Athens Academy senior Brendan Golish spent the past eighteen months exploring how artificial intelligence can help businesses work more efficiently and unlock new opportunities for growth, and he successfully defended his project before the Capstone committee in November.

Inspired by the rapid advances he saw unfolding in real time, Brendan set out to understand both the technology behind modern AI and the practical needs of the organizations hoping to use it. Through interviews, coursework, podcasts, and hands-on technical training, he immersed himself in the worlds of machine learning, data science, and business operations to translate complex concepts into real, usable solutions.

Early in the project, Brendan attended lectures, completed Notre Dame’s Summer Scholars engineering program, and later participated in the university’s RADIANT data science and machine-learning program. These experiences introduced him to deep learning, neural networks, and analytic tools such as decision trees, random forests, and logistic regression. At the same time, he broadened his understanding of business leadership and workplace challenges by interviewing engineers, marketers, educators, and executives—including professionals at Acuity Brands and members of the Athens Academy faculty—gaining insight into both AI’s potential and the limitations that still require human oversight.

Brendan then shifted from research to application, partnering with three very different small businesses to help them identify areas where AI could solve problems or streamline time-consuming tasks. He worked with GoodWorks Financial, a tax and financial planning firm; Refined Athletics, a personal training business; and DisplayIt, a nationally focused trade-show display company. Each organization presented its own challenges—from software integration and document review, to personalized workout programming, to revenue forecasting, logistics, and competitive analysis. Brendan produced customized reports for each business outlining targeted AI-based tools and strategies, followed by follow-up conversations and surveys to measure impact.

Through this process, Brendan learned firsthand how varied the path to AI adoption can be depending on a business’s size, industry, and comfort level with technology. Some solutions required integrating AI into systems already in place; others involved recommending new tools or identifying emerging technologies not yet widely used. Across all three businesses, Brendan’s goal was the same: to provide practical, creative, and realistic recommendations that preserved the strengths of each organization while helping them automate repetitive tasks and make better use of their time.

Brendan’s work highlights the importance of balancing innovation with responsible decision-making and demonstrates how a motivated student—armed with curiosity, expert guidance, and real-world experience—can meaningfully contribute to the evolving conversation around AI in business.

Athens Academy’s Capstone Project is an opportunity for Upper School students to explore a passion via four criteria: research, mentorship, experiential learning, and an outward contribution. Each student submits a research paper detailing an aspect of the project, and they defend the project before a committee of faculty and administrators, similar to a Ph.D. oral defense. Students whose projects are approved by the committee receive the Capstone designation at commencement in May.

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 59th year, Athens Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #7 private school in the state of Georgia (out of 400+ schools), and #1 private school in North Georgia (Niche.com).

For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at [email protected] or 706-433-2410.