Business Analytics Students Make Their Debut at the INFORMS Annual Meeting
M.S. in business analytics students Satkar Karki, Sabun Dhital, Riti Dahal and Enobong Etuk, accompanied by Bartlomiej Hanus, Ph.D., associate professor of decision science, spent four days immersed in conversations about analytics, artificial intelligence and optimization.
For both the students and the program, the experience connected classroom learning to global industry practices, strengthened professional confidence and elevated USD’s visibility within the analytics community.
A Firsthand Look at the Analytics Profession
Throughout the conference, students attended technical sessions hosted by organizations such as Amazon, The Home Depot, Gurobi and Delta Airlines. These sessions demonstrated how the analytical models, statistical techniques and optimization methods they study in courses like Quantitative Analysis and Operational Analytics are applied in real organizations around the world.
“The technical sessions showed how concepts from our curriculum are being used to solve real business problems,” said Karki, who is the president of the USD INFORMS Student Chapter. “It helped connect classroom learning to practical industry applications.”
Hanus noted that this exposure is something no classroom can fully replicate.
“Attending the INFORMS Annual Meeting allowed our students to engage directly with leading scholars and industry practitioners and deepen their understanding of how analytics is used on a global scale,” he said. “For many of them, it was the first time they had seen the full breadth of the analytics profession beyond the classroom.”
Professional Growth and Career Clarity
The conference’s career fair served as a transformative moment for the group. Students introduced themselves to recruiters, participated in interviews and received valuable insight about what employers seek in early career analysts. Karki interviewed with Amazon, The Home Depot, Deposco and Elanco, which reinforced his ambition to become a data scientist. Dahal left inspired to explore research more deeply, including the possibility of pursuing a doctoral degree. Dhital gained clarity about building depth in key tools and skills, and Etuk discovered a strong interest in supply chain analytics that she now plans to explore through upcoming coursework.
“Our students demonstrated impressive growth in both technical confidence and communication,” said Hanus, who observed significant professional development during the trip.“They learned to articulate their projects, interests and goals with clarity. They also navigated a large and complex conference environment with poise and independence.”
Students were also introduced to emerging technologies shaping the industry, including SAS Viya, Gurobi, FICO decisioning tools and Provalis text analytics. These tools helped them identify new areas for skill development and better understand what technical competencies are prioritized in the marketplace.
Learning from Leaders in the Field
The conference featured presentations and panel discussions led by influential figures in analytics and data science. Beverly Wright’s Job Search Panel provided practical guidance for building a career in analytics, while Wes Chaar’s message that “success is multidimensional” encouraged students to broaden their approach to professional growth.
Sessions from The Home Depot demonstrated how the company uses analytics to optimize store layouts and e-commerce operations. These talks gave students a closer look at the decision-making processes driving some of the country’s largest and most complex organizations.
Strengthening the Business Analytics Program and Student Chapter
Throughout the conference, students connected with peers from universities across the country. Conversations with other student chapters, especially during the INFORMS Student Chapter Awards, helped USD students identify benchmarks for growing their own chapter. They returned with plans for new initiatives and are already exploring a collaborative event with the University of Houston for spring 2026.
Hanus emphasized that this type of participation elevates both the student experience and the business analytics program as a whole.
“When our students engage at national conferences, they serve as ambassadors for USD,” he said. “Their involvement strengthens the program’s visibility, builds important academic and industry connections and demonstrates that experiential learning is a priority for us.”
For the students, attending INFORMS was more than a conference. It helped them recognize their place in a rapidly growing profession and gave them confidence in the skills they are developing at USD.
“It felt like opening a new door for future students and showing that USD belongs in national conversations about analytics,” the group shared. “We were proud to demonstrate the talent and potential within our program.”
Their participation marks an important moment for the business analytics program, reinforcing its commitment to preparing students for real-world analytical environments and supporting opportunities that build professional readiness. As the field of analytics continues to evolve and high-impact learning will remain central to the program’s mission.
You May Also Like
USD Sanford School of Medicine to Host Graduation Convocation Ceremony on May 8
The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine will host its graduation and hooding ceremony on May 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. in Sioux Falls.
USD Accounting & Finance Division Honors Outstanding Alumni and Students
The University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business Accounting & Finance Division recognized three distinguished alumni and celebrated top-performing students at its annual Accounting & Finance Recognition Dinner, held Nov. 6, 2025, in the Muenster University Center.
USD Receives Rare Butler Family Photograph Collection; Exhibition Opens Nov. 24
The University of South Dakota’s Archives & Special Collections has received a significant gift from Rex Butler of Cornelius, North Carolina.
