Why Creative Business School Pursuits Are Important

September 17, 2025 | Estimated Read Time: 8 Minutes 

By Melissa Savignano

Creative business school experiences and the arts often take a backseat when it comes to studying business. But, for a product or idea to truly stand out, you need to think beyond the expected and what’s already in the market. You need to think strategically about potential pitfalls. And you need to be able to communicate your product’s value confidentially and clearly to the marketplace. 

Charts, graphs, math, and numbers are common associations of business school, and they certainly play a major role in it. Where do creativity and the arts in business come in? Writing, communication skills, creativity, and the arts are all key to bringing your ideas and creativity in business examples to true life. 

Turning an idea into a lucrative, sustainable business or initiative goes beyond business acumen; it requires creativity in entrepreneurship. 

“There is no shortage of business students across the globe, but having knowledge and skill in a discipline is only part of the equation,” says Kristi Girdharry, associate teaching professor of English and the director of the Babson College Writing Center. “Liberal arts courses complement our students’ business educations because they teach us how to ask different kinds of questions and to think critically about the answers. They encourage us to slow down and wonder and explore lines of inquiry.” 

Creativity in Business School Examples

To find out if a business school offers more than just business fundamentals, you first want to look at course listings, as well as concentrations, majors, and minors offered. A school that prioritizes the liberal arts and sciences alongside business courses is also a school that prioritizes teaching critical thinking, communication, and other soft skills the professional world demands. Courses that blend liberal arts with business fundamentals help students understand the importance of creativity in management and other business pursuits, too. 

You will also want to look for robust arts programs that go beyond the classroom, whether it’s a drama program, dance ensemble, an improv troupe, an honors program, or even just a place on campus that prioritizes creative thinking. Babson College offers a Writing Center that helps students with essays, cover letters, scholarship materials, graduate school applications, business plans, and more, as well as the Weissman Foundry, which is a makerspace it shares with Olin College of Engineering and Wellesley College that offers creative tools such as a 3-D printer and workshops for students. 

Campus spaces like these highlight the importance of receiving feedback, iterating, and brainstorming—all key components of creative thinking in business. They also demonstrate the importance of creativity in developing ideas collaboratively. 

“My suggestions for students are to find ways to disconnect from technology and engage with yourself and others in activities that either mimic the kind of creativity they aspire to or that challenges them and gets them out of their comfort zone,” says Girdharry. “Catch a play, film, concert, or dance performance on campus. Ask a professor you admire for a book recommendation. Take a workshop.” 

Using AI to Help With Creative Thinking in Business School

Another consideration is to look at how a school views AI, especially as a tool to enhance and boost both productivity and creativity. Writing, specifically, is key to making sense of all the great ideas you come up with, so it’s important to share those ideas with various audiences in different contexts and for different purposes. In the age of generative-AI, understanding the written word in terms of both input and output makes this form of communication even more important to understand, especially when it comes to fostering creative thinking in business. 

Girdharry is an AI leader on her campus, seen as both an open-minded and critical advocate for the technology.  

“Like many others on campus, I’ve been trying to keep up with the recent advancements in AI and trying to stay open to, and critical of, how these technologies are impacting us,” Girdharry says. “Creativity is an important part of the conversation. How do these tools allow us to explore our own creativity in a deeper way? How might they hinder us?” 

Why Creativity Is Important in Business

Like many other skills in life, fostering a creative mindset takes practice and reflection. Find one or two creative avenues you dedicate time and thought to and see what schools offer resources, clubs, and faculty to help enhance the experience. Whether it’s writing, performing, or building, a creative business school environment helps students explore ideas in ways that traditional programs may not. 

Whatever creative endeavors you choose, you will see benefits immediately in the classroom and the professional world, whether that’s more confidence in your ideas, finding presentations easier, or exploring new ways to work as a team. The impact it has on your professional outcomes is a prime example of why creativity is important in business and in the workplace. It helps students stand out and connect meaningfully in the job search. 

“In an era where attention spans are shrinking and loneliness is increasing, meaningfully connecting with other humans through deep conversations and other thoughtful exchanges help our business students set themselves apart on the job market,” Girdharry says. “And, I hope, help lead them to rich lives beyond just what they do for work.” 

About the Author

Melissa Savignano is a content marketing manager at Babson College.