“The best strategy in the world is meaningless until someone makes a different decision because they had access to new information,” says M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) lecturer Katherine Koontz, a seasoned professional in the data management and information strategy fields who knows exactly what it means to drive business success through analytical insights. Koontz teaches Leading Business Analytics, one of the core courses in IKNS’ curriculum area Data & Analytics, which also includes courses in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Product Design, as well as a diverse set of electives.
Between serving as the global head of Data and AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Amazon Web Services (AWS), spearheading digital transformation initiatives at several Fortune 100 financial institutions, and advocating for rare disease initiatives with FDA administrators and legislators, Koontz has nearly done it all as a data professional.
In a recent conversation with SPS, Koontz shared her thoughts on information science, the role of AI in the workplace, and what students can expect in her course, Business Analytics.
What excites you about the M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) program?
There is so much data in the world today, but so little of it is refined into information and knowledge. I’ve spent 30 years in the data and analytics field and see the advantages that can be created when that data is turned into information. I’m excited to help develop a new generation of leaders with the skills to do just that.
What inspired you to specialize in your field of study?
The power of data! Early in my career, I was doing marketing for a regional hospital chain and discovered how valuable direct marketing could be. I’ve always had an analytical and scientific mind, and this field allows me to use those traits. It’s a field that allows me to work in many industries … really any industry. So it feeds my curiosity. I’ve worked with firms in retail, travel, health care, pharma, medical technology manufacturing, telecommunications, financial services, and publishing, and I’ve learned a lot about each of them.
What should students expect from your course in the IKNS program?
They should expect a lot of interaction and conversation. I’ll also share a lot of my “war stories” from my time in industry, so they’ll get a lot of practical information. I’ve led large teams in the past and loved contributing to their professional development. I see my students as colleagues with whom I’m working to help them develop critical skills.
How are businesses currently taking advantage of AI, and particularly of generative AI?
There are a myriad of uses across industries beyond the ubiquitous online chatbot that can be equal parts helpful and annoying. Some of the major uses fall into the broad categories of image and speech recognition (including internally and externally facing chatbots), generating natural language and other content generation, and sentiment analysis.
When we think of chatbots in business, it’s not just for customer service. Some organizations are using chatbots to train new hires, create documents and records, or enable technical service representatives to ask natural language questions to troubleshoot equipment repairs and service. Additionally, many back office processes are being automated with AI, such as fraud detection and resolution, payroll processing, accounts payable (matching invoices with purchase orders), and regulatory compliance monitoring and alerting.
Will AI replace or supplant other types of business analytics?
No, organizations will still need to monitor their operations with dashboards and KPIs, and use more traditional predictive and prescriptive analytics. What we do see emerging is the use of AI agents to use data and information from across the analytic spectrum to accelerate and automate decisions and actions.
For example, a global health-care manufacturing company may have KPIs that track the performance of their suppliers in delivering parts in alignment with the contract terms. An emerging use is to link together the monitoring, alerting, recommendations and workflows to reduce the cognitive burden on a buyer. The AI-driven system might note that Supplier A’s ability to deliver on time has been lacking in the last three shipments. An AI agent would review the contract, draft an email to the company, and also identify a list of alternate suppliers, taking into account prices, quality, and on-time delivery performance. It would then send this package of information to the buyer to alert them of the issue and provide resources to resolve.
What should the students expect in the new course you will be teaching?
The course I’m teaching, Business Analytics, is designed to help students understand how to harness the power of data and analytics in business. Knowing how to interact with data, guide and participate in analytics activities, and understand what questions data can and cannot answer is a necessary skill for anyone in the business world. It’s not about writing code or creating business strategy … there are a myriad of courses on those topics. This course in the IKNS curriculum fills a void in knowing how and when to leverage analytics in business.
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) degree provides students with foundations in information science, organizational psychology, and change management as well as practical skills in project management and executive leadership.
The STEM-accredited program is available full-time or part-time, online or in-person, on Columbia’s landmarked campus right here in New York City. To maximize opportunities for networking and community building, our online students join our New York-based students on Columbia’s campus for three in-person residencies during their studies.
Students train under world-class faculty, including former and current executives from Google, IBM, NASA, and Oliver Wyman, and join a powerful global alumni network in coveted positions, including at Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, Nike, Pfizer, and the World Bank.
For more IKNS insights, news, and events, please go to our website, connect with us on LinkedIn, or attend one of our online info sessions. Visit the School of Professional Studies website to learn more about the SPS student experience.
