Attendees learn, network at Data Science Symposium 2023

Center for Business Analytics Executive Director Tim Cholvat welcomed guests, outlined the offerings available from both the center and Lindner’s department of operations, business analytics and information systems (OBAIS), and dubbed symposium participants “superheroes” for their unique abilities.

“As you can see around corners, you can see jewels in the data,” Cholvat said. “You can actually optimize to make organizations more effective. You are the envy of your organizations.”

Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, observed that data analytics and data science are “truly pervasive.”

“It doesn't matter what field you're in, you have to understand what's going on in data,” Lewis said. “And it starts with specialists like those of you in the room and people going into very specific majors and disciplines.”

The event featured a trio of decorated speakers:

• Prashanth Southekal, PhD, founder/managing principal, DBP Institute
• Nan Li, VP, artificial intellegence/machine learning and statistical practice, Nationwide
• Shashank Jindal, analytics and insights professional, Amazon

Eight “tech talks” incorporated a variety of data science subjects, including “Programming with AI: How LLMs Are Changing the Way We Write Code” by Ethan Swan of ReviewTrackers, who is also an adjunct instructor of OBAIS.

“Using AI is rapidly going to become the norm — production gains are too big for coders,” Swan said.

Nick Woo of AlignAI covered artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and adherence, as well as the potential value to organizations provided by AI, in “Measuring the Value of AI Solutions — How Enterprise Teams are Quantifying Impact by Focusing on Adoption, Adherence & ROI.”

Woo explained that improving awareness and perception of AI is especially critical in the early stages of AI adoption. Woo also weighed the risks of introducing AI against the risk of not introducing AI into an organization.

The topics and speakers of the six other tech talks were:

• “Creating a Better E-commence Search Experience with Semantic Search” by Vinny Veschi, 84.51°
• “Democratization of Data via Microsoft’s Power Platform” by Gabe Welp, AMEND Consulting
• “Large-Language Models — Challenges and Opportunities in Business Use” by Nick Flores, GE Aerospace
• “Transforming How We Make Forecasts at Scale” by Jason Tang, CoverMyMeds
• “Quantifying the Unmeasurable — Method for Measuring Pilot Program Impact” by Dave Ramsey, Macy’s, Inc.
• “Leveraging KNIME for Rapid Business Insight Development” by Steve Honkomp and Eric Mullins, Procter & Gamble

To close the event, Cholvat recounted the day’s learnings and thanked on-site OBAIS students and center staff for their efforts and putting on the Data Science Symposium. In addition to Cholvat, the center’s staff is comprised of Michael Fry, PhD (managing director), Dungang Liu, PhD (academic director), Larry Porter (marketing and training), Bill Bresler (program manager) and Marilyn Kump (program coordinator).

“Hopefully you take a couple of gems back with you to promote business analytics inside your organizations,” Cholvat said.

Cholvat also announced that Analytics Summit 2024 will be held April 30 at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Featured image at top: UC Center for Business Analytics Managing Director Michael Fry (third from left) and Executive Director Tim Cholvat (second from right) with Data Science Symposium 2023 keynote speakers (from left): Nan Li, Prasanth Southekal and Shashank Jindal. Photos by Suzanne Buzek and Danielle Lawrence.