Leading with Analytics: Harnessing Data and AI for Decision Making in Engineering

Speaker: Edgar Avalos Gauna, Lecturer Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL)

This is part four of the new series from Rice University: Leading Engineering and Technology Innovation in the Digital Revolution.

The series is designed to expose engineers at corporations and scaling startups to skills needed to lead engineering without leaving engineering. It is brought to you by Rice University’s engineering faculty in collaboration with Ion. Rice faculty will introduce concepts to help engineers take leadership roles in producing the best products and services for the market.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Edgar Avalos-Gauna is a member of the faculty in both the Rice University statistics department and the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL), where he teaches courses on applied statistics, data science, and machine learning. An instructor in the Master of Engineering Management and Leadership (MEML) degree program, Dr. Avalos-Gauna has a diverse background, including academic and industry experience. He has worked industry-side for Procter & Gamble and Bridgestone & Firestone, both in Mexico. Dr. Avalos-Gauna has over 15 years of experience teaching engineering, including a 2-year position at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Previously, he was the head of the Data Science department at Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. He has also participated in multiple collaborative data science projects. A certified professional for engineering management (CPEM), he is a member of the Institute for Electrical & Electronic Engineering (IEEE), the Mexican Society of Artificial Intelligence (SMIA), and the National Research System at Mexico’s Research Council (CONAHCyT).

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as powerful forces driving success across all industries. These technologies have become essential for achieving a competitive edge in business. Over the past decade, there has been a notable surge in interest by business owners in the technologies associated with the 4th Industrial Revolution, particularly AI and data science. Given the swift pace of technological advancement and the evolving business environment, there is a growing demand for individuals with the right leadership skills for the Industry 4.0 era.

These new engineering leaders must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage AI and data science effectively, thereby enhancing their companies’ success. By understanding the challenges and opportunities inherent in implementing these disciplines, they pave the way for their teams to derive valuable insights from data and gain a competitive edge.

This seminar will highlight why engineering managers and technology leaders are poised to be the next generation of visionary pioneers. They are also positioned to help revolutionize industries by employing analytics and data-driven decision-making, with an understanding of industry 4.0 technologies. Join RCEL at the Ion for an interesting talk on leading with analytics.