Wellington Agency Launches World’s First 'Bravery Intern' Programme, Promises Discomfort And Cuddles
In a bold departure from conventional industry training, boutique creative agency Stoat & Fork has announced New Zealand’s first 'Bravery Intern' programme — an initiative designed exclusively for young creatives who are willing to cry in meetings but still finish the deck on time.
According to the agency’s Sunday LinkedIn press release (now deleted), the six-month internship will immerse participants in 'emotionally volatile scenarios' such as presenting mood boards without using the word 'vibe' and navigating client feedback that includes the sentence, 'Could it feel less designed, but like, better?'
Lead Strategist Callum Fyfe-Button says the idea was born during a particularly difficult offsite in Palmerston North. 'We realised some of our interns looked genuinely comfortable. That’s not how we broke in. We wanted to bring discomfort back to the learning experience.' Interns will rotate through several departments, including Vague Direction, Passive-Aggressive Production, and Post-it Curation. There will also be weekly 'radical vulnerability huddles' facilitated by the agency’s Staff Dog, Lester.
The programme concludes with a ceremonial portfolio review inside a disused cable car, where participants will be asked to explain a brand manifesto without blinking. One lucky graduate may be offered a full-time role, pending 'emotional alignment' and the ability to write a three-sentence creative rationale that uses the word 'resonant' in two ways. Applications close whenever Stoat & Fork remembers to update their website.
According to the agency’s Sunday LinkedIn press release (now deleted), the six-month internship will immerse participants in 'emotionally volatile scenarios' such as presenting mood boards without using the word 'vibe' and navigating client feedback that includes the sentence, 'Could it feel less designed, but like, better?'
Lead Strategist Callum Fyfe-Button says the idea was born during a particularly difficult offsite in Palmerston North. 'We realised some of our interns looked genuinely comfortable. That’s not how we broke in. We wanted to bring discomfort back to the learning experience.' Interns will rotate through several departments, including Vague Direction, Passive-Aggressive Production, and Post-it Curation. There will also be weekly 'radical vulnerability huddles' facilitated by the agency’s Staff Dog, Lester.
The programme concludes with a ceremonial portfolio review inside a disused cable car, where participants will be asked to explain a brand manifesto without blinking. One lucky graduate may be offered a full-time role, pending 'emotional alignment' and the ability to write a three-sentence creative rationale that uses the word 'resonant' in two ways. Applications close whenever Stoat & Fork remembers to update their website.