Where Business Meets Technology: How Bentley’s Graduate Programs Future-Proof Careers in the Era of AI

According to research from the Boston Consulting Group, 74% of companies struggle to achieve and scale value from AI — even as large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude AI seem to be everywhere. 

While industries across the board are talking about AI disruption, many companies are stuck in perpetual pilot mode: experimenting without transforming and investing without getting any real returns. 

The real story at the intersection of business and technology isn’t about the technology itself. It’s about the growing gap between AI’s promise and an organization’s ability to deliver on it. 

This gap isn’t about technology limitations — the tools work. Instead, it’s about organizational readiness. 

The companies pulling ahead aren’t necessarily those with the biggest AI budgets or the most advanced algorithms (though that certainly helps). They’re the ones that align technology initiatives with real business outcomes. They also take the time to restructure workflows, rather than simply bolting AI onto existing processes. 

In short, the companies that succeed invest as much in change management as they do in computing power. 

Without these steps, AI integration risks becoming little more than an expensive science experiment. Successful digital transformation often depends on whether leaders treat AI as a technology problem — or a business strategy. 

And the stakes couldn’t be higher. Get it wrong, and companies are left with impressive demos that never make it to market. Get it right, and the competitive advantages compound over time. 

This is the line of thinking that Bentley University has followed to build and grow its graduate programs. Designed by expert faculty and industry insiders, Bentley’s programs are made for working professionals who aspire to lead in a world shaped by constant technological innovation. 

Business and Technology: Two Strands of the Same DNA 

This philosophy — treating technology as a business essential rather than a standalone tool — sits at the core of Bentley’s approach to graduate education. 

Today, artificial intelligence, data-driven analysis and digital transformation aren’t separate disciplines layered onto a business model. More accurately, they’re inseparable from how organizations operate, compete and grow. 

Sean Ferguson, Bentley’s Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, underscores this reality: “AI is transforming business at an unprecedented scale. It’s automating workflows, sharpening decision-making, and driving efficiency. But it also raises important questions about ethics, transparency and the role of human judgment.”

Rather than focusing narrowly on how new technologies work, Bentley emphasizes why they are developed and how they’re used. Students learn to evaluate tools like AI in real-world business contexts — understanding not only what they can do, but how they reshape processes, decision-making and organizational culture. 

This understanding of how closely business and technology are connected has led Bentley to tailor and launch new programs that reflect current market demands. The university recently introduced an Artificial Intelligence major within its STEM MBA program. 

"You can't separate business and technology right now — that's what led us to establish this innovative program," says Armand Doucette, a senior lecturer in the program. 

Similarly, Bentley's Master's in Finance offers a Fintech concentration that combines deep finance expertise with emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity. The program prepares graduates for roles in a global FinTech market projected to reach $1.13 trillion by 2032. 

“Bentley excels at preparing students with the future-focused skills employers demand,” Ferguson adds. “Technology-related skills, such as using AI tools, are essential, but strategic thinking and problem-solving remain critical.” 

Connecting Business Education with the Latest in Tech — and Everything Else

Since successful AI adoption depends on aligning technology with strategy, structure and people, education must follow the same model. Bentley prepares future leaders by breaking down long-standing silos — not only between business and technology, but across disciplines that increasingly intersect in the real world. 

That same philosophy shapes how Bentley keeps its programs aligned with market realities. Rather than treating curriculum as static, the university maintains ongoing feedback with industry — mirroring the way leading organizations adjust technology initiatives based on real-world results. 

A clear example is Bentley’s Master’s in Accounting program. Every six months, the program’s Accounting Advisory Board meets with leaders from external accounting firms to ensure the curriculum reflects current industry demands. 

“The big value proposition of Bentley University is collaboration, particularly with industry,” says Len Pepe, Program Director of Bentley’s Master’s in Accounting program. “We’ve established a continuous conversation with the industry.” 

That level of collaboration also extends into the classroom through a close partnership with KPMG — the only such higher-education partnership with KPMG in New England. Through guest lectures, real-world case studies and hands-on data training, students gain direct exposure to the tools and decision-making environments they’ll encounter after graduation. 

At Bentley’s User Experience Center (UXC), students apply advanced technology tools to solve complex business programs. Graduate students work as commercial consultants, using eye-tracking software and biometric analysis on high-stakes projects, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical device validation testing. 

In one recent project, students in the MS in Human Factors in Information Design program helped validate a medical device for FDA clearance — the final step before a product can reach the U.S. market. 

"As commercial consultants, Bentley students can try out the techniques they're learning in the classroom and perfect their craft alongside truly important and complicated projects," says UXC Director Chris Hass. 

For students like Andrew Hahn, MSHFID '25, the experience reinforced Bentley's distinctive approach: "The big draw to the Bentley graduate program is that I can focus more on business outcomes. In addition to understanding how I can be beneficial to the end user, I understand how I can help sell or market a product." 

By embedding technology, cross-disciplinary thinking and industry collaboration into the learning experience, Bentley prepares graduates not just to adapt to change, but to lead companies through it.

Technology Is Core to the Bentley Experience

At Bentley, treating technology as a strategic priority extends beyond curriculum design — it’s a defining part of the student experience. The university’s commitment to innovation is visible across campus, most notably in the transformation of the Adamian Academic Center as part of the Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (TIE) Initiative.  

The goal is not exposure for its own sake, but immersion — giving students regular access to the technologies shaping modern business. Provost Paul Tesluk describes the project as part of Bentley’s effort to “future-proof” the university. “The new academic center will prepare students for a workforce that is rapidly changing due to technology,” he says. 

The impact of these technologies extends directly into the classroom. Duke Duncan, a Professional MBA student, describes how VR became a tool for building leadership skills. 

“We practiced delivering feedback to an avatar in a simulation lab that measured our tone, speaking speed, and delivery—it was incredibly eye-opening,” he says. “It was a fun, informative exercise that gave us hands-on experience using technology in a real-world setting.”

Hear from President E. LaBrent Chrite and Provost Paul Tesluk on how Bentley prepares students for the future of business.

Video by Kevin Maguire and Caleb Gowett

For students, the impact is tangible. Maggie Qian, MSHFID ’25, now a Senior User Experience Researcher at Dell Technologies, credits Bentley with laying the foundation for her career. 

“Technical courses such as Python and databases were invaluable in preparing me for today’s AI-driven landscape,” she says. “Now, user research and design are central to creating meaningful, data-driven experiences — directly building on what I learned at Bentley.” 

Graduate student Uriel Ulloa, MSBA ’26, echoes that sentiment: “Every class goes beyond snapshots of data — you apply what you’re learning to real business scenarios,” he says. 

“The real value isn’t the model itself but generating management-level insights. In one Business Analytics course, we integrated different technical tools and visualizations, then did natural language processing on Amazon reviews. The real value wasn't the model itself but generating management-level insights; storytelling is an important factor.” 

By embedding advanced tools, applied learning, communication and strategic thinking into every layer of the experience, Bentley ensures students graduate with more than technical fluency. They gain the executive-level judgment and perspective required to turn technology into impact.

Focused on the Future of Business Education

Taken together, Bentley’s approach is consistent at every level: technology isn’t a specialization layered onto business education, but a core capability woven throughout it. That commitment is reflected in the university’s graduate programs, which are designed to turn emerging technologies into practical, career-defining skills. 

The AI revolution won’t be won by the organizations that adopt new technology first, but by those that integrate it best. While headlines focus on billion-dollar investments and breakthrough capabilities, the real work of digital transformation happens elsewhere — in change management, process redesign and cultural adaptation. 

Today, only a fraction of companies are successfully scaling AI. Those that do are treating digital transformation as a business discipline, not a technological experiment. 

That distinction is what sets Bentley apart. By teaching students to bridge strategy and execution — and to think like business leaders while understanding the realities of technology — Bentley prepares graduates to tackle challenges many organizations still struggle to solve.