With a seemingly infinite number of business programs out there, Emerson’s Business of Creative Enterprises MA is one of a kind. A business degree for creatives, the Business of Creative Enterprises (BCE) program is for artists and innovators seeking to break into the business side of their field. In today’s blog, we’re highlighting five of the many possible career paths for students in the Business of Creative Enterprises program.
Career 1: Entrepreneur
The first possible career for a Business of Creative Enterprises graduate is as an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who builds and runs their own business. There are multiple types of entrepreneurs, depending on the entrepreneur’s business goals. Some entrepreneurs might develop innovative products, while others might build a company that fills a gap in a specific industry. Still, others may focus on creating a business that solves a social or environmental problem.
To succeed as an entrepreneur, you need both a creative idea and an understanding of business fundamentals. This combination is precisely what our BCE students cultivate in their time at Emerson. With courses such as The Legal Basics and Foundations of Finance in Creative Enterprises, the program equips graduates with the skills they need to start new businesses within their creative field. As such, becoming an entrepreneur is a great career path for a graduate from our Business of Creative Enterprises program.
According to Indeed, the average base salary for an entrepreneur is $78,386, which is well above the national average salary of about $59,384.
Career 2: Creative Director
Rather than creating their own business, students in the Business of Creative Enterprises program might pursue leadership careers within existing organizations. Creative Director is one of these higher-up positions where BCE students can make a difference.
Generally, a creative director supports a creative team and ensures that all members work together effectively. They may not be as involved in the details of design and editing, but rather support the team of creatives who work on these finer details. They will also guide a team through brainstorming and ensure that project ideas fit the client’s vision and needs. Once the team develops a project idea, the creative director will organize a plan for executing the project.
A successful creative director will have leadership and communication skills, and a strong creative eye. Students from Emerson’s Business of Creative Enterprises program are perfect for this career. Courses like Creative Collaboration: Leading with Equity and Empathy help students build leadership skills that aim to combat inequity in the workplace. This training, combined with their creative expertise, makes students in the BCE program uniquely qualified for creative director positions.
On average in the US, creative directors make about $147,992 per year. Depending upon years of experience, where you’re working, and your level of education, your salary may look slightly different.
Career 3: Art Director
Whereas a creative director steers the overall course of a creative project, an Art Director is more involved in the details. They manage the execution of the idea that the creative director helped create. Art directors might help with design, approving copy, editing, and more.
To become an art director, you need hands-on artistic experience, as well as leadership and management skills. If you have experience with design, photography, or any other artistic medium, the BCE program shows you how to use those talents in director positions. As such, Business of Creative Enterprises graduates may be a great fit for an art director position.
In the US, the average salary for an art director is $145,533. As with a creative director position, your salary as an art director may vary depending upon experience, who you work for, and your level of education.
Career 4: Public Relations Manager
A Public Relations Manager helps companies maintain a positive relationship with their target audience and the general public. Often, a public relations manager will direct a team of public relations specialists who execute the strategic plans of the public relations manager. The overall goal of a public relations manager is to maintain the desired public image of a company or organization. On a day-to-day basis, a public relations manager might review marketing materials, develop a press release, respond to a public event, and more.
To be a successful public relations manager, you need strong written and spoken communication skills. Public relations managers must be able to craft effective communication that conveys the company’s identity and values to maintain the desired image with the public. Students in our BCE program strengthen these communication skills through courses such as Storytelling with Vision, Mission, and Value. Here, students learn how to communicate a company or client’s story and values, which is a key component of public relations.
Public relations managers also need strong leadership skills, as they often manage a team of public relations professionals. Throughout their time in the program, BCE students grow their leadership skills, preparing them to be effective, equitable leaders. This makes them a great fit for a public relations manager position.
Currently, public relations managers make an average salary of $122,148 per year in the US. If you are passionate about helping a company convey its values and mission to the public, then a public relations manager might be the right career for you.
Career 5: Artist Representative
A final career option for BCE graduates is as an artist representative. As an Artist Representative, you might have the title of artist agent or artist manager. Agents and managers have similar but distinct roles. Both agents and managers exist to help talented artists succeed. Authors, musicians, visual artists, and other creative professionals often use agents and managers to grow their audience.
Agent
An artist’s agent will help them find work opportunities and promote their creative work. For authors, an agent would help the writer find book deals and tours. For a visual artist, an agent might help secure spaces in a gallery or festival for the artist to display and sell their work.
Manager
A manager, on the other hand, focuses more on the artist’s image and professional growth. For example, a manager might find classes that help the artist enhance their talents. Managers also often handle the business and marketing aspects of the artist’s career.
To be a successful manager or agent, you need to have experience and knowledge of the industry in which you want to work. For example, if you want to be an agent for writers, you’ll want to have some networking connections in the publishing industry and an understanding of the book market. If you’re looking to be a general manager for a musician, you’ll need to understand the business elements of the music industry. You’ll also want to be familiar with industry practices around marketing, networking, etc. Because BCE students gain business training as it relates to the creative world, graduates from this program are uniquely qualified to work in artist representation.
While these five careers are great options for graduates from our Business of Creative Enterprises program, graduates from this program can pursue any number of jobs. With the business and leadership training students receive in their courses, plus their expertise in the creative industry, BCE graduates are equipped to take on a wide variety of positions.
To learn more about career opportunities for students in our other graduate programs, be sure to visit the Careers page of our blog. If you’d like more information about the Business of Creative Enterprises program, please schedule a call with one of our admissions advisors.
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