Welcome inside the AAVERI Creative Institute, our 2025 Internship recap! I’m Loren — founder, creative director and someone who deeply believes that creativity is more than a skill. It’s a responsibility, a perspective and a powerful way to move ideas forward with intention.

This internship was built for emerging creatives who want more than résumé builders or one-off assignments. It’s for those who care about storytelling, strategy, collaboration — and the impact your work can have when it’s aligned with purpose. At The AAAgency, we don’t believe in gatekeeping. We believe in guidance, clarity and making space for your voice to grow.

Over the course of a few months, our intern not only contributed to meaningful projects — but also learned how to manage creative workflows, align their work with brand strategy and build a portfolio he’s proud to share. As his internship has come to an end, we’d like to share some exclusive feedback and pieces of his portfolio that he was able to present for our 2025 Summer Internship Portfolio Showcase!

Meet our Social Media Curator Intern, Michael Bayiha!

Michael brings a fresh perspective and growing expertise in content research and strategy as he’s a student at the University of South Carolina Upstate, studying B.S in Marketing. Although he is originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, his family is from Cameroon — his heritage plays a big part in who he is and how he sees the world.

In his free time, you can find him on the field playing soccer — staying active, levitating stress and connecting with others. During his time with us, he has supported projects ranging from audits and strategy development to hands-on project execution, always with curiosity and a willingness to learn — all while working a summer job in construction.

His dedication to detail and eagerness to grow as a creative professional have already made him a valuable part of our team. Without further due, we’re excited to hear from Michael himself

What are 2–3 things you’re most proud of achieving so far in your internship?

One of my proudest moments was completing a full social media audit for authenticAAVERIagency’s (The AAAgency’s) LinkedIn and Facebook platforms. This project challenged me to look beyond surface-level analytics and truly understand how digital strategy, storytelling and brand alignment work together to communicate authenticity online. I analyzed post frequency, engagement trends and profile optimization to evaluate how effectively each platform represented The AAAgency’s identity.

Through this process, I learned how to identify strengths, uncover gaps in content and engagement and make actionable recommendations that strengthen brand consistency. What stood out most was realizing how strategy informs creativity — and how even small shifts in tone, visuals or timing can make a big impact on audience connection.

I also had the opportunity to manage social media scheduling for the L.D. Barksdale Sickle Cell Foundation (LDBF), one of The AAAgency’s ongoing social media management clients. This project gave me the chance to apply both creative and organizational skills — reviewing content for brand alignment, uploading posts across platforms and ensuring each caption, hashtag and visual was consistent with campaign objectives.

Taking on this creative project taught me the importance of precision, planning and maintaining a brand’s voice across every post. More than anything, it showed me how strategic scheduling supports meaningful storytelling — helping community-centered missions like LDBF’s reach the audiences that need them most.

Lastly, Loren was able to guide me through the aspects of an authentic brand identity to help fulfill one of my ultimate career goals — developing a complete brand identity and freelance strategy for my own creative operation. This project allowed me to take everything I’d learned throughout the internship and apply it to something deeply personal.

I began by reflecting on my values, creative strengths and long-term goals, then built a roadmap to define my niche, outline my services and create an intentional plan for growth.

Through this process, I learned how to position myself not just as a designer or strategist but as a professional with a clear identity, direction and purpose. It gave me the tools to see branding from both sides — as a strategist and as a creator — and helped me build a strong foundation for a sustainable freelance career.

Each of these projects challenged me to think more critically, refine my process and take ownership of my creative direction. Together, they represent not just what I accomplished during this internship, but how much I’ve grown as a communicator, strategist and creative professional.

What new skills have you learned since starting your internship?

This internship experience has given me hands-on insight into what it means to build an authentic brand — from defining values and voice to understanding the balance between copywriting vs. content writing.

I’ve also learned how to manage my time more effectively while juggling multiple creative projects. These lessons have shaped how I approach my coursework as I pursue my B.S. in Marketing and will continue to influence how I grow as a creative professional.

What has been your biggest challenge?

At first, my biggest challenge was adjusting to the pace and precision of the creative industry. I didn’t realize how important it is to approach every deliverable as if it’s the final draft — to think strategically and execute confidently the first time around. Once I understood that standard, I shifted my mindset, refined my workflow and began producing deliverables with the level of polish and intention expected in the field. That shift has been one of my greatest takeaways from this internship.

Closing Reflections

As we've wrapped up our 2025 Summer Internship, I want to take a moment to celebrate the work Michael has shared and the growth he’s shown during his internship here at The AAAgency. Internships are about more than checking boxes — they’re about stepping into real projects, taking ownership of ideas and learning how creativity can make a meaningful impact. Michael has done just that. From audits and strategy work to content execution, he has leaned into each challenge with curiosity, commitment and a collaborative spirit.

I’m proud of the skills he’s developed, the confidence he’s built and the contributions he’s made to our team. More importantly, I’m excited to see how he continues to shape his career and bring his voice forward in this industry. Let’s congratulate Michael on a job well done and thank him for the creativity, energy and perspective he’s brought to our agency!

If you’re in college pursuing a degree within Integrated Marketing Communication and ready to bridge the gap between what you’re learning in class as well as what it takes to thrive in the creative industry, we’d love to meet you. AAVERI’s Creative Internship Program gives students the opportunity to collaborate on real client work, strengthen their portfolios and grow alongside a supportive team of creative professionals: https://www.authenticaaveriagency.com/internship-program