Expert: Ralph Salier - 11/16/2010

Question
Hi Ralph,
I am about to graduate with a history degree (minor in
anthro) and I am coming to realize that I enjoy anthropology
more and business as well, so I was thinking of ways to fuse
my two passions into a marketable profession. I am in the
process of applying for the masters of business anthropology
program at the University of North Texas and reading the
business anthropology book written by Ann Jordan to get a
better foothold. I am mostly interested in cross-cultural
marketing and consumer behavior and insights. My problem is
I do not have a lot of experience. I was wondering if you
could direct me to a place where I could get some valuable
real world experience to compliment my degrees. Also, I was
exploring the idea of being a consultant eventually but I am
not sure how to properly market myself or my skills as a
business anthropologist or if consulting is even a plausible
idea. Any direction or thoughts would be helpful, thank you
so much for your time!!  

Answer
Hi Brittney,

They have a good program.  Also read the books by Edward T Hall, he is the theoretical progenitor of business anth.  Also read  the work of Pablo Underwood, the foremost Retail Anthropologist.  Study marketing, consumer behavior, pattern recognition, human computer interface psychology, and international cultural business interaction.  

Real world experience could come from being a buyer for an international company and getting a chance to travel on business to foreign countries to negotiate contracts.   While you may fail at this, the lessons  learned would be of great value.

I worked for years in the business setting as an international supply chain negotiator but came from a Business Anth background which kept me out of trouble most of the time but not always.  In one case, while negotiating a contract in Germany (I speak fluent German) I made a fau-pax and used an idiom which represented a sexual position.  While embarrassing, it allowed us to break the tension and laugh.  For me it was an accident but it shows that it can happen to any one regardless of how well we know other languages.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but LEARN from them.

Finally, get a copy of Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands, The etiquette guides by Dean Foster and books on cultural identity.  Get to know them.   Also find a "real" job first, get comfy in that work and then explore the consulting world.