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Page 1: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Humanities

Key Contributors and Their Roles

• Bennett Dorrance: Co-created DMB Associates, a real estate development firm.

• Brandon S. Lee & Garrett Christian: Founders of Terra Dotta, specializing in higher education software.

• Megan Reilly Cayten: Founded Catrinka, an ethical fashion accessories company aimed at empowering women and girls through education and mentoring.

The Role of Humanities in Entrepreneurship

• Many individuals with humanities degrees are launching social enterprises and commercial ventures, proving that humanities disciplines contribute significantly to entrepreneurship.

• The public typically associates innovation and entrepreneurship predominantly with STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) rather than the humanities.

Misconceptions Surrounding Humanities Employment

• K-12 education often suggests that only STEM fields lead to success, promoting a narrative that diminishes the perceived value of humanities degrees.

• Programs in humanities are frequently categorized under Education & Training instead of being recognized as their own significant fields.

• The limitation on how humanities are viewed by schools leads to narrow career prospects in the public's mind.

Page 2: Perception of Humanities

National Career Clusters and Humanities

• In the National Career Clusters® Framework, no direct mention of any humanities discipline signifies a systemic bias against the humanities in regard to perceived career viability.

High School Humanities Curriculum Trends

• Research from the Humanities Indicators project showcases that:

  • English remains the most studied subject in high school from 1990 to 2019.

  • Visual and performing arts participation increased by 53%.

  • Enrollment in world history courses rose dramatically.

Public Perception Challenges

• Despite robust participation in humanities courses, the public (including politicians and journalists) often regard humanities education as useless, contributing to unemployment fears.

• There’s a disparity in how various fields, particularly STEM, are advertised in terms of career prospects compared to the humanities.

Page 3: The Invisible Role of Humanities

Limited Representation in Academic Discussions

• Academic and media discourse around the humanities tends to focus narrowly on English, history, and philosophy, ignoring broader applications and potential.

• Notably, key journals such as the Stanford Social Innovation Review have shown no articles emphasizing humanities.

Issues with Current Perceptions

• Humanities are often viewed merely as supporting fields for skills like writing and communication, rather than being acknowledged for their integral role in fostering critical thinking and creativity.

• Efforts to broaden the understanding of humanities need to overcome this restricted focus.

Importance of Diverse Perspectives in Humanities

• Contributors like Roseanne Chantiluke argue for a shift in viewing humanities studies as opportunities for critical engagement rather than mere functional skills acquisition.

Page 4: Practical Applications of Humanities

Insights from M. André Goodfriend

• Former US diplomat M. André Goodfriend outlines the practical benefits of a humanities education in shaping societies and careers, leveraging knowledge from various disciplines.

• Humanities provide adaptability to navigate cultural and organizational complexities, essential for leadership.

Economic Contribution of the Arts vs Humanities

• While arts contributions to GDP are clearly measurable, such as 4.2% in 2020, the humanities' economic impact remains largely unrecognized.

Page 5: The Concept of Creative Entrepreneurship

Understanding Creative Entrepreneurship

• Alan Webber emphasizes that creative entrepreneurship exists at the intersection of technology, design, and experience rather than being confined to traditional business metrics.

• Humanities-as-Verb movement is proposed to highlight actionable applications of humanities in a contemporary context.

  • Focus on creativity, meaning, and experiential learning rather than ownership.

Challenges Traditional Theories of Liberal Education

• Scholars are encouraged to rethink humanities education, promoting interdisciplinary learning as a necessary step towards generating social impact and innovation.

Page 6: The Entrepreneurial Humanities Initiative

Dialog Between Humanities Scholars and Entrepreneurs

• The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic humanities and applied entrepreneurship, aiming for meaningful contributions across industries.

• Diverse contributions from academics and non-academics are aimed at showcasing the transformational potential of humanities in various fields.

Objectives of the Entrepreneurial Humanities

• This volume aims to reshape perceptions of the humanities as relevant and vital to various professional domains, seeking to engage public interest and understanding in the contributions of the humanities to society and economy.

Page 7: The Future of the Entrepreneurial Humanities

Advocacy for Wider Application of Humanities

• Authors argue for a narrative shift that emphasizes the applied aspects of humanities and their relevance to innovation rather than limiting them to abstract discussions.

• The entrepreneurial mindset should be seen as a starting point, with a need to underline concrete contributions of humanities graduates.

Goal of the Volume

• The goal is to inspire discourse about humanities in innovative contexts, connecting them with opportunities for meaningful impact across various fields and addressing social challenges.