The CCI Internship Diaries: Introducing Grace Cochrane’ 26!

Photo courtesy of Grace Cochrane. Grace was personally invited to a special Shawn Mendes concert, where he performed some of his new music. As both a lifelong fan and a content creator, she was invited by Shawn’s team!

The new school year is here, and with it, we’re excited to launch a brand-new social media and blog series: The CCI Internship Diaries! Welcome to our first story! We wanted to look at internships in the Creative and Cultural Industries because who doesn't love a behind-the-scenes peek at the creative world in action? We also wanted to put the spotlight on our incredible students doing big things, and finally, we felt that these stories show why internships matter and what students have learned from their experiences. To kick things off, meet Grace Cochrane ‘26! A student with a seriously bright future and some fantastic stories to share. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this.

Originally from Minnesota, Grace is passionate, driven, and when she arrived at Chapman she thought she had it all mapped out. Grace started off as a music business minor, ready to dive headfirst into the music industry. “One Direction was [influentially] huge for me. Shawn Mendes, too; he was a big one. If it weren’t for him, I genuinely wouldn’t have the internship I’m in now.” However, over time she realized her interests were expanding to also include such things as sports, entertainment and content creation, “I’ve always gone all in when I love something. Growing up, I was such a fangirl of music, sports, you name it. That kind of obsession genuinely led me to where I am now.”  It was at this point in her Chapman career that she discovered the CCI Minor. “That’s when it clicked,” she says. “CCI gave me the tools to turn my passions into a career. I don’t know exactly what industry I want to end up in yet, so having the freedom to explore different spaces is perfect,” she explains.

Grace a Startegic and Croporate Communication major and now a CCI minor has learned to channel her love for music turning the arts and entertainment into content creation. She began contributing on social media not for fame or fortune but simply because she enjoys it. “I don’t plan things out or overthink it,” she says. “I just post what I like. And sometimes it does well, and that’s great. But it’s never been about chasing clout.” As luck would have it, that same creative instinct opened the door to her summer internship, one that lets her flex those very same skills in a professional setting.

With all that in mind, keep reading as we dive deeper into Grace’s internship journey down below! 

Photo courtesy of Grace Cochrane. Here’s Grace on the job at one of Kevin Kraemer’s concerts. As a digital marketing intern, she was responsible for capturing content, everything from photos to videos.

Q: Tell me all about your internship. What’s the title, how did you land it, and what do you do?

GC: So, wild story, I’m currently a digital marketing intern at Off The Records, and I didn’t even apply. Back in my sophomore year, I interned at a company called Blueprint Stan Experience, where my boss, Maya, later recommended me to her friend Kaylee. Out of the blue, Kaylee texted me in May, and after a quick Zoom call, she offered me a marketing internship. Turns out, she manages digital media for artists like Ruel and Kevian Kraemer The funniest part? We’d actually met briefly at a Shawn Mendes concert, which made the whole thing feel like a full-circle moment.

I worked about ten hours a week on a flexible schedule with the company. Most of my time was focused on Kevin’s digital presence. I ran his main fan account and secretly managed three TikTok fan pages for him to boost engagement. I was constantly spotting trends, like Love Island, and turning them into content. I also helped with his content calendar, post to YouTube Shorts, and repurpose fan reactions. For Ruel, I tracked fan feedback across social media, and since Off The Records also works with a country rock band, I made a lot of video edits for them.

Photo courtesy of Grace Cochrane. Grace at an intimate concert for the artist Ruel. This was before her internship, when she was simply enjoying the music live!

Q: When you were talking about your CCI minor and how it’s shaped the way you approach media, you mentioned using a feminist lens. Could you expand on what that means for you?

GC: Yeah! On my final paper for CCI 100—Introduction to Creative and Cultural Industries, I analyzed The Virgin Suicides, which is one of my favorite movies. It’s also a novel, and both are told from the perspective of a group of neighborhood boys reflecting on the lives and deaths of the Lisbon sisters. The entire story is framed through the male gaze, and the girls are really seen more as objects of fascination than as real people.

I had always felt that when watching the film, but writing about it through a feminist lens made me dig deeper. It helped me think critically about how women are portrayed in media, especially in small-town, suburban America. That whole experience showed me how important it is to approach media with a critical lens, especially as a woman. Whether it’s music, film, or even sports, looking at things from a feminist perspective has completely changed how I interpret content.

Q: That is such a great perspective, and with that in mind, what's been your biggest takeaway from your internship?

GC: I think my biggest takeaway is how undervalued passionate women are, especially in fan communities. “Fangirl” is often used in a dismissive way, but being passionate about music or artists shouldn’t be looked down on. If anything, the music industry wouldn’t exist without fans, particularly young women. Think about the Beatles, Elvis, or even today’s artists; so much of their success is built on fan culture.

Social media has only made that more obvious. I just wish there was more respect for female fans and the role they play in shaping culture. My dream is to help change that narrative and give that kind of passion the recognition it deserves.

Q: Now for our last question, what have you gained from the CCI minor so far, and what advice would you give to someone considering it?

GC: I think the biggest thing CCI has taught me is just how deep these industries really go. A lot of people hear “CCI minor” and assume it’s just surface-level stuff about pop culture, but it’s so much more than that. We dive into gender, representation, identity, and so many things I hadn’t really thought about before. I was constantly in deep thought during my classes. I don’t know if that was just my professors, but honestly, CCI helped me look at the world and the media I consume differently. So if you’re thinking about joining the minor? Oh my God, just do it. Don’t overthink it. I added it as a second minor and was a little overwhelmed at first, but it was so worth it. The best part about it is how flexible it is; you can truly make it your own. Seriously, you won’t regret it.

Photo courtesy of Grace Cochrane. Grace is doing one of her favorite pastime activities: enjoying a concert!

That about wraps it up for today folks! We’d like to thank Grace for kicking off our very first segment of The CCI Internship Diaries! Grace’s story is a clear reminder that with CCI, the possibilities are truly endless. For creative minds, she’s just one example of how the CCI minor can help you shape your studies around your goals, interests, and passions. There’s a unique freedom in being a CCI student. The program is broad enough to let you explore industries like music, sports, fashion, and film, but flexible enough to help you focus on what matters most to you. Had an internship this summer or have one coming up in the fall? We’d love to hear about it; don’t hesitate to reach out to social media coordinator Estefania Rosas at erosas@chapman.edu!