Kyle D. S. Maclean
Western University
Ivey Business School
“Kyle was an amazing prof! Decision Making With Analytics is not a course that I would typically find myself interested in, but because of his teaching it is something I could now see myself continuing to pursue.” – Student evaluation
Kyle D. S. Maclean, 33, is Assistant Professor and Teaching Scholar at Western University’s Ivey Business School. His disciplinary research focuses on how to apply Revenue Management techniques to the live entertainment industry, asking how entertainment products become a success and how to engage in operational allocation and pricing decisions. His work has been published in journals such as the European Journal of Operational Research, Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, and the International Journal of Revenue Management.
His pedagogical research explores how to create scalable assessments for large introductory courses and has been published in INFORMS Transactions on Education. He has won two Teaching Awards at Ivey.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2017
Education: PhD Ivey Business School 2017; HBA Ivey Business School 2012
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Decision Making with Analytics, End User Modeling, Sports and Entertainment Analytics.
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I taught my first class as a PhD student.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I have been researching how to predict success in live theatre, and more specifically, Broadway shows. In a recent paper, a co-author and I find that weeks where a show has a celebrity star are associated with an increase in revenue of approximately $250k.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … a failed Broadway producer.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? For better or for worse, I am quite passionate about how analytics can be used to make decisions. That is probably obvious when I teach.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Nervous.
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: Success in research is only partially correlated with intelligence. It’s likely more to do with stubbornness and a willingness to not give up.
Professor I most admire and why: Too many to single one person out. I’m deeply appreciative of my colleagues.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? Their energy and excitement to go out into the world and add value to the communities that they operate in.
What is most challenging? Connecting theory with practice.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious.
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Entitled.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … harsh but fair.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? Following Hockey, Theatre/Musical Theatre, Jigsaw Puzzles, Video Games
How will you spend your summer? I usually spend my summer catching up on research, writing teaching cases, and preparing for the upcoming fall semester.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: New York City
Favorite book(s): The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don’t.
Miss American Pie: A Diary of Love, Secrets, and Growing Up in the 1970s.
How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? Moneyball. A man uses statistics and logic to win several baseball games. The statistical analysis is so beautiful.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? I primarily listen to musical theatre cast recordings, Jimmy Buffett and Taylor Swift.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … Experiential courses, designed around a live “model” business and in-class moments to contextualize and discuss what that business is going through.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … identifying talent.
I’m grateful for … a career that encourages intellectual curiosity and creativity. Colleagues who provide ideas and support. Students who make going to class each day fun.
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