What should be the main focus of students majoring in Business-management, in hopes to start a business that can change the world, but in a good way?

If you want to start and operate your own business, regardless of who it's serving, you'll need to have a well-rounded business education. You'll need to understand how to create a business plan, find financing for your company, market and sell your products or services, as well as how to operate your business (e.g. finance, accounting, HR, business law, operations, etc). If your school has programs or classes in entrepreneurship, that's a good place to start.

Given your particular focus on building a business that gives back to the community, I'd encourage you to do a web search on "social entrepreneurship". You'll find a lot of information about people, programs and articles associated with this idea of wanting to build a business that solves a societal problem. Models for social enterpreneurship range from non-profit to for-profit organizations, with hybrid models in between.

Spending some time researching social entrepreneurship and learning about how other people have approached creating companies that solve needs in the communities around them, would be a good place to start. In addition to a lot of the articles that have been written on the topic, you'll find there are organizations & programs designed to support social entrepreneurship, like the Schwab Foundation (schwabfound.org). Some colleges and universities have created social entrepreneurship programs, like Standford's Program on Social Entrepreneurship (http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/program-social-entrepreneurship#2), and there are online courses like Coursera's Social Enterpreneurship Specialization (https://www.coursera.org/specializations/social-entrepreneurship-cbs). I'd also encourage you to search for and learn about organizations in your community already serving people who are looking for jobs and trying to get back on their feet. Volunteering with these organizations would be a great way to find out what's already being done, and more importantly, to identify what potential unmet needs or opportunities exist for which you can create a solution -- which is at the heart of any entrepreneurial endeavor.

With this idea of social entrepreneurship in mind, in addition to business and entrepreneurship classes, consider taking classes from other disciplines as well, like non-profit management, public administration, or social work to provide exposure to the unique challenges and opportunities associated with the non-profit or hybrid side of social businesses; as well as with the tools, techniques and challenges associated with helping people get back on their feet.

Hey Sade,

I loved your question. Young minds that want to move forward in their career by helping others is what we need in this world. Definitely put a smile on my face. For that matter, to start any business, you would need a well rounded business exposure. Jot down a list of business that you are interested in and align with helping others as well.

As you grow older, you should take a class on design thinking or User centered Design activity class where you will create new ideas or products/services based on user needs.  Do a google search and watch youtube on design thinking. Mesmerize yourself learning how other big branded companies like Pepsi, Amazon, Google started creating and recreating their distinct products and services

The best way you can do this is to look at it from the other point of view. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you must find a problem to solve. While you could sit for years trying to come up with some new product or service that would be a hit with customers, problems that need solving are just about everywhere. And once you find them, you'll do research and investigation. The reason is that almost every problem has either had a solution or there is usually a solution for a problem very much like it. The key is in applying those solutions in a different way. Change the setting, change the people, the material, the timing, the situation.... Over 80% of innovations are applying known principles from other fields. Once you've decided on the problem to solve and you've decided people are interested enough in getting that solution, you'll be on your way to changing the world. And since you're already majoring in business management and will likely have a good handle on business principles, you've got the winning combination. Just focus on solving a problem for someone first.

What you need to be aware of as a business management major (as opposed a specialized business major like supply chain, accounting, or management of information systems) is that the knowledge is very general. It is important to realize that the management major does not have its own defined career path and that you will have to make your own.

It's important while you are in college to not just try to get through your classes, but to spend time thinking on what you want to do after your degree. You should be considering either specific roles and/or industries that you are interested in. Learning specific skill sets and background on industries you are interested in (who are the big companies, who are their customers, what is their business model) will help you to define a path for yourself as a business management major.

If you want to start your own business, you should be thinking about what type of business, working on a business plan, learning about the applicable regulations and licenses, etc. It takes a team to run most businesses so networking with people, especially those who have skills that you lack, will be critical to future success.

As a business executive with over 35 years of experience I am at the end tail end of my career. I have one of the best educations that money can buy, including an MBA from a top 5 school. I got these degrees because I wanted to run companies, and in hindsight, I wish I had approached my early studies and career - like you are - with more purpose-oriented career in mind. There are lots of people out there with business degrees who can help you run your business. But there are not enough of us out there with the passion of purpose to make change happen. So, I would like to offer some advice as food for thought.

• What is it what most interests you? Health, financial security, homelessness, hunger, political oppression, the environment? Consider a degree in economics or health policy or international studies or environmental studies. You will likely be able to take several business courses along with these degrees.
• What are the greatest needs / where are the needs greatest? In order to answer these questions you will want to take every opportunity you can to volunteer or intern with organizations like Feed My Starving Children, Habitat for Humanity, Doctors without Borders, and the like. Travel to the ends of the world to learn first hand not just what the problems are and where they are, but WHY.

I genuinely believe that this is how you will find your passion, and that passion will naturally lead you to your goal of building a business to help others by solving the problems you have first hand knowledge of. As one of your advisers already noted, businesses grow out of solving problems.

And once you have your idea, call me. I'll help you run it, and I'll bet you will find a long list of other people willing to help you too!