Does this mean business education is irrelevant now? Of course not. BBA students need to up their game by adjusting to these changes. The changes stem from thousands of students graduating with this degree, which is considered comparatively easy by some.

However, the presumed “easy degree” comes with its own challenges. Unlike other degrees, this one requires skills that cannot be acquired solely through course materials.

Today’s BBA students need to work on this before they graduate. Soft skills, extracurricular activities, and internships are no longer optional; they are essential. And this is not just theory. Industry leaders consistently echo the same message.

Fariha Islam, Head of Digital Analytics at Grameenphone, highlights the importance of foundational soft skills alongside essential technical competence: “Strong analytical thinking, problem structuring, and turning insights into decisions, along with communication and resilience, are essential soft skills. In terms of hard skills, Excel and PowerPoint are essential.”

Her observation shows a common issue among recent graduates. Many students’ knowledge of business is restricted to the classroom, making it difficult for them to use it in real-world situations. Self-confidence enables professionals to perform well under pressure, communication guarantees that ideas are conveyed accurately, and analytical thinking helps in the breakdown of difficult situations.

These are abilities that take time to develop and need consistent practice throughout university life. Viewed from the perspective of practical industry experience, the importance of communication becomes even more apparent.

Tabriz Haidary, Brand Manager at Japan Tobacco International (JTI), shares from his professional journey: “From my experience, the most important skill for a career-ready BBA graduate is communication.”

According to him, good ideas by themselves are hardly enough. Communication is what transforms ideas into results. How one articulates ideas, delivers confident presentations, and is capable of tactful persuasion determines how effectively one can influence decisions and create impact within an organisation.

Beyond soft skills, BBA students must also focus on practical hard skills that employers expect as must-haves. Proficiency in tools like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint is no longer impressive; it is expected. These tools help graduates analyse data, build reports, and present insights clearly, making them immediately functional in professional roles.

However, skills are not built only inside classrooms. Extracurricular activities, internships, case competitions, student organisations, and part-time projects play a major role in shaping workplace readiness.

These experiences teach teamwork, leadership, time management, and accountability, skills that textbooks cannot fully provide. The warning from Harvard is not a death sentence for BBA students, but a wake-up call.

The degree itself may be declining in prestige, but the know-how obtained from it has never been more important. In a crowded market of near-identical degrees, competency is what sets you apart. A BBA graduate who is capable of critical thinking, proper communication, working with data, or handling change will remain needed forever.