Jasper Tangchitsumran: ‘The biggest lesson that I learned from studying business is the importance of being current with the latest regulations and business news. The business industry is quite dynamic and changes every minute.’
2) IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUAL LEARNING
“One of the biggest lessons that I have gained from studying business is the importance of continuous learning. A theme throughout each of my classes and my internship experience is the constant innovation in the business field. As society and technology evolve, major socioeconomic trends shift, and this affects the way business is conducted. It is a valuable skill to be able to adapt alongside these shifts. For example, when I first came to Binghamton, the necessary tech skills introduced to me were Excel and PowerPoint. Now, as I am about to enter the workforce, the necessary skills have expanded to include tools such as Alteryx and Tableau, which I was responsible to learn throughout my internship. In order to stay competitive in the workplace, it is important to stay committed to continuous learning.” – Isabella Martinez, Binghamton University School of Management
“The biggest lesson that I learned from studying business is the importance of being current with the latest regulations and business news. The business industry is quite dynamic and changes every minute. For my field in particular (tax), I constantly need to read and understand the latest changes in compliance requirements that could impact my clients’ filing requirements. As an example, I was still working out the details of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act last year, enacted by the Trump administration, and anticipate that regulations will soon change completely with the Biden administration’s SHIELD regime.” – Jasper Tangchitsumran, Boston University (Questrom)
3) ASKING THE HARD (AND EASY) QUESTIONS
“How to ask the right questions. I learned that posing a difficult question to a professor, peer, or manager takes thoughtful preparation. Critical thinking and questioning is a balancing act of engaging technical skills, background knowledge, and creativity, to approach business problems from a unique angle. The most influential business leaders are those who can identify the resources they are equipped with and mold them together to articulate the most perplexing questions. I have learned to emulate this approach with patience and an innovative mindset.” – Lilly Rothschild, Elon University (Love)
Maiya Cook: ‘You cannot be afraid to raise a question. Whether it be a question about the content, a question for clarification, or even an obvious question can make or break the outcome of a project or team’s solution.’
“My biggest lesson from studying business is that you cannot be afraid to raise a question. Whether it be a question about the content, a question for clarification, or even an obvious question can make or break the outcome of a project or team’s solution. I say this because in business we study how major companies go wrong whether it be a distasteful commercial or questionable labor conditions, and we are given the tools so we can make better choices than our predecessors. Often times, to question or challenge may seem like a waste of time because we all just want to be done with the task at hand or scary because you don’t want to be rude. I have learned that usually, whatever question is brewing in my mind or when I challenge an idea that the receiver has either not thought of it in from my perspective or is incredibly glad that I asked the question. More clarity or offering a different perspective is what we need more of in business.” – Maiya Cook, Indiana University (Kelley)
4) NO ONE SOLUTION SOLVES EVERY PROBLEM
“Overall, I’ve learned that everything around us is multifaceted. Nothing is simple. As it relates to business, there is no one solution that solves everything. Two people can have the same problem, but the same solution won’t apply to both of them. Because of this (so many solutions for one problem), business forces you to think outside of the box, which is something I believe I’ve been able to master during my undergraduate career.” – Aaryn Taft, Georgetown University (McDonough)
5) PROMOTING A GREATER PURPOSE
Ryon Cairo Henderson: ‘While money is the fuel of a firm, the purpose of business is not to make money but to advance a greater purpose or cause.’
“My Georgetown McDonough business education has taught me that while money is the fuel of a firm, the purpose of business is not to make money but to advance a greater purpose or cause. Products are invented to do something; however, brands are created to stand for something. Studying marketing has taught me that while products expand choices, brands simplify choices.” – Ryon Cairo Henderson, Georgetown University (McDonough)
“I’ve learned the importance of starting each project with purpose. Purpose must be developed on day one to establish commitment and guide a team’s strategy. Purpose is truly what unites a team and keeps them motivated through the ebbs and flows of project work. This lesson has served me well in many settings and it often starts with pondering one question: what part of the world am I seeking to make better? Answering this question can generate momentum and valuable conversation in a team environment.” – Kayla Gonzalez, University of Illinois (Gies)
The biggest lesson I have gained from studying business is drawn from an axiom of our business school: grow the good in business. It’s not merely enough to do the right thing, rather we should always seek to be ethical problem solvers that advocate for business to address societal concerns. Business should transform the world for better. Allan Njomo, University of Notre Dame (Mendoza)
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