AI in Action: Transforming Operations Research
Operations research is more than numbers and models.
It is a framework for understanding complex systems, making smarter decisions, and solving real-world business challenges.
When AI meets operations research, strategies become more adaptive, efficient, and data-driven.
Hosted by Madeleine Pollack
Operations Management Researcher, MIT Sloan School of Management
Madeleine's research focuses on optimization under uncertainty, including variability in data and stakeholder preferences, as well as online learning with uncertain information. Her work spans applications in healthcare, revenue management, and AI policy.
Understanding how this works puts you at the intersection of analytical thinking, AI, and strategic impact.
In this industry-focused session, we will talk about:
• A high-level overview of operations research and its applications
• Insights from their career trajectory and experiences in solving real-world problems
• Examples of interesting and timely operations research challenges in business and technology
We will explore:
• How operations research frameworks guide complex decision-making
• How AI and optimization techniques support dynamic pricing, resource allocation, and strategic trade-offs
• What it takes to apply OR in practical, high-impact settings
• How research and innovation translate into actionable strategies in modern operations
These concepts tie directly into BlendED’s AI in Operations Strategy – Amazon Project, where participants explore real-world decision-making challenges, build optimization and reinforcement learning models, and test strategies through simulation and data-driven analysis in a hands-on applied setting.
This workshop is perfect for you if you:
• Are curious about how smart decisions are made in business and technology
• Want to hear about the career path of someone working with AI and operations research
• Are interested in exploring careers in analytics, strategy, or data-driven problem solving
• Want to learn about real-world challenges and how they are tackled with modern tools
See you there!