Real world connections are a key part of how the Lubar College of Business prepares students for meaningful careers. By bringing industry professionals directly into the classroom, the College helps students see how data, analytics, and innovation are applied every day at leading organizations in the Milwaukee region.
That approach was on full display when 16 data science professionals from Northwestern Mutual – a Fortune 100 company – visited Business Scholars students’ Data Analytics and Innovation class. This fall, the capstone course was taught by Joan Shapiro Beigh, a teaching professor in organizations and strategic management, and Grace Iyiola, an MBA student specializing in data analytics. This year’s sustainability focus incorporated themes around the importance of fresh water. Students gained hands-on experience proposing solutions to real business problems for organizations and nonprofits.
During the visit, students interviewed nearly 20 Northwestern Mutual professionals in small groups based on their majors, including finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, and supply chain. The conversations focused on how data-driven thinking shapes decisions across a large financial services organization.
In their group’s reflective memo after the event, supply chain students said the experience changed how they view their field. “We were surprised to learn how supply chain principles apply even in a non-manufacturing setting like Northwestern Mutual,” students wrote, noting examples such as indirect sourcing for IT solutions, networking equipment, and services.
They also gained new insight into how analytics and artificial intelligence support daily work. “It was surprising seeing how embedded AI and data analytics are in everyday operations,” students shared, while still maintaining strict regulatory compliance.
Students said the discussions reinforced the importance of problem solving, not just collecting data. “Data is most valuable when tied to a clear problem or business question,” they reflected, adding that tools like SQL and PowerBI are essential across many roles.
The visit was coordinated by Shapiro Beigh and Mark Zachar, talent program manager at the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI). The NMDSI offers a data analytics newsletter to Milwaukee’s university students and hosts many events in the region. Northwestern Mutual is headquartered in Milwaukee, and UW Milwaukee is one of three NMDSI partners, with Lubar College marketing professor Purush Papatla serving as a co-director.
Experiences like this highlight the Lubar College’s commitment to connecting students with top employers. Its urban location gives students unique access to professionals, projects, and career insights that set the College apart from other universities in Wisconsin.
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