The Decision Intelligence Lab
The Decision Intelligence Lab
Podcast Description
The Decision Intelligence Lab explores practical challenges of applying data science, analytics, and AI to drive real-world business outcomes.
Hosted by Prof. Michael Watson (Northwestern University) and Prof. Vijay Mehrotra (University of San Francisco) — both seasoned entrepreneurs, consultants, and researchers — this podcast delivers real-world insights for data professionals, business leaders, & anyone seeking to leverage data for smarter decision making. Each episode features leaders sharing how smarter decisions are reshaping business and technology. Subscribe to join the conversation.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes like the impact of AI on engineering education, the factors that lead to data science project failures, and risk management in AI projects. Specific episodes have discussed topics such as the importance of resiliency in engineering, organizational maturity's role in data science success, and frameworks for risk mitigation like the Princeton 20.
The Decision Intelligence Lab explores practical challenges of applying data science, analytics, and AI to drive real-world business outcomes.
Hosted by Prof. Michael Watson (Northwestern University) and Prof. Vijay Mehrotra (University of San Francisco) — both seasoned entrepreneurs, consultants, and researchers — this podcast delivers real-world insights for data professionals, business leaders, & anyone seeking to leverage data for smarter decision making. Each episode features leaders sharing how smarter decisions are reshaping business and technology. Subscribe to join the conversation.
In this special holiday episode of the Decision Intelligence Lab Podcast, Vijay welcomes back the show’s first-ever returning guests: Borja Menéndez, creator of Advent of OR, and Zohar Strinka, a lead contributor to the INFORMS Analytics Framework. Together, they explore two major initiatives released in 2024 that aim to reshape how the next generation of operations research (OR) and analytics professionals learn and practice.
Together, the guests and host dive deep into why OR is NOT just math, why curiosity is essential, how user engagement changes everything, and how practitioners learn to build systems that actually solve decision problems — not just elegant models.
Timestamps
0:00 – Preview & Intro
1:22 – What Is the Advent of OR?
3:45 – Introducing the INFORMS Analytics Framework
6:06 – OR isn't Just Math
10:10 – Skills Developed in the 2025 Advent of OR
12:10 – How Advent of OR Supports CAP Prep
14:21 – Why OR Must Teach Systems & Engineering
16:20 – The Consultant View: Building Real Systems
18:00 – Experiencing & Becoming a User Yourself
22:53 – Curiosity as a Core OR Skill
23:55 – How Borja Designs Advent of OR Challenges
26:00 – How to Learn More About the INFORMS Framework & CAP
27:22 – How to Join Advent of OR 2025
29:00 – Closing Thoughts
Follow the show
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-decision-intelligence-lab/id1811085064
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0lFoAVKqJHTYSZNpeN61ou?si=0ae973aab0174b3b
Resources Mentioned:
1. Advent of OR – Sign-up page for the annual 24-day challenge – https://adventofor.com
2. INFORMS Analytics Framework – https://www.informs.org/Professional-Development/Professional-Development-Classes/INFORMS-Analytics-Framework
3. Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) Certification – https://www.certifiedanalytics.org/
4. Decision Intelligence Lab Podcast (Substack) – https://decisionintelligencelab.substack.com
Connect with the guest
Borja Menéndez Moreno: https://www.linkedin.com/in/borjamenendezmoreno/
Zohar Strinka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohar-strinka/
Connect with hosts
Prof. Vijay Mehrotra (University of San Francisco): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-mehrotra-ba9498/
Prof. Michael Watson (Northwestern University): https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-watson-07600a1
About the podcast
The Decision Intelligence Lab podcast delivers real-world insights for data professionals, business leaders, and anyone seeking to leverage data & AI for smarter decision-making & successful business outcomes.
For business inquiries, email at [email protected]
Disclaimer
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