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As part of the Managing Disruption - Analytics, Advanced Digital Technologies and AI Initiative (AAAI) Initiative, we host a series of workshops that enhance the educational experience of our students. These events expose students to cutting-edge developments in blockchain, decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. By bringing together academics, industry practitioners, and thought leaders, the initiative creates opportunities for students to engage with emerging technologies, explore their societal and business implications, and build hands-on skills relevant to the future of work.

Upcoming workshops

Brown Bag Talk – AI in Private Equity

Friday, November 21, 2025 - 12:00 to 13:00

This talk explores how AI is being integrated across the PE value chain—from acquisition, post-acquisition value creation, and exit strategies to fundraising with institutional and private wealth investors. It will highlight practical applications of AI in quantitative analytics, qualitative insights, and relationship management, offering a window into how the future of work in private equity is being transformed.

Winter 2025

Power BI Workshop (March 12, 2025)

This hands-on workshop was led by Scott Carr from Compass Analytics, with support from the 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ Data Network (MDN). The session introduced students to the art of designing impactful dashboards and mastering data visualization best practices using Power BI. Carr guided students through connecting, transforming, and modeling data, while also showing how to translate business needs into compelling, interactive dashboards. Students came away with practical skills in building decision-grade analytics tools, an increasingly essential capability in modern organizations.

Data Engineering Workshop (March 18, 2025)

This session was led by Pentcho Tchomakov, from Compass Analytics, and organized in partnership with the 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ Data Network. This workshop introduced students to the foundations of data engineering, focusing on how robust data pipelines enable analytics and AI. Participants explored principles of data ingestion, transformation, and storage while gaining practical experience with industry-leading tools such as Airflow and Databricks. The workshop also addressed strategies for integrating workflows across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), preparing students to handle the complex data infrastructures that power today’s digital businesses.

Winter 2024

Seminar on Decentralized Finance — Aman Abbas, NDAX (February 27, 2024)

This seminar featured Aman Abbas, founding member and financial controller at NDAX, one of Canada’s few regulated crypto exchanges. Abbas offered an insider’s perspective on how blockchain and decentralized finance are evolving within a regulated market context. He shared practical insights on crypto exchanges, financial compliance, and the broader applications of blockchain, helping students connect theoretical concepts with industry practice.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About AI but Were Afraid to Ask — Ana Brandusescu (March 12, 2024)

This session, co-organized with the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE), featured Ana Brandusescu, a researcher and policy analyst specializing in governance and accountability of technology. Brandusescu drew on her experience co-leading AI for the Rest of Us, a project examining public participation in AI-driven government decision-making. She discussed the challenges of making AI systems transparent and accountable, raising critical questions about power, equity, and public trust in emerging technologies. Students engaged with her call for more democratic oversight of AI and its applications in society.

Fall 2023

Discussions on Decentralized Finance (October 18, 2023) — Prof. Thomas J. Rivera

In this follow-up seminar, Dr. Rivera extended his discussion of blockchain and decentralized finance. He examined the design of smart contracts and their role in enabling decentralized markets and services. Rivera challenged participants to consider whether DeFi can truly rival traditional finance, balancing efficiency gains against risks such as governance gaps, scalability, and security. The seminar deepened students’ appreciation for the trade-offs in adopting disruptive financial technologies.

Decentralized Finance and Other Applications of Blockchain Smart Contracts — Prof. Thomas J. Rivera (October 14, 2023)

Thomas Rivera, Assistant Professor of Finance at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ’s Desautels Faculty of Management, shared his expertise in corporate finance, blockchain, and financial stability. In this seminar, he presented recent innovations in decentralized finance, including decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, and digital assets such as stablecoins and NFTs. Rivera discussed how these innovations compare with traditional financial services, weighing the benefits and costs of decentralization. His talk helped students critically evaluate both the opportunities and limitations of blockchain-driven markets.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About AI but Were Afraid to Ask — Dr. Sasha Luccioni (November 17, 2023)

Co-organized with the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE), this event featured Dr. Sasha Luccioni, a researcher in ethical and sustainable AI at HuggingFace, Founding Member of Climate Change AI, and Board Member of Women in Machine Learning. Drawing on her leading work at the intersection of AI and sustainability, she discussed the environmental and societal impacts of large-scale AI models and datasets. Dr. Luccioni encouraged participants to think critically about the costs of training and deploying AI systems, while also highlighting the importance of designing AI that aligns with human values and planetary needs.

Winter 2023

Discussions on Decentralized Finance — Prof. Thomas J. Rivera (April 6, 2023)

Thomas Rivera, Assistant Professor of Finance at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ’s Desautels Faculty of Management led this seminar which introduced students to the basics of blockchain technology and explored its potential to reshape industries. Students learned about decentralized finance (DeFi), smart contracts, and their role in creating new forms of digital trust, efficiency, and innovation.

Blockchain 101 Talk — Prof. Katrin Tinn (March 24, 2023)

Professor Katrin Tinn, Associate Professor of Finance at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ’s Desautels Faculty of Management, delivered an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to blockchain technology. As a leading expert in fintech and central bank digital currencies, she explained the technical foundations of blockchain and connected them to the larger financial system. Tinn highlighted the innovation potential of digital platforms and the challenges regulators face in balancing technological progress with stability. Students benefited from her ability to translate complex financial technologies into clear takeaways for future managers and decision-makers.