Talking Points

The following talking points will help you better understand how to discuss Business on Purpose; how it fits with our Gies Business Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs; and what Business on Purpose looks like to various audiences.

What does Business on Purpose mean?

“Business on Purpose” is the mindset that guides everything we do, and it comes down to two major things – intention and impact. Faculty and staff design everything with intention to teach learners how to make an impact, helping them connect the dots from their passions and interests to their purpose and the impact they can make now – and long after they graduate.

We do everything with intention (or “on purpose”), meaning we have a reason for everything we do.
We design all Gies Business coursework, programs, projects, buildings, and events with the intention of preparing learners to focus on making purpose-driven decisions during their time with the College and beyond.
We teach learners to think differently about business, approaching it with the goal of making a difference – on big and small scales.
We strive to help our learners discover a path that aligns with their passions.
We instill a mentality in our learners of finding solutions and serving societal needs – doing business with intention.
We strive to create a safe and engaging environment for learners to explore, collaborate, make mistakes, grow, and feel like they belong.

How do our Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs fit into Business on Purpose?

Our Purpose Statement is our reason for existing – to shape purposeful leaders through life-changing access to education, research, and innovation.
Our Commitments are the core principles that guide everything we do and shape how we approach business education.
Our Beliefs support our Commitments and reflect how we work together to live out our Purpose Statement.
Business on Purpose is our brand promise to approach business and learning with intention. It describes how we approach our Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs.
(Faculty/Staff): We embrace the Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs to accomplish our College goals and set an example for our learners – knowing we are still learning and growing ourselves.
(Learners/Alumni): You learn to embrace the Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs – and take the ideas behind them with you when you graduate.

What does Business on Purpose look like?

Learners and Prospective Learners

Undergraduate Programs

You gain real-world experience through experiential learning courses that prepare you to excel throughout your career and during your job search.
Through the cohort course series, you discover a broad view of business while building lifelong friendships and networking relationships – learning alongside undergraduates from every Gies Business major.
You gain the knowledge you need to succeed in your career through our carefully crafted curriculum taught by engaging and passionate faculty members who are experts in their fields.
You participate in networking opportunities with your peers, alumni, and corporate partners to help you in your job search and beyond.
You can grow through unique study abroad opportunities purposefully designed to complement your on-campus experience.
You learn how to do business ethically and make an impact in big and small ways.
You explore, collaborate, make mistakes, and grow in an engaging environment with classrooms, labs, and meeting spaces designed to foster learning and innovation.

On-Campus Graduate Programs

You can gain real-world experience through experiential learning opportunities that enhance your skills to excel in your career.
You learn from top faculty members with years of research and teaching experience.
You participate in networking opportunities with your peers, alumni, and corporate partners to help you in your job search and beyond.
You gain the knowledge you need to succeed in your career through our carefully crafted curriculum taught by engaging and passionate faculty members who are experts in their fields.
You learn how to do business ethically and make an impact in big and small ways.
You explore, collaborate, make mistakes, and grow in an engaging environment with classrooms, labs, and meeting spaces designed to foster learning and innovation.

Online Graduate Programs

You have access to convenient online courses that give you options to continue working while you level up in your career.
You learn from top faculty members who are experts in their fields with years of research and teaching experience.
You collaborate, network, and learn from each other on a global scale through our engaging online courses.
You can apply new skills and concepts to your job immediately as you learn them.
With a strong focus on making tuition affordable, more people get access to business education.
You learn how to do business ethically and make an impact in big and small ways.
You explore, collaborate, make mistakes, and grow in an engaging environment designed to foster learning and innovation.

Other Audiences

Undergraduate Parents

Your student gains real-world experience through experiential learning courses that prepare them to excel throughout their career and during their job search.
Your student will learn in a welcoming and engaging environment.
Your student will make lasting relationships and join an engaging network of alumni.
Your student will have a degree – and the purposeful knowledge that comes with it – that will help them go out into the world, succeed in their career, and make an impact.

Alumni

You’re part of a broad network of alumni, students, faculty, and staff that will stay with you throughout your lifetime.
You have unique opportunities to make a difference in students’ lives through guest speaking engagements, networking events, experiential learning projects, and more.
You have access to a large base of potential employees as more graduates enter their careers.
You can make a lasting impact through donations to scholarship funds, building projects, and other initiatives.
You have a degree – and the purposeful knowledge that comes with it – that will help you go out into the world, succeed in your career, and make an impact.
You have a welcoming place where you can return – to visit or to further your education.

Corporate Partners

You engage with passionate, purpose-driven learners who can help solve real business problems.
You help learners gain the purposeful experience they need to succeed in their careers.
You grow your hiring network with highly knowledgeable Gies Business undergraduate and graduate students.

Donors

You leave a legacy through generous gifts that directly impact learners’ lives.
You help us spread life-changing access to learning, giving more people the opportunity to receive a purposeful business education.
You help us build facilities and create environments where learners can share ideas, grow, and make their own impact.
You make world-class business education possible, and we couldn’t shape purpose-driven leaders without your help.

Faculty/Staff

We focus on intentional collaboration and teamwork to create a purposeful experience for our learners.
We collaborate to make Gies Business a safe space where learners can thrive.
We create meaningful knowledge through high-impact research.
We pass along meaningful knowledge to our learners and the general community through teaching and various publications and events.
We work together to refine our curriculum and programs – and make sure they reflect what learners need to know in their careers.
We strive to make Gies Business a strong community with trainings, affinity groups, and other engaging opportunities.