early Applicants: August 2022 – October 3, 2022 During the Apply & Access Phase, prospective interns submit their applications to the Launch Academy program. All applicants become eligible for complimentary ICSC student membership, granting them access to our member directory, industry-focused publications, student-focused learning and networking opportunities, and discounted event registration. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission to Launch Academy will advance to Phase 2 of the process. |
Phase 2: Prime & Prep |
Early Applicants: October – November 1, 2022 During the Prime & Prep Phase, applicants receive access to two required learning modules designed to prepare them to engage successfully in the job search process with Launch Academy sponsor companies. Applicants must successfully complete the following courses: Resume-Crafting & Interview Skills and Marketplaces Industry 101 in order to move forward in the process. |
Phase 3: Match & Meet |
Early Applicants: October – January 2023 During the Match & Meet Phase, applicants are matched with sponsor companies based on their qualifications, skills, and interests. Applicants get the opportunity to put their training from the Prime & Prep Phase into action as they update their resumes accordingly and begin interviewing with HR specialists and/or hiring managers at companies for specific intern positions within sponsor companies. Prospective interns might expect to complete multiple rounds of interviews within a company to determine if they are the right fit for a given position. |
Phase 4: Consider & Commit |
Early Applicants: January 16, 2023 During the Consider & Commit Phase, applicants receive employment offers from sponsor companies; some applicants may receive multiple offers and will need to decide which opportunity best aligns with their interests and goals. Again, the skills gained during the Prime & Prep Phase will have prepared applicants with best practices on how to accept the right offer and politely decline others in a timely fashion. |
Phase 5: Launch & Learn |
Early & Standard Applicants: March 2023 – August 2023 Congratulations! Applicants who accept an internship position, move on to the Launch & Learn phase. These interns are now full-fledged Launch Academy participants. However, before summer internships officially begin, Launch Academy interns will be required to complete 30+ hours of industry-focused education, delivered in a hybrid format. Interns will also receive continuing education throughout the summer in the form of mentorship, professional development, networking opportunities, and recruitment-focused showcases hosted by ICSC member companies. |
Initial application process:
- Submit your resume and cover letter Apply here
- Check your email for a message from Thrive TRM, granting you access to the applicant portal
- Complete your application by uploading the following required documents:
- Your most recent college transcript (if you are a first year student, you may wait until the end of first semester to submit this document)
- Your essay submission (In 250–500 words, express your interest in retail real estate.)
- A list of two to three professional or academic references
Phase 1: Apply & Access |
Early Applicants: August 2022 – October 3, 2022| During the Apply & Access Phase, prospective interns submit their applications to the Launch Academy program. All applicants become eligible for complimentary ICSC student membership, granting them access to our member directory, industry-focused publications, student-focused learning and networking opportunities, and discounted event registration. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission to Launch Academy will advance to Phase 2 of the process. |
Phase 2: Prime & Prep |
Early Applicants: October – November 1, 2022 During the Prime & Prep Phase, returning intern applicants receive access to ICSC’s online Learning Library for students and one required learning module designed to refresh their skills and prepare them to engage successfully in the job search process with Launch Academy sponsor companies. Applicants must successfully complete Resume-crafting & Interview Skills in order to move forward in the process. |
Phase 3: Match & Meet |
Early Applicants: October – January 2023 During the Match & Meet Phase, applicants are matched with sponsor companies based on their qualifications, skills, and interests. Applicants get the opportunity to put their training from the Prime & Prep Phase into action as they update their resumes accordingly and begin interviewing with HR specialists and/or hiring managers at companies for specific intern positions within sponsor companies. Prospective interns might expect to complete multiple rounds of interviews within a company to determine if they are the right fit for a given position. |
Phase 4: Consider & Commit |
Early Applicants: January 16, 2023 During the Consider & Commit Phase, applicants receive employment offers from sponsor companies; some applicants may receive multiple offers and will need to decide which opportunity best aligns with their interests and goals. Again, the skills gained during the Prime & Prep Phase will have prepared applicants with best practices on how to accept the right offer and politely decline others in a timely fashion. |
Phase 5: Launch & Learn |
Early & Standard Applicants: March 2023 – August 2023 Congratulations, applications who accept an internship position, move on to the Launch & Learn phase. These interns are now full-fledged Launch Academy participants. However, before summer internships officially begin, returning Launch Academy interns will be required to complete ICSC’s Online Retail Real Estate Institute Certificate for Students (~5 hrs.) Interns will also receive continuing education throughout the summer in the form of mentorship, professional development, networking opportunities, and recruitment-focused showcases hosted by ICSC member companies. |
Initial application process:
- Submit your resume and cover letter Apply here
- Check your email for a message from Thrive TRM, granting you access to the applicant portal
- Complete your application by uploading the following required documents:
- Your most recent college transcript (if you are a first year student, you may wait until the end of first semester to submit this document)
- Your essay submission (In 250 – 500 words, express your interest in retail real estate.)
- A list of two - three professional or academic references
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Interested in sponsoring an intern?
If you seek to improve diversity and inclusion within your company, ICSC can help connect you to a pipeline of high-performing, BIPOC undergraduate students from across the country. Please contact Jazmen Johnson at jjohnson@icsc.com to learn more.
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The ICSC Foundation is the charitable arm of ICSC dedicated to creating a vibrant marketplaces industry by building a pipeline of bright, ambitious and diverse talent that can drive the industry forward.
The member organization for industry advancement, ICSC promotes and elevates the marketplaces and spaces where people shop, dine, work, play and gather as foundational and vital ingredients of communities and economies.