Attendees were able to talk with the students about the projects, what was learned, and more. Some of the LSBE student participants’ work and insight is highlighted below.
New Economic Data: Is Duluth Growing Like Its Peers?
Kenny Nadeau, senior, Economics and Management double major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
The most interesting thing I learned throughout my research was that the Duluth Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was the only one to see negative GDP growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. All other MSAs I examined remained positive, albeit they experienced far slower GDP growth.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
From this project, I have a better understanding of the sort of information the U.S. government openly reports to the public. Additionally, I’m better at identifying and comparing relevant information. I think these skills will make me a more efficient worker when researching topics and selecting what information to use while problem-solving.
An Exploration of the Gender Pay Gap: How to Avoid Pay Inequity in Organizations
Jamie Wheeler, junior, Marketing and Management double major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
The most interesting part of our research was the recommendation for companies to work to improve gender pay equity. I found it fascinating to learn what I can do as a manager in the future to ensure employees are receiving equitable pay for their work.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
As a young woman in business, this research will help me to gain knowledge in salary negotiation and will allow me to be a better advocate for equitable salaries for other women. I will use this knowledge in my future career as I enter the workforce.
Dakota Brooke, junior, Accounting major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
The most interesting thing that I learned throughout my research for this project was that for every $1.00 a man makes, a woman makes $0.82—looking at the pay scale across all fields of work.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
This project is not only valuable to my future but to the future of all women. Prior to this project, I did not know just how large the gap is or how mothers are penalized in the work force after they have children. I think it is very important for more people to learn about the pay gap between genders and what they can do to help decrease the gap.
Gender Diversity in Leadership Roles
Gavin Bodin, junior, Finance major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
Our study focused on gender diversity in organizations. The most intriguing thing I've learned from this research is about the potential business opportunities that organizations may take advantage of to gain an overall edge by adopting more gender diversity.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
In the future, I hope to own my own business or work in an organization, and it is critical that I understand the benefits, strategies, and initiatives, as well as other measures to promote gender diversity.
Dylan Modjeski, junior, Business Analytics major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
In general, learning about gender diversity in leadership roles is something I never really looked into before this project. So I found the entire process interesting.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
Maybe I can use what I learned to help grow gender diversity in leadership roles at whatever corporation I am at in the future.
Minnesota Not Reaping Full Economic Benefit of Edibles Law
Erin Hopkins, senior, Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, and Economics triple majors
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
The most interesting thing that I learned in my research is the fact that the legalization of edibles in Minnesota had no tax provision or much regulation included. One of the main reasons states legalize THC is for the tax revenue, and Minnesota is seeing none.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
This research was originally part of a blog post that I wrote as an undergraduate research assistant at UMD’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Doing blog posts has allowed me freedom to research topics of my own interest. I have been able to learn extensively about the topic as well as the fundamentals of writing a blog post. I’ve learned not only how to research a topic but also how to find the information that drives the story and how to write the story in an appealing way for readers. These are skills that will help me in my career.
U.S. Honey Production 1995-2000 (Oral Presentation)
Cyril Xiong, senior, Management Information Systems major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
Learning how major events and economics have affected the production of honey over the past decades.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
I see this project as a stepping stone in the direction of my future revolving around analytics and information technology. It is also useful to have skills to be able to better cooperate in a team environment and to show my individual skills.
Drug Overdoses in Connecticut (Tableau Visualization)
Cole Parkman, junior, Business Analytics major
- What was the most interesting thing you learned throughout your project/research?
I found the most interesting thing I learned was the power of data visualization tools. With the help of technology, users can now explore large datasets in a visual way, gaining a deeper understanding of the information presented. By using tools like Tableau, it's possible to detect trends, uncover insights, and search for specific data points, making data analysis more efficient and effective than ever before.
- How do you see this project/research helping you in the future?
This project will be beneficial to me as it has helped me develop and hone my Tableau skills. Since many employers now require Tableau expertise, this project will help me stand out in the job market and demonstrate my ability to analyze data visually. Additionally, the experience gained from this project will be transferable to other data analysis projects, making me a more valuable asset to future employers.