SharkNinja and Boston University’s Questrom School of Business have launched a new collaboration, establishing the SharkNinja AI & Analytics Lab, a joint initiative designed to advance artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and real-world business problem-solving.
The partnership brings together Questrom faculty and graduate students with SharkNinja’s product design and technology teams to support the development of AI-powered solutions across the company’s global operations.
The newly formed lab will serve as a structured, faculty-led environment where graduate business students work directly with SharkNinja under guidance from Questrom advisors. The goal is to design and deliver advanced analytics tools, machine learning applications, and insight-generation frameworks that improve organizational decision-making, strengthen operational precision, and enhance SharkNinja’s innovation cycles.
Questrom leaders emphasized that the collaboration creates a strong bridge between academic expertise and industry needs. Students will contribute to real projects and gain hands-on experience applying classroom knowledge to active business challenges. The lab is also expected to operate as a center for testing and scaling new analytic approaches while helping SharkNinja accelerate the adoption of AI across product categories.
The partnership also supports broader experiential learning efforts within Questrom’s Center for Action Learning and the Questrom Consulting Lab. These programs offer students practical industry exposure, opportunities to engage with leading companies, and the ability to build competitive skill sets that prepare them for workforce success. SharkNinja, which designs and develops consumer products under the Shark and Ninja brands, will collaborate closely with Questrom faculty and student teams as part of this expanded initiative.
KEY QUOTES
“We’re harnessing AI to unlock a new era of innovation at SharkNinja. We’re thrilled to partner with Boston University’s Questrom Consulting Lab to connect world-class academic insights with real-world business challenges. Together, we’re deepening how we use data and analytics to make smarter decisions, operate with greater precision, and accelerate how we turn insights into action as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. As we scale AI across the organization, we’re driving faster execution, stronger collaboration, and ultimately better outcomes for our consumers.”
Mark Barrocas, CEO of SharkNinja
“This partnership offers our students the opportunity to bring their academic insights into a vibrant industry environment. Working alongside SharkNinja’s experts, our team is excited to deliver relevant and measurable value to support SharkNinja’s growth.”
Professor Peter Howard, Executive Director of Action Learning and the Questrom Consulting Lab
“Experiential learning is critical to ensuring that business students enter the world of work ready for success on day one. This is why we are truly excited and grateful for our collaboration with SharkNinja to provide our students with the opportunity to work at the leading edge of AI and enhance their learning experience while having real impact in real-time.”
Susan Fournier, Allen Questrom Professor and Dean of the Questrom School of Business
