Why We Need Business Majors | Maya Sriram | TEDxBISV Youth

Summary

In this insightful script, a high school senior named Maya defends her choice of majoring in business against common misconceptions. She argues that business isn't just fluff, but a field that values soft skills like problem-solving, communication, and awareness. Maya uses relatable examples, including a magician named Bob and his nephew's roommate situation, to illustrate how these skills are crucial for both organizational and individual success. She concludes by expressing her personal belief in the value of business as a major and hopes to encourage others to consider it seriously.

Takeaways

• 🎓 **College Major Misconceptions**: The script begins with the author's experience of being asked about college plans, highlighting a common misconception that business majors are less valuable compared to STEM fields.
• 🧐 **Business Majors Misconceptions**: There's a public perception that business studies lack substance beyond accounting and finance, undervaluing the importance of soft skills.
• 💡 **Importance of Soft Skills**: The author argues that soft skills, which are central to business studies, are crucial and often underappreciated.
• 🔍 **Problem Solving**: Problem-solving in business is compared to pattern recognition, involving gathering information and identifying solutions, not just academic exercises.
• 🃏 **Real-World Application**: The script uses the example of a magician, Bob, to illustrate how business skills like problem-solving can be applied to real-world scenarios to improve outcomes.
• 🗣️ **Communication Skills**: Communication is highlighted as a vital business skill, necessary for maintaining relationships and crucial in both personal and professional settings.
• 🤝 **Negotiation and Relationships**: The script emphasizes that effective communication is key in negotiations, forming partnerships, and managing teams.
• 🍽️ **Practical Example of Communication**: A scenario involving Bob's nephew dealing with a roommate's dish-washing issue showcases how communication can resolve conflicts.
• 👀 **Awareness**: Awareness is presented as the ability to observe one's environment and make informed decisions, which is essential in both business strategy and personal interactions.
• 🌎 **Global Awareness**: The script suggests that increased awareness can lead to better understanding and addressing of global issues, such as environmental concerns.
• 🏆 **Value of Business Education**: The author concludes by reflecting on the value of a business education, advocating for its practical applications and relevance to everyday life.

Q & A

What is the main concern of Maya's relatives and family friends when they talk to her?

Maya's relatives and family friends are primarily concerned about her college plans and her choice of major, specifically questioning why she wants to pursue business rather than more traditionally valued professions like engineering, medicine, or law.

What is Maya's perspective on the public perception of business majors?

Maya believes that the public perception of business majors tends to devalue the importance of soft skills that are central to business education. She argues that these skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and awareness, are often overlooked and underappreciated.

How does Maya define problem-solving in the context of business?

Maya defines problem-solving in business as the process of identifying an unknown solution and using available information and environmental context to determine the solution. She contrasts this with the more straightforward problem-solving often found in academic settings, emphasizing the complexity and real-world application of business problem-solving.

What example does Maya use to illustrate problem-solving?

Maya uses the example of a magician named Bob whose shows are not selling out. She explains how analyzing the situation and comparing it to successful magicians helps Bob identify the need to improve his charisma and audience engagement to solve his problem.

Why is communication an important skill in business according to Maya?

Maya highlights that communication is crucial in business for maintaining relationships, negotiating, and establishing one's place in society. It's essential for making deals, forming partnerships, hiring employees, and going through with mergers, among other things.

How does Maya's script use the character of Bob to demonstrate the importance of communication?

Maya's script uses Bob's situation with his roommate who refuses to do dishes as an example. Bob must communicate effectively to resolve the issue without letting resentment grow, showcasing the practical application of communication skills in everyday life.

What does Maya mean by 'awareness' in the context of business?

Maya describes awareness as the ability to pay attention to one's surroundings and use that information to inform decisions and actions. It's about understanding the context in which business operates and making choices based on a broader perspective.

How does Maya connect awareness to personal behavior?

Maya connects awareness to personal behavior by discussing how self-focus can limit our understanding of others. She suggests that with more awareness, we can better comprehend the actions of others and respond more empathetically, as illustrated by the character Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr. when he observes a woman cutting in line and adjusts his reaction based on her apparent distress.

What is Maya's personal reflection on the value of a business major?

Maya reflects that despite being a high school student, she sees the value in a business major because it teaches relevant skills like problem-solving, communication, and awareness that apply to both personal life and career. She hopes her perspective can encourage others to consider business as a viable career option.

What advice does Maya offer to those considering business as a major?

Maya advises those considering business as a major to take her perspective with a grain of salt but to also consider the practical skills they would gain, such as financial management, self-promotion, and dealing with co-workers, which are valuable in various aspects of life.

How does Maya conclude her talk on the importance of business skills?

Maya concludes by emphasizing the broad applicability of business skills beyond the classroom and into everyday life, suggesting that these skills can contribute to personal growth and societal awareness, and encouraging her audience to consider the value of a business education.