Business Analytics and AI

Phaedra Boinodiris, global leader for trustworthy AI, IBM Consulting; author of “AI for the Rest of Us.”

AI is not a futuristic concept—it is a reality shaping industries, economies, and societies. This program unpacks the foundational pillars of AI governance and what it takes to earn trust, helping executives move beyond compliance to build AI systems that are transparent, explainable, secure, and human-centric. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, you’ll learn why AI governance is not just an IT issue, but a leadership mandate that defines competitive advantage.

1. Learn to identify hidden risks in AI systems while understanding why all data is an artifact of human experience.
2. Develop approaches for building explainable and transparent AI systems within evolving regulatory frameworks.
3. Build practical strategies for embedding AI governance into corporate strategy with clear accountability and mandate.

Roger Mayer, professor of leadership, NC State Poole College of Management

Strengthen your decision-making capabilities by developing your understanding of the art and science of data-driven thinking. Drawing on research in organizational behavior and analytical tools, this program equips you with practical approaches to leveraging data for more informed, impactful business decisions. You’ll learn to avoid decision biases that could lead catastrophic decisions. You’ll learn to translate complex information into actionable insights that drive organizational performance and strategic innovation.

1. Develop strategies to cultivate trust and meaningful relationships across organizational levels.
2. Learn techniques for effectively empowering team members while maintaining accountability.
3. Identify key approaches to creating a culture of mutual respect and collaborative achievement.

Chris Hitch, adjunct lecturer, NC State Poole College of Management; director of client relations, NC State Executive Education, and Pramod Singh, co-founder, chief product and analytics officer, Inquisite

Discover how to strategically evaluate and implement AI initiatives that drive competitive advantage for your organization. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, you’ll learn to identify high-impact opportunities, make informed AI adoption decisions, and lead successful implementations. This program moves beyond the hype to help you create sustainable business value through AI.

1. Learn techniques for addressing psychological factors like motivated reasoning that affect analytics interpretation.
2. Develop approaches for navigating group dynamics that can resist or enhance analytic adoption.
3. Build strategies for ensuring analytics projects deliver meaningful organizational value.

Shawn Mankad, associate professor of analytics and the Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Scholar, NC State Poole College of Management.

Navigate the complex landscape of managing machine learning and AI technology with a practical, insight-driven approach. This program bridges the gap between algorithms and business strategy, providing you with frameworks for effectively managing and developing ML and AI-powered products that have tangible business value.

1. Learn techniques for mapping and analyzing informal social networks within your organization.
2. Develop strategies for using network insights to improve talent management and team performance.
3. Build approaches for strengthening workplace relationships and reducing destructive social dynamics.

Julie Earp, associate professor of information technology, NC State Poole College of Management

Navigate the complex intersection of data privacy, cybersecurity, and business value in today’s digital environment. Drawing on over 25 years of privacy research and industry experience, this program examines critical challenges organizations face in protecting sensitive information across supply chains and data management systems. You’ll learn practical approaches for implementing privacy-conscious frameworks while maintaining operational effectiveness and building stakeholder trust.

1. Develop risk-based strategies for managing privacy across your organization’s digital ecosystem.
2. Design strategies that balance strong data protection with business innovation needs.
3. Implement security protocols that strengthen your organization’s privacy resilience.

Tom Zagenczyk, professor of management, NC State Poole College of Management

Strengthen your approach to talent management by understanding the power of informal workplace networks. This program teaches you how to identify and leverage the hidden social structures that drive organizational performance. Through evidence-based frameworks and practical examples, you’ll learn how network analysis can enhance employee engagement, improve collaboration, and boost team effectiveness.

1. Learn techniques for mapping and analyzing informal social networks within your organization.
2. Develop strategies for using network insights to improve talent management and team performance.
3. Build approaches for strengthening workplace relationships and reducing destructive social dynamics.

Donnie Hale, teaching assistant professor in business analytics, NC State Poole College of Management

Analytic techniques are important, but they are only a small part of building an effective analytic organization. In this program you will learn how psychological and sociological processes impact the interpretation, adoption, and implementation of analytics. We’ll explore individual-level phenomena like motivated reasoning and group-level challenges like out-group resistance. And, we’ll focus on strategies to ensure analytic insights deliver meaningful value in your organizational context.

1. Develop approaches for integrating sustainability across key business functions including operations, investment, and market strategy.
2. Learn frameworks for identifying sustainability-driven opportunities that create competitive advantage.
3. Build strategies for leading organizational transformation toward purposeful business practices.

Patrick Flynn, Matthew and Soogi Hong Fellow; assistant professor of management, NC State University

Transform organizational data into actionable workforce insights through evidence-based analysis. This program teaches you how to identify, frame, and address critical business questions using people analytics. Drawing from both academic research and consulting experience, you’ll learn frameworks for analyzing individual and team performance, adaptation processes, and organizational dynamics. Through practical exercises, you’ll develop skills for turning complex workforce data into strategic recommendations.

1. Learn to identify hidden risks in AI systems while understanding why all data is an artifact of human experience.
2. Develop approaches for building explainable and transparent AI systems within evolving regulatory frameworks.
3. Build practical strategies for embedding AI governance into corporate strategy with clear accountability and mandate.

John Slankas, senior research scholar, Laboratory for Analytic Sciences; assistant adjunct professor, Department of Computer Science, NC State University

Strengthen your data visualization capabilities using Python’s powerful libraries and tools. This hands-on program teaches you how to create compelling visual analytics that reveal insights and patterns in complex datasets. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you’ll learn industry-standard approaches to building interactive visualizations that communicate data clearly and effectively.

1. Analyze your organization’s current business model to identify strategic opportunities and risks.
2. Develop techniques to validate business model innovations through stakeholder engagement.
3. Create implementation plans that align organizational capabilities with emerging market opportunities.