Re-Imagining Futures in Business Anthropology

Abstract

Here I want to point to ways the pandemic has created some unique opportunities for business anthropology, as I’ve experienced it. I’ll briefly document some broader work trends I’ve taken note of and heard about from colleagues, and then share my personal experiences, before and during the pandemic. I’m coming from the perspective of an independent ethnographic consultant with a background in cultural anthropology, who has worked in recent years on my own projects, partnership projects with other consulting groups, some in-house work, and also startup teams. I’ll explain how I’ve navigated challenging career decisions in the last few years, while also studying the evolving culture of work.