Graduate instructor in the Master of Analytics program at Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa. Teaching and research at the intersection of data, leadership, and the changing nature of work.
Teaching
Douglas E. Mitchell teaches in Grand View University's graduate Master of Analytics program, bringing practitioner experience from Wells Fargo and his own AI product work directly into the classroom. His courses emphasize applied analytics, real-world data decision-making, and the human dimensions of organizational change.
He has also held past teaching appointments at Drake University and Des Moines Area Community College.
Courses Taught
All courses listed below are part of Grand View University's graduate analytics and business curriculum.
Problem solving with descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics in a business context using spreadsheets and other analytic tools. Techniques include forecasting, optimization, location analysis, decision analysis, inventory management, among others.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to principles and techniques of representing data visually. Students will communicate data in a variety of ways using industry standard software and programming techniques to communicate an effective narrative. This process includes data modeling, data processing (such as aggregation and filtering), and mapping data attributes to graphical attributes. Students will create their own data visualizations and learn to use two of the most used dashboard tools in the industry: Tableau and Power BI. This course will focus on communication of data driven results; with a focus on understanding how to share insights in relevant ways for a variety of stakeholders.
In this course, students will develop the oral and written presentation skills demanded in data-driven environments. Students will learn to identify and articulate business questions and then translate data into compelling and effective narratives for decision-making. This course reviews quantitative communication research methods, with an emphasis on statistical analysis, and explores vocational/professional applications of communication research. In addition, this course will focus on how to lead technology teams focusing on technology systems, procedures, information risk, data integrity, ethics, information system (IS) policies, strategies, cloud computing, and budget.
AI is not only for data scientists, analytics professionals or engineers. "AI for Everyone" is a non-technical course that will help you understand AI technologies and spot opportunities to apply AI to problems in your own organization. You will see examples of what today's AI can and cannot do. By the end of this course, you will understand how AI is impacting society and how to navigate through this technological change.
This course will focus on developing marketing strategies and resource allocation decisions driven by quantitative analysis. Marketing activities provide critical economic functions for the success of organizations. Companies of all sizes must develop effective marketing analysis to reach customers. The course will draw on and extend students' understanding of issues related to integrated marketing communications, pricing, digital marketing, and quantitative analysis.
Behavioral theory is applied to the relevant problems of how to set business goals, how to use problem-solving models, how to be more persuasive, and how to handle disciplinary problems. Use of authority, understanding individual and group needs, and motivation within the organization are analyzed.
This course distinguishes between legal, moral, and ethical imperatives in business and societal institutions. This course examines current ethical and legal responsibilities of managers in business. Topics include stakeholder and shareholder considerations, corporate social responsibility, managing ethical risk through organizational structure and the effect of ethical decision making and ethical leadership. The presentation of course concepts is facilitated by the use of cases, discussions, and/or ethical dilemmas to provide students an introspective look at outcomes based on ethical decision making.
Research Interests
Leadership quality is treated as inherently subjective — you know it when you see it, or you don't. Doug's central research interest is dismantling that assumption. Using behavioral data, conversation analytics, and structured measurement frameworks, he explores how the attributes of effective leadership can be operationalized, tracked, and improved rather than simply described. This thread runs from his graduate teaching through his co-founding of LeaderQuant.ai, which applies AI to the audio of real 1:1 conversations to produce objective, evidence-backed coaching.
People analytics — using data to understand and improve workforce behavior, team dynamics, and organizational health — is a rapidly maturing field that most organizations are still learning to use responsibly. Doug is interested in both the technical side (what data exists, how to model it) and the ethical and practical side (what it means to measure people, and how analytics can serve employees rather than merely surveilling them). His DATA 535 course is built around this question, and it informs how he thinks about change management and analytics deployment at Wells Fargo.
AI is changing what organizations do, how they do it, and what skills managers need to lead through the transition. Doug's interest is in the managerial and human response to that change — not just the technology itself. His Future Work Academy simulation puts graduate and professional students in the seat of a manager at a fictional manufacturer navigating AI adoption, workforce restructuring, and cultural resistance. The simulation is designed to develop the judgment and decision-making skills that can't be taught through case studies alone — because the answers aren't in the back of the book.
Academic Profile
Doug's academic writing and research interests are collected on his Academia.edu profile. View profile on Academia.edu →
Get in Touch
Teaching partnerships, guest lecture requests, or questions about the research — reach out directly.
doug@douglasemitchell.comTeaching Tools & Simulations
Doug builds the tools he teaches with. Both of his active AI products have direct classroom applications.
Management Education
An immersive, AI-powered business simulation in which students lead a fictional manufacturer, Apex Manufacturing, through eight weeks of decisions about AI adoption and workforce transformation. Built for real classroom deployment — with instructor override, difficulty tiers, FERPA-aligned privacy, and LMS integration.
Learn more →Leadership Development
An AI-native platform that analyzes managers' real 1:1 conversations and turns them into objective, evidence-backed coaching across six leadership mechanics and more than 50 metrics. Applicable in graduate leadership and people analytics courses as a tool for studying how leadership actually plays out in conversation.
Learn more →