Jennifer Studebaker on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Jennifer Studebaker speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. The conversation focuses on Jennifer’s journey from academia to applied anthropology, her experiences in various roles, including project management and market research, and her recent work on the Career Tools for Anthropology workbook. Jennifer shares insights on the value of anthropological skills in business settings, the importance of networking, and her passion for making anthropological knowledge accessible to students and practitioners alike. She also discusses her new consulting company, Studebaker Consulting LLC, and plans to offer training in practical business skills.

About Jennifer Studebaker

Jennifer is the owner and founder of Studebaker Consulting LLC. She is a business anthropologist and a PMP® certified project manager. She has over twelve years of research, operations, and communications experience. She has worked with nonprofits, foundations, startups, market research firms, and other consultants. She is based out of Kansas City, MO, but welcomes collaboration opportunities across the US and globally.

Jennifer is a Co-Chair of the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN). Serving in this role has allowed her to give back to her discipline and help anthropology graduates discover the potential of their education. She is a co-editor and co-author of Career Tools for Anthropology. Jennifer, along with her ACRN Co-Chairs Elizabeth Briody and Riall Nolan, consults with anthropology departments on how to improve the career readiness of their curriculum. She is also a member of the Society for Applied Anthropology’s Nominations & Elections Committee.

Key Moments

• 00:31:30 – Jennifer explains her initial interest in archaeology and the pivot to biocultural anthropology in college.
• 00:05:20 – She describes her exposure to applied anthropology during graduate school at Purdue University.
• 00:15:35 – Jennifer shares her experience at mySidewalk, where she first applied anthropological methods to solve business challenges.
• 00:20:00 – She discusses her transition to the Kauffman Foundation and the importance of networking in securing the position.
• 00:26:20 – Jennifer talks about her interest in project management and obtaining the PMP certification.
• 00:30:40 – She explains the origins and development of the Career Tools for Anthropology workbook.
• 00:34:04 – Jennifer provides information about her consulting work and future plans for offering Google Drive training.

Recommended Links

• Jennifer Studebaker on LinkedIn
• Studebaker Consulting LLC
• Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN)