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.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Value of a Business Degree

The speaker, a high school senior, discusses the shift in conversations with relatives and family friends towards college plans and career choices. There's a common misconception that a business major is less valuable compared to more traditional professions like engineering, medicine, or law. The speaker argues that business majors focus on developing soft skills like problem-solving, communication, and awareness, which are crucial for real-world applications. They emphasize that these skills are often undervalued but are essential for organizational and individual success.

05:01

🧩 Problem Solving in Business

The speaker delves into the first of the three key business skills: problem-solving. They explain that problem-solving is not just about complex math problems but involves identifying unknowns, gathering information, and applying knowledge to find solutions. Using the example of a magician named Bob whose shows aren't selling out, the speaker illustrates how analyzing successful magicians' strategies can help Bob identify areas for improvement in his performances. This example demonstrates how problem-solving is a fundamental skill in business, allowing individuals to adapt and succeed in various situations.

10:03

🗣️ The Importance of Communication

The second key business skill discussed is communication. The speaker points out that many people underestimate the importance of communication in both their personal and professional lives. They argue that humans are social beings who rely on relationships, and effective communication is vital for maintaining these relationships. The speaker uses the story of Bob's nephew, who has to address the issue of a roommate not doing dishes, to show how communication can resolve conflicts and improve living situations. The nephew considers various strategies, from trading chores to creating a chore schedule, to assertively placing belongings in the common area as a last resort, demonstrating the power of communication in resolving everyday problems.

👀 Raising Awareness in Business and Life

The final skill highlighted is awareness, which the speaker describes as the ability to pay attention to one's surroundings and use that information to make informed decisions. In business, awareness can influence strategic decisions based on economic conditions or market competitiveness. On a personal level, awareness can help individuals understand and empathize with others' actions, as illustrated by the story of Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr., who initially reacts angrily to a woman cutting in line but then uses awareness to consider her possible reasons. The speaker concludes by reflecting on the value of a business degree, suggesting that the skills learned in business are not only applicable to the professional world but also to personal development and societal issues.

Keywords

💡Business Major

A business major typically refers to an academic program focused on the study of business principles and practices. In the script, the speaker defends the value of a business major against the common misconception that it lacks substance compared to fields like engineering or medicine. The speaker argues that business majors develop crucial soft skills that are applicable in various real-world situations.

💡Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance, and career prospects. They include communication, problem-solving, and awareness, among others. The script emphasizes that business majors are not just about 'fluff' but are deeply involved in developing these soft skills, which are often devalued in public perception but are essential for success in any field.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of identifying a problem, collecting information, and determining the best solution. In the script, it is used to illustrate how business skills can be applied to real-world scenarios. The example of magician Bob not selling out shows is used to demonstrate how problem-solving involves looking at the environment and available information to find a solution.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying intended meanings from one entity to another through the use of a common system of symbols. The script explains that effective communication is a vital business skill, necessary for maintaining relationships and achieving goals. It's highlighted through the scenario of Bob needing to communicate with his roommate about doing the dishes.

💡Awareness

Awareness refers to the state or ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects, thoughts, emotions, etc. In the context of the script, awareness is discussed as a skill that involves paying attention to one's surroundings and using that information to make informed decisions. It's exemplified by the character Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr., who uses awareness to understand the situation of a woman cutting in line.

💡Perception

Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information to represent and understand the presented information or environment. The script discusses how public perception of business majors is often skewed towards viewing them as less valuable than other majors. The speaker aims to change this perception by highlighting the practical applications of business skills.

💡Pattern Recognition

Pattern recognition is the act of identifying regularities or patterns in data. In the script, pattern recognition is mentioned as a part of problem-solving, where previous solutions to similar problems can be applied to current situations. This concept is used to show how business skills can be adapted to various scenarios.

💡Real World Application

Real-world application refers to the practical use of knowledge or skills in everyday situations outside of a controlled environment like a classroom. The script emphasizes the real-world applicability of business skills, such as problem-solving and communication, which can be used in various contexts, including personal and professional scenarios.

💡Major

A major is an academic discipline that a student chooses to pursue as a primary focus in their studies. In the script, the speaker mentions choosing a major as a pivotal decision in high school, which sets the stage for discussing the value and relevance of a business major.

💡Career Option

A career option is a path or choice one can make regarding their professional life. The script encourages considering business as a viable career option, emphasizing that the skills gained from a business major are not only academic but also highly relevant to a wide range of career paths.

💡Personal Reflection

Personal reflection involves thinking deeply about one's own experiences, beliefs, or values. The script concludes with the speaker sharing their personal reflection on the value of a business major, providing a first-hand account of why they believe business is a useful field of study.

Highlights

The shift in family and friends' interactions as a senior in high school.

The common misconception that business majors lack substance compared to STEM fields.

The importance of soft skills in business majors, such as problem-solving, communication, and awareness.

Problem-solving is not just for STEM fields; it's crucial in business for real-world applications.

The analogy of problem-solving to pattern recognition in business.

Introducing Bob, the magician, to illustrate problem-solving in business.

The realization that successful magicians engage their audience beyond just performing tricks.

The power of communication in maintaining relationships and its role in business negotiations.

Bob's nephew's dilemma with a roommate who doesn't do dishes, showcasing the need for communication.

The three potential plans Bob's nephew comes up with to address the roommate issue.

Awareness as a skill that involves paying attention to surroundings and making informed decisions.

The story of Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr to demonstrate personal awareness.

How awareness can lead to understanding others' actions beyond initial judgments.

The broader implications of awareness for global issues and community well-being.

A personal reflection on the value of a business major and its practical applications.

An encouragement for considering business as a viable career option in college.

Transcripts

if you don't know I'm currently a 12th

grader in high school being a senior has

brought a lot of changes from my

schedule to my

priorities however I'd wager that the

number one change has been in how

relatives and family friends interact

with me see every single conversation

goes like this hey Maya how's it going I

mumble one or two sentences about how

it's all good while they pretend to be

interested then once I've done they nod

sagely for all of two seconds before

blurting out so what are your college

plans the conversation inevitably turns

to Major where I mention offhandedly

that I'm interested in going into

business there's always a moment of

shock where they realize that I'm not

going to be an engineer a doctor or a

lawyer but once that initial surprise

has passed they always ask me one

question and that's what do business

majors even

do what

indeed public perception of business

tends in the direction of it's just

fluff people believe that Beyond

accounting and finance there's not a lot

to be learned in the business field as a

whole there's a big tendency to devalue

soft skills which are the core of most

business majors and they're also where I

think a lot of the value is

derived see a typical major may have a

lot of content that needs to be

processed and memorized business instead

focuses is on soft skills like problem

solving communication and awareness

skills that can then be applied to the

real world in situations that need

them today I'm going to be illustrating

the importance of business as a field by

talking a little bit about some business

skills and how they're relevant to

organizational and individual

success first of all problem solving

when you hear the word problem solving

your immediate thought might be

something along the lines of math

science or engineering you might start

thinking about knowing the formulas

involved to solve a complex word problem

you may even see it as a more

masterminded is untake undertaking

involving solving formulas and um

guessing motivations and strategizing to

find hidden

clues in truth problem solving is a lot

more simple than that it involves having

an unknown the solution and taking into

account what you know and what's

available in your environment to figure

out what that solution

is of course it's not that simple

because it's not like the kind of basic

math problems that you might solve at

school where you're directly given the

information that you need to solve for

this x you have to collect all the

information from your environment take a

look at it and figure out what the

problem is to even begin to figure out

what the solution could

be in a lot of ways problem solving is

like pattern recognition if you're

facing a problem that you've seen a

similar one of in the past you can look

at Solutions and strategies that worked

then and apply them to your current

situation as

well to really illustrate that concept I

want to introduce you guys to a friend

that I brought with me

today this is

Bob Bob is a professional magician and

he is a very good one if he does say so

himself everyone who's ever watched one

of Bob's shows says that he is

absolutely incredible at what he does

there's just one problem his shows just

aren't selling

out it's hard to see what this has to do

with problem solving despite the fact

that we have a problem that we need to

solve I mean we can't really change

people's behavior is Bob just doomed to

fail not necessarily let's take a bit of

a closer look now there are obviously

other magicians out there who are

succeeding who are seeing consistent

full houses and lots of success so what

exactly are they doing that Bob isn't to

find out we can take a closer look at

some of the reviews that they're getting

from Their audience

members Bob's tricks are good which you

think would be the deciding factor in

who has more success but if you look at

what audience members are saying it's

things like oh my God he's so funny oh

my God she really engages the audience

wow I can hear them loud and clear since

the auditorium amplifies their

voice overall it looks like other

magicians are providing A Feast for the

senses while Bob is working out of a

cramped Auditorium and not necessarily

acting as charismatically as he could be

now he knows what he needs to change to

succeed bam problem solved it's just

like magic but it's

business now the second skill that I

wanted to talk about one that's

incredibly important in our world today

is

communication this is actually where a

lot of people get tripped up in their

career or their personal lives their

belief that if they just bring the

skills and or the paycheck everything

should be okay they can't communicate

they can't manage people although some

people believe that or wish that this

wasn't the case we live in a society and

it's really important that we act

accordingly humans are by Nature social

beings we need relationships that's what

our entire civilization was built off of

however these relationships don't always

go smoothly because we're flawed beings

that tend to focus on our own thoughts

and feelings to the detriment of

everyone around us communication is

necessary to maintain these

relationships whether that's expressions

of care apologies or even non-verbal

communication it's also incredibly

important to negotiation and

establishing your place in society this

is where business comes in because

communication is an essential skill when

you want to do things like make deals

form Partnerships hire employees go

through with mergers and so much more

it's also very useful on an individual

level when you want to do things like

collaborating with other people or

coming to decisions that everyone can

agree

on so you guys have met Bob I want to

introduce you to his nephew who is also

named Bob Bob is in his first year of

college with two roommates and by and

large the entire roommate situation

seems to be going smoothly there's just

one problem one of his roommates

absolutely refuses to do the

dishes Bob doesn't really want to say

anything because he thinks that would

make the situation awkward and just make

it all worse but he knows that if he

doesn't do something about the problem

his resentment will just fester and grow

until it explodes and definitively makes

the situation worse so this is where

Bob's communication skills come into

play he has to come up with a delicate

yet effective way to communicate to his

roommate that he needs to do those

dishes using his knowledge of human

nature Bob comes up with three potential

plans one of which he sure his roommate

will be amenable

to first he knows that his roommate's

goal is to avoid the chore of doing the

dishes so he offers up a simple trade

he will do the dishes and his roommate

can do something else he also think that

there's a lot of potential benefit that

could be gotten from a more objective

tangible way of tracking exactly who

will do what chore so he offers to work

with his roommate to create a chore

schedule now the third option is the

nuclear option the action that cannot be

ignored he says he put his roommate's

belongings in the art if he doesn't do

the

dishes now it may not be communicated in

the ideal fashion but it is being

communicated instead of letting the

resentment fester and grow like Bob was

afraid of earlier look at him using his

communication skills to better his

environment good for

Bob now the third skill that I wanted to

talk about today awareness is a little

bit strange because it's so abstract and

confusing what even is awareness is it

like something to do with meditation am

I breaking out the essential oils right

now not exactly awareness is a little

different it involves paying attention

to your surroundings and using that

information as a factor when making your

choices and work

decisions this is incredibly important

in business for example if you're

starting a business during an economic

downturn you're going to make different

decisions than if you were starting one

during a time of prosperity you might

choose to focus on Necessities rather

than luxury goods another example if

your business is part of an incredibly

competitive market you will make

different pricing and branding decisions

than if you had a monopoly over the

entire

area but this all seems so high level

that it may seem like only Executives

will ever have to deal with any of it as

for awareness on a personal scale isn't

that easy you see a truck coming you get

out of its way you see that colleges

want good grades you do well in

school but in truth humans could do with

a heck of a lot more awareness

have you ever noticed that the people

around you have a tendency to say the

word I all the time that's cuz we're

naturally self-focused we're the center

of our own thoughts and we see

everything in relation to

ourselves this isn't ideal for

understanding other people effectively

because we often unknowingly Force our

thoughts and feelings on other people

because we just can't conceive of an

inner world that's different from ours

with awareness though that can

change you guys met Bob and you guys

have met his nephew Bob so I wanted to

introduce you to our third friend today

Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette

Jr Oliver Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr is

at work right now and he's standing in

line at his work cafeteria incredibly

hungry he's ready to grab food and just

Chow Down on whatever they have just as

he's getting to the beginning of the

line you notice there's a woman cut in

front of him now Oliver Henry laf John

Lafayette Jr is super mad he is about to

go up there and give that woman a piece

of his mind but then he stops and he

pays a little

attention it looks like the woman is

pale her face is flushed and she's

sweating

profusely who knows what's going on here

maybe she's diabetic and her blood sugar

is running low and she needs an

emergency snack as a picked me up maybe

she needs to quickly grab some kind of a

utensil to squash a cockroach she saw in

her disc maybe she's just a jerk Oliver

Henry Lawrence Lafayette Jr was mad at

first but do you see how that anger

turns to understanding with a little bit

of

awareness when you're in your bubble

everything can seem like a blight

towards you but when you take a step out

and just pay attention you can see that

there's a reason for every

action we as a whole could use a lot of

awareness we're messing up our

environment for generations to come

there are problems that billions of

people on the Earth are facing that

we're not doing anything about because

they don't affect us personally these

kinds of problems and the awareness of

these kinds of things goes beyond just

the economy or the market it's important

for communities and even the

world I wanted to end this talk by

telling you a little bit of personal

reflection the reason I wrote this in

the first place was cuz I wanted to

convince people that business is

actually pretty useful as a major it's

true that a lot of the skills that I

talked about today you would learn

directly in your classes if you were to

pursue business the business field for

example problem solving through case

studies communication through marketing

and awareness through economy and Global

Market studies you'd also learn a lot of

other skills like financial management

self-promotion dealing with co-workers

all skills that are incredibly relevant

to your personal life as

well obviously take everything I'm

saying with a grain of salt since I am

in high school and I haven't gone to

college yet but this is where I see the

value in business this is why I like

business and I hope that in the future

more people maybe even you will consider

it as a viable career option and maybe

even decide to pursue business in

college thank you