MBA Executive Board Learning Series: AI in Business

December 5, 2024December 2, 2024

Earlier this semester, the Clemson MBA Program introduced the MBA Executive Board Learning series, a condensed certificate program presented by the Phyfer Innovation Hub that offers opportunities for working professionals to engage in professional development.

The series began with a four-week program to discuss how different companies use AI and its impact in their respective industries. Through this series, the Clemson MBA Program’s goal is to enhance professional education in the Greenville community with low-cost micro-certificates that address current trends in business.

Joe Gibson, lecturer for the Clemson MBA Program, organized and taught content for the series. “AI is a prevalent topic across all industries. Most people’s view of it is what they see in the press, which tends to be more the exceptions and the highlights rather than the fundamentals. So, we thought it’d be useful to focus on AI from an overall point of view for businesses, covering the range of topics that fall under AI.”

Over the four weeks, several topics were discussed in the program. Week one included an overview of AI, the different types of AI and how it’s used in the industry.

The following week, students learned from a guest speaker who oversees AI at the BMW facility in Spartanburg, sharing how they use robotics and vision systems for plant manufacturing and the implementation of generative AI as well.

In the third week, Gibson invited guest speakers from RingoFire, a local marketing advertisement agency, to discuss how they use generative AI in their marketing strategies, specifically when brainstorming ideas.

Wrapping up the fourth week was Gary Shiffman, an economics lecturer at the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and two-time AI Company Founder. In this session, Shiffman addressed some of the growing concerns about AI before transitioning to how AI can be a useful tool to enhance productivity and support more informed decision-making.

Gregory Pickett, director of the Clemson MBA Program, says that initiatives like the Executive Board Learning series benefit the surrounding community. “The Clemson MBA Program continues to be on the cutting edge of continuing education opportunities in the upstate. Our Executive Board Learning Series allows for attendees to stay up to date with major innovations in business and to allow them leverage content to make an immediate impact in their roles. We are thrilled to continue the series into the future with new topics.”

Looking ahead, the Clemson MBA Program plans to offer another installment of the series next semester, with the next topic presented in the spring. More information on the topic and registration details will be announced in January.

Learn more about the Clemson MBA Program.