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5 Reasons Why Creatives Need Business Skills

Two people holding charts and ipads
  • 10 Jul 2018
HBS Online Author Staff
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  • Business Analytics
  • Business Essentials
  • CORe
  • Career Development
  • Economics for Managers
  • Financial Accounting

You’re a visual thinker. You trust your intuition. You solve problems by looking at rhythms, patterns, and designs. If any of the above sounds like you, you probably consider yourself a creative type.

Whether you’re an artist hoping to open your own gallery or a graphic designer trying to land an agency or in-house job, you might not call yourself a “business person.” But believe it or not, one day you could find yourself responsible for tracking budgets, balancing financial statements, estimating sample sizes, and more.

Here are five reasons why learning business skills helps creatives become effective at work, straight from HBS Online past participants themselves.

1. Collaborate More Effectively

“So much of a designer's work has to do with collaboration. We collaborate with researchers, engineers, other artists, community members, and, of course, we collaborate within the business sector. There have been times in the past when business conversations have come up, and I would kind of take a back seat to let others who seemed more knowledgeable on the subject take the lead. I realized that I wanted to know more about the subject so that I could engage and create the change that I wanted to see!” – Former CORe participant Megan Valanidas

2. Become More Versatile in an Interconnected World

“Nowadays, businesses and industries are very interconnected with each other, making it more necessary for students, job seekers, and professionals in general to be more versatile than ever before in applying their skills and thought into their work.” – Former CORe participant Adriel Tjokrosaputro

3. Communicate Your Best Ideas to Key Stakeholders from a Business Perspective

“I had a lot of ideas—ones that I believed had promise, and should be heard—but I didn’t possess the language to discuss or defend them in the company of others.” – Former CORe participant Peter LaBerge

Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

4. Hone Your Entrepreneurial Instincts

“As the end of my freshman year of college drew near, I realized I was at a pivotal point in my academic career: I could either continue to rely on entrepreneurial instinct (which, honestly, had served me fairly well through my founding and developing The Adroit Journal to that point), or I could commit to establishing a strong understanding of economic principle, financial accounting, and business analytics.” – Peter LaBerge

5. Develop an Understanding of How Business Forces Shape Global Trends

“Through my strong involvement in intersectional activism, I’ve learned a lot about how capitalism and mainstream economics can become oppressive forces for marginalized communities.” – Former CORe participant Tiara Shafiq

An understanding of the business world is key no matter what industry you may find yourself in one day. From architecture to entertainment, from graphic design to music, learning the basics will help you gain an edge and be successful in communicating about how your work drives business.

Do you want to take your career to the next level? Download our free Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills to learn how enhancing your business knowledge can help you make an impact on your organization and be competitive in the job market.

 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

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All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

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We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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