Exploring Arts, Culture & Community Voices Through a Business Major’s Eyes

 Interview with Kris’Shyne Johnson, Junior Business Major 

When we talk about arts and culture, we usually hear from artists, creators, historians, or people rooted in the humanities. But what happens when we ask someone outside that world someone who studies business, strategy, and numbers to share their perspective?

To find out, I sat down with Kris’Shyne Johnson, a junior Business major, to hear how she views the role of art and community voices in everyday life. Her answers surprised me in the best way.

Even though Kris’Shyne doesn’t study art, she sees its value everywhere.

“Art is honestly everywhere we go,” she told me. “From the clothes we put on to the music we listen to. People don’t realize how much creativity shapes daily life.”

She said that while her major focuses on structure budgets, planning, market trends art feels like the opposite: free, expressive, and deeply personal.

One thing that stood out in our conversation was how often business and culture overlap. Kris’Shyne noted that companies rely heavily on cultural storytelling to build their brand identity.

“Every big brand uses some form of art to connect with people,” she said.
“Logos, campaigns, TikTok videos those all come from creative minds. You can’t run a business without culture.”

She argued that community voices actually help businesses stay relevant. Listening to local perspectives, she said, can influence better marketing, better outreach, and more inclusive decision-making.

When I asked why community voices matter to someone studying business, Kris’Shyne didn’t hesitate:

“Communities are who you serve,” she said. “If you don’t listen to people’s stories, what are you even building a business for?”

She said that hearing different voice especially voices often overlooked helps create more ethical and human-centered leadership.



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