Daniel Pink (in his book A Whole New Mind) and others have brought bits and pieces of this concept to public attention, such as using theater training or other humanities training to help business leaders, doctors and managers better understand the concept of empathy and put it into practice. But, this five-day program at Columbia is a prime example of the types of programs I hope to see offered more regularly in business schools and adult training programs across the country. The business community needs to finally recognize that some of those crazy theater kids out there might actually grow into some of the best CEOs and CMOs we have yet to read about in the trade mags of the world.

So what’s the big fuss all about? Well, for starters, let’s take a look at the basics. Theater training involves a lot of refinement of the physicality of the body and voice. This involves freeing the body to move more fluidly and centering movement in emotion. A bit of mumbo jumbo there, but what it really means, is that theater training teaches someone to move from a genuine place, move with honest intentions and move with poise and focus. The same training is applied to the voice. An actor learns to be very expressive with the voice, using it in a direct and focused manner to communicate a story with authenticity and greater meaning.

And then there’s the mental. Theater opens the mind up to experiencing all of the world to its fullest. Theater training teaches intuition, increases awareness and fosters creativity. Actors are taught from day one to explore all possible scenarios when approaching a scene. They are taught that experimentation and practice is key to achieving the greatest possible results. Actors are not afraid to use the art of play to discover a deeper meaning to their work. These are all incredibly valuable tools in the workplace!

I’m proud to say that I can speak to all of this from experience. My college education came in the form of theater training. Since then, I’ve worked with clients in a variety of industries to find creative ways to share their stories, and as a result, build a deeper relationship with their customers. I’ve stood in front of classrooms and taught businesses complex ideas and led meaningful discussions engaging my entire body, mind and voice in the experience. My theater training has served me well. Now it’s time for more folks to get in on the secret.

A few days ago, they got me thinking. Why do I love these sunflowers so much? And furthermore, what made my attachment to these flowers so strong in the first place? I mean, granted, they are a gift from someone I love very much. This does help, I realize. But take that aside, if I had just purchased them myself, wouldn’t I still have a vested interest to care for these flowers and attempt to make them last as long as possible on my dresser?

If you’re a cynic, you’ll say no. But in reality, the correct answer is yes. And the reason–because they’re real.

Let’s say my boyfriend became terribly unromantic for five minutes and decided it was sufficient enough to send me a bouquet of sunflowers on Facebook instead. Now, he might argue that there is a benefit of sharing it on this platform, because they can last forever that way. They can be shared with all of my friends who see that he’s share these beautiful flowers with me. They can then comment on them and possibly get inspired enough to share a similar bouquet with their loved ones and so on. Suddenly, thanks to his one “romantic” (or not) gesture, hundreds of people might be graced with little digital bouquets of sunflowers, daffodils, daisies and peonies on their Facebook wall. Sigh. Isn’t it romantic?

Cynics say “yes”, the rest of us who are following along with this metaphor, say “no.” And guess what, cynics? You’re not alone! Every brand manager from here to China is totally agreeing with you! Why? Because of wishful thinking. And today, if I had the money, I’d do every brand manager I know a favor–send them a bouquet of sunflowers. Then we can talk about reassessing how much money goes into your digital marketing budget for next year.