Carnegie Mellon University

Business Analytics Summit

June 06, 2024

Tepper School of Business Hosts Inaugural Business Analytics Summer Summit, Empowering Future Leaders

Weeklong event featured hands-on learning, industry insights, and networking, culminating in an experiential outing to PNC Park with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By Sheila Davis

Sheila Davis
  • Associate Director of Media Relations
  • 412-268-8652

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University hosted the Business Analytics Summer Summit (BASS). Participants included college juniors and seniors from across the United States, many from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). The students, representing various academic majors including business, engineering, and mathematics, engaged in an array of activities designed to equip them with key analytics and business skills.

Highlights included a visit to PNC Park to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates and learn about integrative analytics through baseball and business. At American Eagle Outfitters’ (AEO) corporate headquarters, students explored retail industry data-driven innovations. Students also visited The PNC Financial Services Group headquarters, where leaders discussed AI innovations in banking. Students also gained insights from the experiences and career journeys of stakeholders at each location.

Photo of participants of the Tepper School's first Business Analytics Summer Summit at PNC Park
Students are excited to be on the Pittsburgh Pirates' home field.

David Major, the Tepper School's associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, emphasized the program’s impact.

“BASS provides students an early window into the leading-edge coursework at the core of Tepper’s top-ranked masters program. It equips this next generation of diverse business analytics professionals for success," said Major, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Tepper School.

Assoc. Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) and Teaching Prof. of Strategy, David Major and MSBA Program Dir., Kevin Dietrick speak to students attending the summit. 

The summit featured discussions with industry experts, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC, and American Eagle Outfitters.

Kevin Dietrick, program director of the Tepper School's Master of Science in Business Analytics, highlighted the program's success. “We have seen incredible enthusiasm and growth from the students, and we are proud to contribute to their journey in becoming future leaders in business analytics.”

Dean Isabelle Bajeux visited the Building Intelligent Systems with AI class on Friday morning to meet with students before the program concluded for the week. She asked about their experience so far and collected feedback on how to improve BASS moving forward. 

Dean Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou speaks with students in the BASS program.