Sports Analytics Panel

Join us for a conversation in sports analytics with guests Devin, Farah, Steven and Michael. Panelists will provide insight on their career journeys, the evolution of analytics in sport, what they’re working on now and offer some advice on breaking into the industry.

Devin Pleuler is the Director of Analytics for Toronto FC. Devin directs the integration of analytics and data science into every soccer-facing aspect of the organization, including opposition analysis, domestic and international player recruitment and performance forecasting.

Farah Bastien is the Manager of Data Science and a Data Engineer at MLSE within their Digital Labs arm. Farah’s research focuses on sport-centric data science, with a lens on interpretability and scaling. Her team works on long-term research projects in assisting with scouting, drafting, sports health science and game strategy.

Steven Bei is the Manager of Business Analytics at MLSE. He has 7+ years of experience leading and working with consultants, developers and data scientists spanning across multiple projects for a wide-range of industries.

Michael Zsolt is the Director of Hockey Operations & Analytics for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. He is responsible for leading the team’s use of stats and analytics as it relates to player evaluation, development, trades, drafting and in-game performance.

Our moderator, Eman Smadi, is a graduate of the Smith MMAI program. She has executed several applied analytics and AI projects in sport including work with Canadian Olympic teams.

The Analytics + AI Ecosystem at Smith is comprised of our degree programs, applied research, executive education and student clubs. We provide a platform that connects students, industry leaders and companies in order to educate, generate insights and provide solutions to real analytics problems.