Business Analytics Day celebrated AI, mentorship and real-world impact

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’s annual Business Analytics Day returned on March 27 to bring together students, faculty and industry leaders for a deep dive into the power of data-driven innovation.

This year’s theme, “Ignite the Future: AI in Action, Powered by Mentorship”, featured panel discussions, hands-on workshops and mentoring activities throughout the day.

The first panel, Women in Business Analytics, championed mentorship as a key factor in fostering inclusive teams and supporting more women in data-driven leadership. Speakers encouraged students to seek not only mentors but also sponsors who will advocate for them at pivotal career junctures.

Moderated by Associate Dean Haya Ajjan, the panel featured:

• Gayle Bieler, senior director, Center for Data Science and AI, RTI International
• Grace Chadwick, chief operating officer, Crumbl Cookies
• Magdaline Frank, director of data science and advanced analytics, Hanes Brands Inc
• Rachyl Jackson ’17, media director and co-founder, FireTeam

A second panel centered on healthcare analytics, with executives describing how AI can streamline patient care, from improved diagnostics to more efficient administrative workflows. They stressed that data integrity and security are essential in the clinical environment, where patient safety remains paramount.

Moderated by Assistant Professor and Center for Organizational Analytics Director Hyunuk Kim, the panel included:

• Dr. Chris DeRienzo, senior vice president, chief physician executive, American Hospital Association
• Stephen Blackwelder, executive director, Technology Partnerships, Duke Health
• Preston Hammock, regional president of Greensboro market & senior vice President, Cone Health

A final panel on AI governance and cybersecurity reinforced that rapid technological innovation demands rigorous oversight. Panelists called for frameworks to protect sensitive data and help companies remain both agile and secure.

Moderated by Takoda Moore ’27, a financial technology major in the 3+1 program, the panel featured:

• Brad Manganello, CAO, Citi
• John Wimmer, Former CIO, Xanterra Parks & Resorts
• Jason Smith, senior incident response analyst, DeepSeas

Capping the day was the Hanes Brands Challenge, an open-ended competition where student teams proposed AI-powered solutions for product development, marketing, and supply chain efficiency. Ideas ranged from consumer style quizzes that collect real-time feedback to sophisticated “style index” models that predict the longevity of emerging fashion trends.

• First place: “Number Ninjas” – Robert Barcello ’25, Craig Brandstetter ’25 and Dominic Mazza ’25 introduced the “Hanes Style Index,” a scoring model that combines trend velocity, consumer sentiment, and longevity projections to guide Hanes Brands in investing in the most promising apparel trends.
• Second place: “BBIA Headquarters” – Eddie Keefe ’25, Ava LeGendre ’25, and Berlyn Squillaro ’25 focused on social listening tools (such as Brandwatch and Hootsuite), competitor keyword research with SEMrush, and influencer marketing to help Hanes Brands capture consumer preferences and respond swiftly to emerging trends.
• Third place: “Data Diggers” – Brandon Boudreau ’26, Christina Kurtz ’25, and Jessica Summers ’26 proposed a “precision and personalization” strategy, featuring an AI-powered style quiz, custom-designed apparel concepts, and targeted advertising based on quiz insights.

• First place: “Number Ninjas” – Robert Barcello ’25, Craig Brandstetter ’25, and Dominic Mazza ’25

• Second place: “BBIA Headquarters” – Eddie Keefe ’25, Ava LeGendre ’25, and Berlyn Squillaro ’25

• Third place: “Data Diggers” – Brandon Boudreau ’26, Christina Kurtz ’25, and Jessica Summers ’26

• First place: “Number Ninjas” – Robert Barcello ’25, Craig Brandstetter ’25, and Dominic Mazza ’25

• Second place: “BBIA Headquarters” – Eddie Keefe ’25, Ava LeGendre ’25, and Berlyn Squillaro ’25

• Third place: “Data Diggers” – Brandon Boudreau ’26, Christina Kurtz ’25, and Jessica Summers ’26

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Workshops were led by Assistant Professor of Management and Director of Artificial Intelligence Integration Mustafa Akben, who focused on generative AI and related tools, and by Ajjan, who guided sessions on job searches and early-career mentorship.

“This year’s Business Analytics Day clearly showed how mentorship and AI innovation go hand in hand,” said Ajjan. “Our students engaged deeply with real-world challenges, and we saw firsthand how Elon’s focus on collaboration leads to practical, impactful solutions.”