Can you run a business without studying business in school? Depending on when you asked this question, the answer would change drastically. During the middle to latter part of the 20th century, it would be a resounding “no.” In the 21st century, it’s a qualified no. However, the question has changed a bit.
Looking at where big company CEOs went to college (think Apple, GM, and more), there’s an interesting duality. While about half studied business in undergrad, the other half studied some form of engineering or computer science. This may seem obvious now to study computers, but the CEOs of major corporations today graduated in the 1970s and 1980s – engineering was not necessarily promoted the way STEM education is today. Many of them went on to get MBAs, bringing both business and STEM together.
