Franchise Management Trainee - Recent MBA Graduate

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Culver City, CA hosts an Emerging Talent Program trainee role designed for recent MBAs seeking hands-on business development in entertainment. The paid, seasonal assignment runs Jan 2027–Dec 2027 with in-person, full-time work at the designated office.

You will analyze markets, build franchise strategies, and present executive-ready recommendations. The role emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration, budget tracking, and the creation of pitches and sizzle materials,

Qualifications

• MBA from an accredited institution; professional experience; apply graduate training in a hands-on environment.
• Interest in entertainment, media, consumer products, brand management, licensing, strategy, or business development.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking; ability to structure ambiguity and translate findings into actions.
• Experience managing projects, stakeholders, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; communicate with senior leaders.
• Organized, detail-oriented, proactive; comfortable seeking direction when needed.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze markets, audiences, categories, and competitors to identify franchise growth opportunities.
• Build business cases and executive-ready recommendations across products, experiences, partnerships, and fan engagement.
• Support project economics through budget tracking, scenario analysis, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Own workstreams from scoping through execution, including plans, coordination, risks, and follow-up.
• Create pitch decks, one-sheets, sizzle materials, and other sales or strategy presentations.
• Partner with team leaders and cross-functional stakeholders on priority projects.
• Turn meeting decisions into action plans, recaps, milestones, and follow-through.
• Distill complex information into concise narratives and presentations for senior stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Project management

Communication

Multi-priority handling

Education

MBA (recently completed)

Tools

PowerPoint

Keynote

Excel

Airtable

Job description

Program Dates: January 4 or 11, 2027 – December 17, 2027 Start and end dates are flexible. Trainees must be available to work full-time (40 hours/week) in person at the designated office location. Our Emerging Talent Programs — including Internships and Trainee roles — provide hands‑on opportunities for students and early‑career professionals to contribute to the teams behind our film, television, and entertainment experiences. These paid, seasonal assignments deliver meaningful, high‑impact work designed to accelerate your growth. You’ll take on real responsibilities, build practical skills, and gain exposure to the business through structured learning, executive engagement, and networking opportunities.

About the Team Sony Pictures Television Franchise Management expands intellectual property beyond the television screen into durable, revenue‑generating businesses. The team develops franchise strategies across consumer products, location‑based experiences, marketing partnerships, and fan engagement, connecting creative vision with commercial opportunity.

The Opportunity This role is designed for a recent MBA graduate seeking to apply their graduate‑level business training at the intersection of entertainment, brand strategy, and business development. The trainee will support priority franchise initiatives while owning defined workstreams that require structured problem solving, cross‑functional collaboration, financial and market analysis, and executive‑ready communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze markets, audiences, categories, and competitors to identify franchise growth opportunities.
• Build business cases and executive‑ready recommendations across products, experiences, partnerships, and fan engagement.
• Support project economics through budget tracking, scenario analysis, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Own workstreams from scoping through execution, including plans, coordination, risks, and follow‑up.
• Create pitch decks, one‑sheets, sizzle materials, and other sales or strategy presentations.
• Partner with team leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders on priority projects.
• Turn meeting decisions into action plans, recaps, milestones, and follow‑through.
• Distill complex information into concise narratives and presentations for senior stakeholders.

MBA Learning Focus

Apply strategic frameworks to real‑world franchise growth and commercialization questions.

Gain exposure to how entertainment IP is evaluated, positioned, extended, and monetized across multiple business models.

Strengthen executive communication, influence without authority, and cross‑functional leadership capabilities.

Develop practical experience balancing creative considerations, consumer insight, financial discipline, and operational feasibility.

Qualifications

• Recently completed an MBA from an accredited institution, with prior professional experience and readiness to apply graduate‑level training in a hands‑on business environment.
• Interest in entertainment, media, consumer products, brand management, licensing, strategy, or business development.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with the ability to structure ambiguity and turn findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing projects, stakeholders, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including communication with senior leaders.
• Organized, detail‑oriented, proactive, and comfortable seeking direction when needed.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in entertainment, media, consumer products, consulting, brand management, licensing, creative services, or a related industry.
• Advanced PowerPoint or Keynote skills, including visual design and executive‑level presentations.
• Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for financial modeling, scenario analysis, and performance tracking.
• Experience with Airtable or similar project management platforms.
• Exposure to budget management, style guides, retail or licensing strategy, or go‑to‑market planning.

What Success Looks Like

Delivers clear analyses and recommendations that support informed decisions.

Advances projects with clear ownership, strong communication, and reliable follow‑through.

Balances strategy with execution and delivers polished, decision‑ready work.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $42/hour. This role may also qualify for comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law. Sony Pictures does not allow audio recording, video recording or use of AI note‑taking tools during interviews. Please be aware these tools may be enabled as a default and can be difficult to disable once the interview has started, so we recommend you check your device and disable these tools prior to the start of your interview. If recording or the use of the tools occurs during the interview and cannot be promptly turned off or disabled, the interviewer may end the interview. To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at [e-mail].

Hi, we’re Sony Pictures Entertainment. We are in the business of creativity … making some of the most beloved film and television of all time for every platform in the world. As the most creative and proudly independent studio, our future is boundless. Sony Pictures Entertainment is a division of Sony Corporation, a creative entertainment company built on a foundation of technology. Along with our sister companies, we make movies, television, music and games that engage billions of people, connecting creators and audiences around the globe. We are looking for innovators to join us as we forge the future of entertainment!