Why Anthropology and Business Got Me Hooked on Understanding People

When I first heard the word anthropology, I thought it sounded kind of intense. Kind of like something out of a National Geographic documentary. But once I learned that it’s really the study of people, cultures, and why we do what we do, I was intrigued. I mean, think about it: every choice people make, from the food they eat to the way they celebrate birthdays, has a story behind it. Anthropology helped me realize that humans are basically walking puzzles.

Then I started thinking about business, and it clicked in a different way. Business isn’t just numbers, products, or fancy suits. It is also about people. What do they like? What makes them trust a brand? Why do we buy one thing instead of another? Suddenly, business wasn’t just about money: It was like real-life psychology mixed with anthropology.

That combination got me hooked. Anthropology gave me the “why” behind human behavior, and business showed me how that plays out in the world every single day. It made me start paying attention to things I never thought about before, like why certain TikTok trends blow up, or why people line up for hours for a sneaker drop. There’s always a deeper story.

At the end of the day, both anthropology and business are about understanding people. And, for me, that’s the most fascinating subject of all.