South Asian Studies Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Paid Internship Details

• Duration: 6–12 months
• Hours: Approximately 10–15 hours per week
• Location: Chicago (Hybrid)
• Compensation: Paid hourly internship (final rate based on experience)
• Supervision: Associate Executive Director, with guidance from the Artistic Director
• To Apply: Send your resume to info@mandalaarts.org

About Mandala 

Founded in 2014 by Artistic Director Pranita Nayar, Mandala South Asian Performing Arts is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting South Asian dance, music, and theater while reimagining traditional art forms in contemporary contexts. Mandala’s work centers cultural preservation, artistic innovation, and social awareness, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and community engagement across the Chicagoland area. 

Mandala’s ensemble, teaching artists, and partners reflect a wide range of ethno-geographic, linguistic, and gender identities. Through performance, education, and public engagement, Mandala makes South Asian and diasporic art forms accessible, relevant, and responsive to contemporary social issues. Mandala Arts has received a 2018 MacArthur Foundation Award for International Exchange, a 2021 National Endowment for the Arts grant, and a 2023 Joyce Foundation Award. 

About the Internship

Who doesn’t want hands-on experience building a B2B sales pipeline, researching companies, creating outreach campaigns, developing marketing materials, and connecting with real business decision-makers?

Mandala is seeking a motivated Sales & Marketing Intern to help grow our Corporate Arts Workshops initiative.

Corporate Arts Workshops are interactive team experiences that use tabla drumming, movement, storytelling, and South Asian arts to help organizations strengthen communication, collaboration, connection, leadership, and employee engagement.

During your time with us, you will help identify prospective clients, research decision-makers, develop outreach campaigns, manage a sales pipeline, create marketing materials, support client conversations, and analyze what messaging generates results.

You will work closely with the Associate Executive Director and Artistic Director. You will gain firsthand experience in how a growing organization positions, markets, and sells a unique B2B service.

1. Key Responsibilities1. B2B Sales & Lead Generation

• Research companies and organizations that could benefit from Mandala's Corporate Arts Workshops
• Identify decision-makers across HR, People & Culture, Learning & Development, Employee Experience, DEI, Events, and related teams
• Conduct personalized outreach through email and LinkedIn
• Maintain and grow Mandala's database of prospective partners
• Help move prospects through the sales funnel from initial research through outreach, follow-up, meetings, proposals, and potential partnerships
• Research new industries, organizations, and audiences that could be strong fits for the program

2. Marketing & Campaign Strategy

• Help develop targeted outreach campaigns for different industries and buyer personas
• Write and refine messaging based on the needs of different audiences
• Help create buyer personas and identify their key challenges, motivations, and purchasing priorities
• Test outreach messaging, subject lines, calls-to-action, and positioning
• Track campaign metrics including response rates, meetings booked, and conversions
• Research competitors, industry trends, and opportunities within the corporate team-building and employee engagement market

3. Sales Content & Brand Communications

• Create and update sales presentations, one-pagers, outreach decks, and other marketing collateral
• Help develop testimonials, case studies, and workshop success stories
• Assist with content promoting Corporate Arts Workshops across social media, email, and the Mandala website
• Translate workshop benefits into clear, compelling messaging for potential clients
• Help ensure outreach materials remain consistent with Mandala's brand and mission

4. Client & Workshop Experience

• Help prepare briefing notes and materials for prospective client meetings
• Support scheduling and coordination of introductory meetings
• Assist with workshop planning, materials, agendas, and participant communications
• Support workshop documentation, participant feedback, and basic reporting
• Help turn workshop results and client feedback into testimonials, case studies, and future marketing content

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, you will have:

• Hands-on experience building and managing a B2B sales pipeline
• Experience prospecting and communicating with real business decision-makers
• Practical experience with lead generation, email outreach, LinkedIn prospecting, and follow-up strategy
• Experience developing buyer personas and targeted marketing messages
• Portfolio-ready sales and marketing materials
• Experience creating presentations, one-pagers, case studies, and outreach campaigns
• Experience analyzing campaign performance and using results to improve marketing strategy
• Exposure to client meetings, pitching, and relationship-building
• Experience working across marketing, sales, programming, and client experience
• Direct mentorship and collaboration with Mandala leadership
• A better understanding of how a growing organization takes a service from concept to market to client

Most importantly, you will leave with real examples, campaigns, projects, and results that you can speak about in future internships and job interviews.

Who We're Looking For

This internship is especially well suited for students interested in:

Marketing • Sales • Business Development • Digital Marketing • Advertising • Entrepreneurship • Consulting • Event Marketing • Communications • Nonprofit Management

Qualifications

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Have strong written and verbal communication skills
• Enjoy researching companies, people, and industries
• Are highly organized and able to manage multiple projects
• Are comfortable working independently while asking questions when needed
• Are curious about buyer behavior, messaging, and what motivates organizations to make purchasing decisions
• Have an interest in arts, culture, business, marketing, sales, or community engagement

To apply, send your resume to info@mandalaarts.org.