In early spring, junior Owen Felder, an honors accounting and business analytics major at the University of Dayton School of Business Administration, led a real-client project with guidance and support from Brandon Lee, associate professor of operations and supply chain management and business analytics, using artificial intelligence and statistical modeling to solve a business problem for a Dayton-based company.
“Doing this kind of analytics in a professional setting is going to really help me in the future, and that's kind of why I wanted to take it on,” said Felder, who is actively involved on campus as the vice president of Finance for the Student Government Association and an analyst for Global Platinum Securities.
What kind of real-world experience do UD business students get?
Felder worked directly with a local entertainment company to analyze the operations and costs of a live entertainment experience modeled after popular television game formats. For the client project, he:
- Built a simulation model
- Ran thousands of data scenarios
- Delivered client-ready insights
The outcome: a professional report that the company can use to price its services and a poster presentation at the University of Dayton’s Brother Joseph W. Stander Symposium to highlight his work.
How does AI fit into a Dayton business degree?
Felder applied his business coursework knowledge and took it a step further by leveraging new AI simulation tools introduced by Lee.
Felder integrated artificial intelligence into his real-client business analytics project to dramatically increase both efficiency and depth of analysis. Using an AI agent called Base44, he built a customizable simulation tool through “vibe coding,” allowing him to generate and modify a probability-based 'take-it-or-leave-it' game model with ease.
With a single click, the tool could run up to 10,000 simulations and produce detailed datasets, enabling Felder to analyze outcomes in a way that would have taken significantly longer to complete manually. AI ultimately allowed him to automate complex processes and focus more on insights and decision-making.
How do students work with professors outside the classroom?
Felder credits his faculty mentor as a defining part of his experience, both in and out of the classroom. He describes Lee as one of his favorite professors at UD, known for making complex topics approachable and engaging. But faculty support isn’t just in the classroom.
“In a one-on-one setting, I get to see the whole student. I see how they think, how they handle ambiguity, how they recover from setbacks, and how they grow in real time. That’s incredibly meaningful, and being part of that journey is quite satisfying,” said Lee.
Through consistent one-on-one meetings, Felder not only strengthened his technical skills but also built a meaningful mentor relationship.
“That one-on-one time is really beneficial. I think of it as a mentorship,” said Felder. “He's someone who is in the field that I may be going into, and has a lot of wisdom and technical knowledge. I've been able to learn a lot from him, not just academically, but just also as a person.”
Why does experiential learning matter for future business students
Through his real-client project, Felder developed critical professional skills by working directly with a client who expected regular updates, reports, and actionable deliverables. The experience pushed him beyond technical work, helping him build strong client relationships, communicate progress effectively, and navigate real-world expectations.
“A real project from a real business client involves a specific problem, which naturally creates a knowledge gap,” said Lee. “Experiencing the knowledge gap-filling process helps students build adaptation skills for new business environments, which eventually helps students become more capable in their careers. Felder quickly learned new techniques to fill the gap and applied them to the project implementation.”
This experience also reinforced what he’s learning in BIZ 301 (Successfully Navigating Your Career Flight Plan), where topics like salary negotiation come to life in real time. Felder gained firsthand experience navigating complex conversations, including discussing compensation and balancing his own value with a client’s needs and budget.
“Learning how to talk with someone about what you’re worth, while still understanding their needs, has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience,” said Felder. Lee echoed this sentiment by saying that Felder “definitely exceeded the client’s expectations.”
This experience positions Felder for continued success, as he prepares to apply these skills in a business analytics internship with KeyBank this summer.
The Takeaway
At the University of Dayton, business students don’t just study theory; they apply it through real client work, faculty mentorship and hands-on projects that prepare them for careers in finance, analytics and beyond.
“Students who build the strongest faculty relationships are not always the top performers,” shared Lee. “Rather, they’re the ones who are engaged in and out of the classroom, and more opportunities are open for engaged students - so get involved!”