Watch highlights from D'Amore-McKim's second DMSB Day, an innovative event that features some of our best research ideas presented in “Shark Tank-style” pitches to esteemed alumni and corporate partner community members. It's a unique opportunity to showcase thought leadership as the school explores ways to increase its impact on the business world.
The D'Amore-McKim School of Business recently hosted its second-annual DMSB Day. In this now-signature event, faculty present bold research ideas in dynamic, pitch-style talks to a panel of alumni and corporate partners. Designed to spark dialogue, collaboration, and real-world impact, DMSB Day continues to strengthen the bridge between the academic and business communities. A complete list of all presenters, their abstracts, and the judges, along with their bios, can be found on our DMSB Day program webpage.
“Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' On DMSB Day, we put that wisdom into action,” says Dunton Family Dean David De Cremer. “Our faculty take the stage to share the ideas they believe in and to highlight the beauty they see in them. But that is just the beginning. As Kurt Lewin taught us: ‘No research without action, no action without research.' We want the beauty of ideas to translate to impact—ideas that resonate.”
This year's presenters represented an even wider range of disciplines, from AI in accounting and sustainable finance to social innovation, organizational transformation, and the future of entrepreneurial learning. Each faculty member delivered a one-minute pitch, followed by questions and feedback from alumni judges—leaders who once studied at D'Amore-McKim and now shape industries worldwide.
“Our alumni judges play a critical role,” De Cremer adds. “These are professionals who once left here with a suitcase full of knowledge—and used it to create value for customers, organizations, and society. Now they return to evaluate which ideas have the potential to move from research to real-world change.”
But above all, De Cremer emphasized the courage of the presenters: “None of this happens without faculty willing to take the stage, share unfinished ideas, and imagine what comes next. That courage is what drives innovation.”
The result? A day filled with energy, curiosity, constructive challenge, and a shared commitment to shaping business that matters.
The presenting faculty represent a range of departments, areas of expertise, and industry experience, and our esteemed volunteer judges, with years of diverse industry experience, share a commitment to seeing D'Amore-McKim succeed.
Congratulations to the top pitchers selected by our esteemed judges: Kwong Chan, Curtis Odom, Jen Guillemin, and Michelle Zaaf.
Our 2025 faculty presenters
View short videos of each presenter discussing their DMSB Day topic by clicking on their names below.
- Kwong Chan: Enhancing Human Learning Performance with AI
- Gaston de los Reyes: Quality as Clutch Plate: Reimagining Corporate Strategy for the Soul
- Jen Guillemin and Michelle Zaff: Hope, Innovation, and Reentry: Using AI and Co-op Learning to Transform Lives Behind Bars
- Frank Hartmann: Mapping Accountants' AI Mindsets (MA'AM)
- Patrick Hurley: Accountability Under Pressure: Conflicts, Fatigue, and AI in Auditing
- John Lowrey: Multi-modal classification of chronic conditions using clinical and social needs data
- Nirajana Mishra: How To Scale Founder Narratives Without Losing Product Appeal
- Curtis Odom: Leading the Future of Work: Human-Centered Strategy in an Age of Disruption
- Nada Sanders: Strategy, Competitiveness, and AI “Fit”
- Nathan Seegert: The Geography of Capital: Mapping Credit Flows and Financial Access Across the United States
- Guohou Shan: AI exposure on workers' career path
- Fabricius Somogyi: Demand for Dollars: Evidence from Survey Expectations
Our 2025 esteemed judges
- Stacey Agretelis, DMSB '86, Investment Management Professional, Former John Hancock/Manulife Financial Corporation
- Joseph Aube, DMSB'01, Senior Director of Equity Capital Markets, Kayne Anderson Rudnick
- Nancy Brown, MBA '86, General Partner, Oak HC/FT; Member, D'Amore-McKim School of Business Dean's Executive Committee
- Ron Caplan, DMSB '72, President, PMC Property Group; Member, D'Amore-McKim School of Business Dean's Executive Committee
- Scott Dolan, DMSB '89, Former Managing Director, UBS
- Joseph N. Gibbons, DMSB'82, Managing Director, Hastings Executive Consulting; D'Amore-McKim School of Business Board of Visitors
- Craig Heisner, MBA '94, Senior Director, Global Wellness and Vertical Markets, New Balance; Vice Chair, D'Amore-McKim School of Business Boston Executive Leadership Council
- Rick LeBlanc, MBA '90, President & CEO NELCO Worldwide
- Jeff Marchesiani, DMSB '00, CEO TruNorth Advisors
- Richard “Rich” A. Montoni, MS '75, Co-Vice Chair and Director, Maximus, Inc.; Chair, Dean's Executive Committee
- John R (Dick) Power, DMSB '63, Founder, Power Plans, and Member, DMSB Boston Executive Leadership Council
- Steven Rinn, DMSB '89, President, KRH Realty
- Bill Seibel, Entrepreneur, Best-selling Author
- Tieisha Smith, MBA'16, Vice President, Workforce Modernization, TIAA and Vice Chair, Texas Executive Leadership Council
- Tom Stanford, MBA '89, Founder, FuzionX
- Mark Walsh, COE '90, Global Sales Leader, Deloitte
Some thoughts from our judges about the experience
My favorite presentations of the day were the ones that focused on students, whether it was, retooling our classes so that they are prepared for the AI era or it is the tools in which they use while they are students at northeastern. I'm at a loss for words because I am so impressed by what I saw today.
Tieisha Smith
This was my second time having the opportunity to judge at DMSB day and it was an amazing experience. I leave here a lot smarter than when I came here. I feel like I learned, from obviously a lot of very talented professors with unique perspectives on the potential of AI, I'm still learning a lot of it myself, which I think is true for a lot of people.
Craig Heisner
Today was a great collaborative day. I thought all presenters did really well. I really enjoyed interacting with the other judges and hearing about their experiences. I thought every idea have merit, and were worthy of continuing our exploration.
Joseph Aube
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