Artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are transforming the way industries operate and compete, driving an unprecedented demand for professionals with hands-on expertise. Success in this dynamic field depends on keeping pace with the evolving tools, methodologies, and innovations that influence strategic choices.
In a rapidly changing economy, graduate education provides a proven path for students and professionals to refine their skills and stay ahead. However, not all programs are created equal. The Master of Science in Applied Analytics (MSAA) and Master of Science in Applied Economics (MSAE) programs at Boston College’s Woods College of Advancing Studies focus on engaging with real-world challenges, advancing careers, and tracking emerging industry trends. Boston College also offers a range of career-building and network-expanding opportunities, such as the annual Analytics and Industry Symposium, which brings together business, academic, and government leaders to examine pressing issues in business technology.
Overview: About the Annual Symposium
In 2025, the symposium’s theme—Productivity and (or?) Prosperity with AI?—guided an event highlighting the opportunities and challenges emerging from AI. Assistant Professor of the Practice in Applied Economics Dr. Arvind Sharma describes the symposium as “a place where thought leaders, business leaders, and students come together to exchange ideas and explore where AI and other industry developments are headed. It’s a place where we have a lot of practitioners in data science and economics trying to draw insights from academia and take them back to their organizations and improve the world.”
Input from industry professionals helped shape the symposium, guiding conversations to “certain sub-themes that are of popular interest,” according to Dr. Sharma. Guiding questions included: Will AI enhance or replace jobs? What are the practical applications of AI? How should AI be governed? Will AI actually improve people’s overall well-being? “We tried to create panels to address these issues and provide some insight from experts who are working with AI,” said Dr. Sharma.
The agenda featured distinguished speakers from IBM, Sirius XM, PayPal, New Balance, SurveyMonkey, and Deloitte, as well as renowned economist and Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Romer of Boston College, who delivered the keynote address. Students also had the opportunity to prepare and present posters of their work at the symposium. According to Dr. Aleksandar (Sasha) Tomic, Associate Dean for Strategy, Innovation, & Technology, and Director of the Master of Science in Applied Analytics and Master of Science in Applied Economics programs, this is one of the most important aspects of the symposium, as it puts students “front and center and gives attendees a chance to see our students in action and talk to them about their work.”
The symposium drew hundreds of professionals from the greater Boston area, including many BC alumni, providing current students with unprecedented access to career insights and networking opportunities. According to Dr. Tomic, the event “brings together our entire community and increases it by engaging with industry professionals. It’s a chance for professionals in the field to compare notes about the past, present, and future and form meaningful connections. For current students, especially those looking for work, it gives them a chance to shine and share their work with this audience.”
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Industry Insights: Learning the Lay of the Land
Although not formally structured as a networking event, the symposium provided numerous opportunities to establish connections and gain valuable industry insights. From the keynote address to panel discussions and informal conversations, students had the chance to learn about AI applications as well as concerns surrounding its use across sectors such as retail, entertainment, and finance.
As Dr. Tomic noted, “[The Symposium] develops this community of inquiry, if you will…. that as we navigate this uncertainty going forward, we have a place where we can convene, compare the experiences and compare our views about the future.” The sessions helped connect the dots between theory and practice, enabling students to interact with professionals leading innovation across industries.
Career Connections: Meeting Leaders in the Field
While panels and presentations took center stage, the chance to network with professionals from diverse industries proved just as valuable. Students had the chance to participate in conversations, ask questions, and connect with speakers and attendees alike—sometimes during scheduled sessions, sometimes in more informal moments between events.
Maxwell Davidoff, an online MSAE student residing in New York, was excited to make the trip to Boston for the event, particularly for the networking aspects. “You have the opportunity to meet people in a variety of industries. My current field is finance, and I’ve met a lot of people in finance at these events,” he said. “But I’ve also made connections with people applying the same skill set in other areas, such as health care and technology…. You have the ability to network with people across industries and also within the industry that you’re looking at.”
Gina Accapinti, another MSAE student, recalled how some of the casual conversations during breaks added meaningful value beyond the scheduled sessions. “I met a few of the speakers in the elevator, getting to chat between breaks about the work that they’re doing, getting to share a bit about the work I’ve done … and even talk about potential opportunities at their company,” she said. “That just increases your visibility, gets you exposure, helps you ask good questions, and meet people that you otherwise wouldn’t have met in person.”
Alumni Engagement: Networking with Peers and Professionals
The symposium also provides an opportunity to see the program’s alumni in action. Many return not just to listen but to participate as panelists, mentors, or attendees. It’s one way BC’s vast alumni network stays strong and active, and it exposes current students to post-graduation possibilities.
As Dr. Tomic explained, “[The Symposium] is an opportunity for our alumni to come back and maintain a connection with us. They have done so in increasing numbers over the last three years, and we hope that it will continue in the future.”
Seeing committed alumni helps current students realize they are joining an active, growing community, not just earning a degree. It also offers a glimpse of what life might look like after graduation: staying connected, sharing ideas, and learning from each other well beyond graduation.
Final Takeaways: Bringing People Together
In the end, the symposium brings people together. Whether through panel discussions, keynote talks, student presentations, or impromptu conversations, it provides an opportunity for students, academics, and industry professionals to engage meaningfully—not just about technology but also about its impact on people, future directions, and career opportunities in a rapidly evolving field.
Dr. Sharma reflected on this dynamic, saying, “The interactions I saw between the AI thought leaders, the students, the working professionals—I usually don’t see that kind of interaction in a lot of conferences. So I think we created a good, strong community.”
Dr. Lawrence Fulton, visiting professor, echoes the sentiment: “The entire idea is to bring different groups of individuals together to exchange ideas and information, to build that network of data scientists in the local community, and essentially to push the field even farther.”
For students, the experience reminds them that their education doesn’t happen in a vacuum. They join a living, growing network of people tackling similar challenges and exchanging what they learn along the way.
Expand Your Knowledge, Expand Your Network: Learn More About BC Woods College
Events like the Analytics and Industry Symposium are just one example of the kinds of doors that open when you enroll in a program like the M.S. in Applied Analytics or M.S. in Applied Economics at Woods College. You’ll gain technical skills and access a community, opportunities, and a clearer path forward.
“To a prospective student, I would say just apply,” said Dr. Sharma. “We hold information sessions almost monthly where the prospective student can come and engage with us. I would encourage them to even challenge us and explore if we are a good fit for them.”
If you’re ready to connect and grow, this could be where your future network and career begin. Request more information, attend an upcoming information session, or start your application today for the BC Woods MSAA, MSAE, or dual degree program.