Business Students Go Global at Pittsburgh Conference
Senior DeLaney Swank and MBA student Bridget Joyce ’25 presented their projects to an international audience at The Global Impact Forum, which brought together experts in higher education and tech industry leaders from around the globe together in Pittsburgh in November.
The event, aimed at fostering economic development, social mobility, and positive impact through education and innovation, was presented by Penn State University and took place downtown at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with featured speakers including Jerome Bettis and Mark Cuban.
The theme of the conference was “Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI and Automation.” Both DeLaney and Bridget’s projects leveraged AI to achieve goals using technology. The two became involved in the conference with the encouragement of their faculty mentor, Associate Professor of Business and Marketing Rachel Kaplan.
DeLaney wanted to create an easier, smarter way for students to save money and also for businesses to reach students more effectively. Her project, Clutch, uses GPS technology to loop students into discounts available in their area.
She came up with the concept for the project for the Shark Tank competition Kaplan held in her Marketing Strategy Class? last spring and has developed the project further this semester.
“Clutch was inspired by my own experiences, and those of other students, who often missed out on student discounts simply because they were hard to find, keep track of, and access,” DeLaney said. “I realized there wasn’t a simple, centralized way for students to find verified deals without sorting through multiple websites, promotional emails, receipts, or showing physical IDs.”
DeLaney found conceptualizing Clutch to be a fun challenge where she had to think critically about user experience, market needs, and trends.
“Through the process, this project taught me how to take an idea from concept to strategy, how to pitch a product effectively, and most importantly, how to turn a real problem into a useful solution,” she added. “It was exciting to share my project with industry professionals and other students and discuss how AI is transforming the workforce and job market. The feedback and encouragement I received gave me new motivation and ideas to continue developing the concept.”
She had the chance to connect and network with others in higher education and industry at the event, and even received some offers to help develop the app.
“I am extremely grateful to have had this experience through Seton Hill and Dr. Kaplan,” said DeLaney. “Participating in this event was a clear demonstration of how well prepared I felt for an experience like this, thanks to my professors, mentors, courses, and opportunities at SHU.”
Bridget’s research, “Mind, Body, Leisure: Theory and Practice,” focuses on positively influencing corporate culture by integrating leisure. As a dance minor, she is envisioning how using movement as a team-building and wellness tool can strengthen workplace culture overall.
Her project originated with work she did with Professor of Marketing and Communication Jen Jones and explores ideas from the philosopher, Josef Pieper, on leisure and its connection to mental well-being.
“Enhancing workplace culture is one of my career goals,” Bridget said. “In today’s workplace, toxic culture and lessened interpersonal interactions have shown signs that lead to lower employee retention rates and general employee dissatisfaction.”
Bridget was inspired by hearing from so many professionals on the topic of AI and its role in the modern workforce, and - as a soon-to-be graduate with a specialization in Leadership and Management - to hear how AI isn’t replacing jobs, but enhancing human potential.
For Kaplan, bringing opportunities to network with professionals, reach a worldwide audience and bring the knowledge students have gained in their studies out into the world is one of her goals as a professor.
“When the world becomes their classroom, students benefit. I’m so proud of the work our Seton Hill students are doing and the professionalism and poise they showcase through their work,“ she said. “Students thrive when given the opportunity to get out of the classroom and show their knowledge in a professional setting.”
The event, aimed at fostering economic development, social mobility, and positive impact through education and innovation, was presented by Penn State University and took place downtown at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with featured speakers including Jerome Bettis and Mark Cuban.
The theme of the conference was “Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI and Automation.” Both DeLaney and Bridget’s projects leveraged AI to achieve goals using technology. The two became involved in the conference with the encouragement of their faculty mentor, Associate Professor of Business and Marketing Rachel Kaplan.
DeLaney wanted to create an easier, smarter way for students to save money and also for businesses to reach students more effectively. Her project, Clutch, uses GPS technology to loop students into discounts available in their area.
She came up with the concept for the project for the Shark Tank competition Kaplan held in her Marketing Strategy Class? last spring and has developed the project further this semester.
“Clutch was inspired by my own experiences, and those of other students, who often missed out on student discounts simply because they were hard to find, keep track of, and access,” DeLaney said. “I realized there wasn’t a simple, centralized way for students to find verified deals without sorting through multiple websites, promotional emails, receipts, or showing physical IDs.”
DeLaney found conceptualizing Clutch to be a fun challenge where she had to think critically about user experience, market needs, and trends.
“Through the process, this project taught me how to take an idea from concept to strategy, how to pitch a product effectively, and most importantly, how to turn a real problem into a useful solution,” she added. “It was exciting to share my project with industry professionals and other students and discuss how AI is transforming the workforce and job market. The feedback and encouragement I received gave me new motivation and ideas to continue developing the concept.”
She had the chance to connect and network with others in higher education and industry at the event, and even received some offers to help develop the app.
“I am extremely grateful to have had this experience through Seton Hill and Dr. Kaplan,” said DeLaney. “Participating in this event was a clear demonstration of how well prepared I felt for an experience like this, thanks to my professors, mentors, courses, and opportunities at SHU.”
Bridget’s research, “Mind, Body, Leisure: Theory and Practice,” focuses on positively influencing corporate culture by integrating leisure. As a dance minor, she is envisioning how using movement as a team-building and wellness tool can strengthen workplace culture overall.
Her project originated with work she did with Professor of Marketing and Communication Jen Jones and explores ideas from the philosopher, Josef Pieper, on leisure and its connection to mental well-being.
“Enhancing workplace culture is one of my career goals,” Bridget said. “In today’s workplace, toxic culture and lessened interpersonal interactions have shown signs that lead to lower employee retention rates and general employee dissatisfaction.”
Bridget was inspired by hearing from so many professionals on the topic of AI and its role in the modern workforce, and - as a soon-to-be graduate with a specialization in Leadership and Management - to hear how AI isn’t replacing jobs, but enhancing human potential.
For Kaplan, bringing opportunities to network with professionals, reach a worldwide audience and bring the knowledge students have gained in their studies out into the world is one of her goals as a professor.
“When the world becomes their classroom, students benefit. I’m so proud of the work our Seton Hill students are doing and the professionalism and poise they showcase through their work,“ she said. “Students thrive when given the opportunity to get out of the classroom and show their knowledge in a professional setting.”