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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – ��ܽ����Ƶ MBA students recently put their business acumen to the test, working as consultants for Shawmut Design and Construction as part of a new experiential learning initiative. Through the Teaching Firm pedagogy, students spent the semester analyzing key challenges within the company, developing strategic recommendations on talent management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the integration of artificial intelligence in construction.

Guided by Associate Professor of Business Management Alexander Knights in their Management Consulting course, students worked in teams, each paired with a Shawmut mentor who provided industry insights and feedback throughout the process. Instead of studying case studies from textbooks, students worked directly with company leaders, met regularly with mentors, toured an active construction site, and gained first-hand exposure to practical business challenges through campus visits from Shawmut professionals. Their work culminated in final presentations at Shawmut’s Providence office, where they delivered their findings and proposals to company leadership.

“The innovative Teaching Firm pedagogy provided our MBA students with an exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in real-world business challenges at Shawmut,” said Diya Das, Dean of the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business. “By working closely with mentors and executives, they gained practical experience addressing critical issues and developed the confidence and ability to present their insights effectively to industry leaders. This collaboration exemplifies the power of partnerships between universities and businesses in preparing the next generation of leaders.”

This hands-on approach not only sharpened students' analytical and consulting skills but also reinforced the value of industry partnerships in bridging the gap between academia and the workforce. With experiences like these, ��ܽ����Ƶ continues to prepare graduates to lead with insight, adaptability, and applied expertise.

Harrison Latimer ’24, M’25, a graduate assistant in the Gabelli School of Business, found the semester-long project to be an invaluable experience in professional consulting and problem-solving. Tasked with developing strategic recommendations on recruiting and talent retention, Latimer’s team worked closely with Shawmut’s head of people and talent, gaining firsthand insights and real industry data to inform their proposals.

“Being able to work with an outside firm at this level is rare in a collegiate setting; it's something even the best business schools don’t always offer,” Latimer said. “Shawmut truly thrives on inclusion, and by the end of the project, we all felt like part of their team. This experience pushed us to operate at a professional level, delivering in-depth analysis and solutions with confidence.”

Before this course, Latimer hadn't considered consulting as a carer path. But working with Shawmut strengthened his passion for analyzing data and offering creative solutions, opening a new avenue for him.

"I never saw consulting as a path I’d take," Latimer said. "This project showed me how much I enjoy looking at a company holistically and crafting real-world solutions. Now, I'm seriously considering it as a career because of the experience I gained in this course."