Seth Li

Teaching · MBA · MSBA · Undergraduate business programs

Data literacy for better business judgment.

I use real business problems to help students with different technical backgrounds turn data into decisions.

Data ManagementStructure the dataWorking with relational data and SQL to address business questions.
4.888 sections
Data VisualizationExplain the evidenceCommunicating analytical findings clearly through data visualization.
4.756 sections
Business Analytics CapstoneDefend a recommendationLive client projects, from problem framing to final recommendation.
4.751 section

Teaching with AI · BUAD 466

Developing judgment with AI.

In Developing Business Intelligence, students learn to read, test, and improve AI-generated data models and queries.

Classroom example · Database design

One scenario. Two drafts.

Students work through a database design problem, then compare their interpretation with an AI draft.

  1. Think independentlyIdentify the entities, relationships, and business rules before seeing the AI version.
  2. Inspect the AI draftCheck for missing entities, unique identifiers, and relationships that misrepresent the scenario.
  3. Explain the judgmentUse the original requirements to explain what to keep, what to change, and why.

Do enough to judge. Judge enough to decide.

AI validation log

When AI is used on submitted work, a short validation log records the evidence behind the student’s decision.

AI outputThe query, result, or claim
My checkWhat I ran, counted, or compared
What I foundA discrepancy or a verified match
My decisionKeep, revise, or discard—with a reason

Experiential learning · MSBA

Business Analytics Capstone

I guide student teams through live client projects, connecting analytical methods to business context and recommendations they can defend.

  1. Frame a client problemTranslate a sponsor’s question into a clear analytical task.
  2. Build and test an analysisChoose methods and weigh the strengths and limits of the evidence.
  3. Defend a recommendationPresent and defend findings, document reproducible work, and reflect on what to improve.

A project example · 2024

Understanding appointment cancellations.

One 2024 client project: A service organization wanted to better understand cancellations and no-shows. Students combined operational records, developed predictive models, and built an interactive dashboard to investigate the scheduling question.

Courses and evaluations

Average of students’ overall rating of the instructor, on a 5-point scale.

William & Mary · 2018 – present · Mason School of Businessavg. / 5
Data Management
4.88
BUAD6271 · FT-MBA · PT-MBA · OMSBA — Working with relational data and SQL to address business questions.
8 sections
Data Visualization
4.75
BUAD5732 · MSBA — Communicating analytical findings clearly through data visualization.
6 sections
Business Analytics Capstone
4.75
BUAD5762 · MSBA · OMSBA — Live client projects, from problem framing to final recommendation.
1 section
Developing Business Intelligence
4.48
BUAD466 · BBA — Connecting analytical results to managerial judgment.
3 sections
Clemson University · 2013 – 2018 · College of Businessavg. / 5
Business Data Management
4.40
MGT4560 · BBA
8 sections
Intro to Business Analytics
4.32
MGT3500 · BBA
7 sections

Student perspectives

Selected excerpts from student evaluations.

“We had novices and experts in database in this class and he did a great job explaining and bridging the gaps for all students.”
Data Management · MSBA · William & Mary
“Professor Li was really good at explaining concepts so they didn't sound as hard as they actually were.”