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Kelley's I-Core (Integrated Core) is a rigorous, semester-long program. It integrates four core business disciplines, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Leadership, into a cohesive learning experience. Students apply their knowledge through a comprehensive case study, collaborating in teams to analyze a real-world business challenge and present strategic solutions.
Unique I-Core Experience
Unique I-Core Experience
In Fall 2023, as part of the Kelley Indianapolis Honors I-Core class, my team and I embarked on a groundbreaking project that integrated generative AI into product development. Instead of working for an established company, we took on the role of entrepreneurs, tasked with creating an innovative product from conception to promotion. We designed an AI-powered financial advisor app, tailored to provide personalized financial guidance, called FinTime. The semester culminated in a final presentation where we pitched our product to a panel of industry leaders and AI specialists from across the country.
Project Reflection
Project Reflection
Participating in Honors I-Core was both challenging and rewarding. Every class played a role in our success, but what made the experience stand out was working with such an incredible team. Together, we developed an AI-powered financial advisor app, taking it from concept to promotion while constantly refining our product.
This semester was the first time Kelley I-Core incorporated AI into the project, which added an extra layer of complexity. Instead of working for an established company, we acted as entrepreneurs, navigating uncertainty, shifting deadlines, and different expectations from four overseers. Despite the challenges, we pushed through and surprised our teachers and judges without results. Presenting our final product to a panel of industry leaders and AI specialists from across the country was a proud moment that allowed us to show the creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration we developed throughout the semester.
One of our professors summed it up best: “Dealing with newness, ambiguity, and deadlines from an assortment of overseers; you have done an exceptional job completing and surpassing expectations.” That recognition made all the late nights and hard work worth it. Looking back, this experience strengthened my ability to work under pressure, opened my eyes to see how hard I can actually work, adapt to new challenges, and collaborate effectively, skills I know will serve me well in the future.
Article Featuring our Class
Article Featuring our Class
An article on the official IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis blog featured my class and team, highlighting the innovative projects we developed during I-Core. The video below is a one-minute summary I created to explain my team’s project and the impact we aimed to make through our work.
Class Photo
Class Photo
Starting from the left are me, Laci Provenzano, Kennedy Garrett, Jake Adamczewski, Prince Johnson, Nerea Lancho Poza, Sam McWilliams, Luke Lonneman, Abigail Price, Leighanna Coley, Delaney Brown, Will Herndon, and Hieu Nguyen.
Team Photo
Team Photo
This is my team, Kennedy Garrett, Prince Johnson, Laci Provenzano, and Jake Adamczewski.
Below are the key FinTime documents that ultimately resulted in our presentation.
Below are the key FinTime documents that ultimately resulted in our presentation.
While all of the documents below offer valuable insight into our I-Core project, there are three that are especially worth reviewing:
Final Capital Budgeting
FinTime Executive Brief
Final Presentation.
These key deliverables showcase the depth of our analysis and strategic thinking. To make them easier to find, their titles have been highlighted in green.
(1) I-Core Team 5B Charter - Prince Johnson.docxTeam Charter: Our team charter established our purpose, goals, core values, ground rules, and individual responsibilities to ensure effective collaboration throughout the Honors I-Core.
(2) I-Core Team 5B Deliverable 1 - Prince Johnson.docxDeliverable 1A: In this deliverable, we introduced the concept of an AI-driven financial advisory app designed to help financial advisors enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and strengthen client engagement.
(3) I-Core Team 5B SWOT Assignment Final - Prince Johnson.docxSWOT Assignment: We conducted a SWOT analysis of the financial advisory industry to identify the app’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, which helped us understand its competitive positioning.
(4) I-Core Team 5B Management Brief - Christian Sickmeier.docxManagement Brief: This brief outlined the app’s purpose, scope, and key challenges, with a focus on optimizing time efficiency for financial advisors while improving client relationships.
(5) I-Core Team 5B Deliverable 1B - Prince Johnson.docxDeliverable 1B: We provided an in-depth overview of the app’s core features, service experience design, and its alignment with financial advisors’ needs to streamline workflows and enhance client engagement.
(6) I-Core Team 5B Buyer Assignment - Prince Johnson.docxBuyer Assignment: Our team assessed the market feasibility of the financial advisory app, developed a target buyer profile, analyzed competitors, and evaluated scalability and pricing models.
(7) I-Core Team 5B Management Brief 2 - Christian Sickmeier.docxManagement Brief 2: In this second brief, we expanded on the app’s key features and challenges, focusing on ensuring data accuracy, security, scalability, and a seamless user experience.
(8) I-Core Team 5B Product Development and Sales Forecast - Prince Johnson.docxProduct Development and Sales Forecast: We detailed the app’s product features, lifecycle stage, competitive advantages, and projected sales, positioning it as a leading AI-driven solution for financial advisors.
(9) I-Core Team 5B Deliverable 2 - Prince Johnson.docxDeliverable 2: This deliverable outlined the design elements, process workflows, and functionalities of the app, ensuring it met financial advisors’ needs for efficient client management and data-driven decision-making.
(10) Initial Capital Budgeting Deliverable - Team 5B.xlsxInitial Capital Budgeting Deliverable: We analyzed the initial financial investment required for developing the app, covering fixed costs, staffing needs, and resource allocations for both development and operations.
(11) FinTime Promotional Plan - Prince Johnson.docxFinTime Promotional Plan: Our 36-month promotional strategy targeted financial advisors, emphasizing the app’s value through social media campaigns, webinars, partnerships, and user feedback to drive awareness and adoption.
(12) I-Core Team 5B Deliverable III - Prince Johnson.docxDeliverable 3: We detailed FinTime’s resource planning, staffing structure, and development timeline, including app development, user authentication, security integration, and post-launch operations.
(12.5) Efficiency of FinTime.xlsxEfficiency of FinTime: Our analysis demonstrated the app’s impact on improving financial advisors’ workflow efficiency by reducing time spent on routine tasks and increasing overall productivity.
(13) Capital Budgeting.xlsxCapital Budgeting: Here we finalized the financial investment required for developing the app, including the projected cash flows over the next five years and fluctuations in required return, unit sales, fixed costs, variable costs, and price.
(14) FinTime Executive Brief - Prince Johnson.docxFinTime Executive Brief: We highlighted the app’s key value proposition, emphasizing its AI-driven efficiency, comprehensive financial planning tools, real-time monitoring capabilities, and client-centric design.
(15) FinTime Presentation.pptxFinTime Presentation: In our final presentation, we showcased the app’s core features, development timeline, marketing strategy, financial projections, and competitive positioning, concluding with our recommendation to move forward with the product launch.
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