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?

  • 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 Parent
  • 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.