Business Essentials Courses
Business Essentials faculty teach courses that help all business majors develop core business and professional skills that are critical to your success as a student and beyond. Business Essentials courses are part of the shared undergraduate business curriculum.
- BUSN 16x: Digital Literacy Series
- BUSN 201: Foundations of Business
- BUSN 205: Introduction to the World of Business
- BUSN 212: Business Problem Solving and Analysis
- BUSN 225: Winning Presentations
- BUSN 301: Career and Professional Development
- BUSN 323: Legal Environment of Business
- BUSN 325: Organizational Communication
- BUSN 329: Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Studio BE
Studio BE offers a welcoming and supportive space for students to grow their Business Essentials communication skills, with a focus on public speaking. A diverse team of peer consultants helps students present their business knowledge in clear, concise and creative ways that move audiences to action. Rooted in creativity and collaboration, Studio BE fosters both individual and collective growth as students prepare to become confident business professionals.
Offerings
Studio BE offers peer tutoring for presentations through in-person and virtual appointments. Virtual sessions are held via Zoom, and in-person sessions take place in Snead Hall B2111.
Each session includes personalized coaching to help develop content, visuals or delivery. Consultants support students at any stage—from brainstorming to final rehearsal.
Appointments
Use your VCU credentials to log in to Navigate at vcu.campus.eab.com.
- Click “Appointments” or “Schedule an Appointment”
- Select “Writing Consultation”
- Under services, choose “School of Business Presentation Consultation”
- For location, select “Studio BE Virtual”
- Choose your preferred date and time
- Check your VCU email for a confirmation message
Student FAQs
Studio BE offers peer tutoring for presentations through in-person and virtual appointments.
Work one-on-one with an experienced peer consultant to nail your next presentation. In each 25-minute session, you’ll get personalized coaching to develop and polish your content and visuals. Consultants will guide you through the process from start to finish. If your presentation is 10 minutes or longer, schedule two back-to-back sessions. All teams or groups must sign up for two consecutive sessions.
You’ll be expected to rehearse your presentation aloud, as if you’re delivering it live. Speaking out loud helps you identify what’s working, what needs improvement and builds confidence. Consultants won’t read through outlines or drafts—instead, you’ll present your ideas, and they’ll take notes and provide feedback.
Be ready to share your screen if you're working with a slideshow.
Whether online or in person, you can expect a warm welcome and helpful support. Peer consultants are here to guide you through any stage of your process—from brainstorming to drafting to final rehearsal.
At the start of your session, you and the consultant will discuss your goals. Before you leave, the consultant will ask you to complete a brief feedback form in the studio. You’ll also receive session notes by email after your appointment.
Checking in for your appointment:
- Check in through Navigate, or
- Visit Room B2111 in Snead Hall
BE Prepared. BE Professional.
To make the most of your appointment, come prepared and ready to engage. Students often say the experience would have been even more helpful if they had taken more time to prepare in advance.
- Arrive on time. If you’re running late, message your consultant.
- If you are more than five minutes late, your instructor may be notified to determine whether attendance credit will be granted. The consultant will still work with you for the time remaining, but all appointments end at the scheduled time to allow for feedback and prep between sessions.
- If you are more than five minutes late, your instructor may be notified to determine whether attendance credit will be granted. The consultant will still work with you for the time remaining, but all appointments end at the scheduled time to allow for feedback and prep between sessions.
- Be prepared to read your work aloud or rehearse your presentation on your feet. Speaking out loud helps you identify what’s working and what needs revision. The consultant will take notes and provide feedback.
- Be ready to share your screen if you’re using a slideshow.
- Be ready to share your screen if you’re using a slideshow.
- If you’re in the brainstorming stage, come ready to talk through your ideas. Consultants will ask questions to help shape and develop your content, but they will not create it for you.
- For virtual appointments, turn on your camera if you’re able. If not, no problem—the consultant will continue the session using audio.
Whether you’re starting with a rough idea or putting final touches on a polished presentation, consultants are here to support you throughout the process.
Meet the Team
Meher Mohan
B.S. in Supply Chain Management and B.S. in Psychology, '25
Meher is a double-major in psychology and supply chain management. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity, where she previously served as fundraising director. Outside of class, Meher enjoys weightlifting, hiking and going to the beach. She also loves reading, traveling and spending time with friends. Her favorite part of Studio BE is helping students from similar backgrounds overcome their fears around presenting. She looks forward to supporting VCU Business students in creating engaging, dynamic presentations.
Tyra Spaulding
B.S. in Supply Chain Management, Minor in Information Systems, '26
Tyra is a supply chain management student with a minor in information systems. She serves as secretary for Leadership for Women of Color, director of community service for the Black Student Union and is part of the Activities Programming Board’s Marketing Event Squad. Equally important, she enjoys outdoor picnics, concerts, scrapbooking and spending time with her family. Tyra's favorite part of Studio BE is connecting with people of different personalities to curate unique presentations and slideshows.
Faculty Guide to Studio BE
Studio BE offers peer-to-peer presentation support to help students strengthen their communication skills. Trained peer consultants meet with students to review assignments, offer feedback and support their development as confident communicators. The goal is to polish students’ existing skills and prepare them for life after college.
Attendance is tracked, and faculty are notified at least once per month if a student visits Studio BE for a course-related appointment.
Faculty FAQs
Students can meet with a peer consultant at Studio BE in person or online by scheduling an appointment at vcu.campus.eab.com.
Studio BE is located in Snead Hall B2111. It is a free resource for VCU Business undergraduate majors and minors. Trained peer consultants are ready to meet with students and assist them with presentation assignments. Consultants are prepared to meet students at any stage of the process, from brainstorming to organizing to rough drafts and final touches.
Rubrics for grading presentations can be found on the School of Business page in Canvas under Faculty > Teaching Resources.
Copy and paste the message below into your Canvas announcements:
Dear students,
Do you need one-on-one help with presentation assignments for your business classes? The School of Business offers free tutoring in Snead Hall through Studio BE. Visit the Business Essentials web page for instructions on how to sign up.
Studio BE tracks attendance for all appointments. Each week, professors will receive an email listing any students who visited for their course.
Yes. However, our availability is limited. If you plan to require appointments for an entire class, please email us the assignment description, due dates and any rubrics. The more information you can provide, the better we can support your students.
Studio BE consultants can help at any stage of the assignment. While students do not need a full draft completed, appointments are most effective when students have a clear understanding of the assignment and are ready to engage in the process.