I embarked on an MBA journey at a pivotal moment when artificial intelligence transitioned from theoretical discussions to an undeniable reality.
Prior to 2024, conversations around AI were largely speculative. Opinions varied about its potential to take over jobs, enhance creative processes, or pose risks. The most knowledgeable users at that time were primarily those excelling at crafting queries for tools like ChatGPT.
Then, almost overnight, AI became part of the essential framework of daily life.
While studying at the London Business School, I witnessed AI permeate the academic experience. My peers utilized Claude to customize resumes and prep for job interviews. Voice AI tools supported mock interviews and career coaching sessions, while Perplexity served as a research assistant. Gamma streamlined the creation of presentations, and Granola transformed lecture notes into study aids. Each week delivered a new tool that revolutionized our learning methods, communication styles, and creative processes.
What left a lasting impression on me was not only the rapid evolution of technology but also the swift adaptation of people.
In contrast to previous upheavals like the financial crisis or the COVID pandemic, this change arrived with a remarkable sense of collective awareness. Most seemed to grasp that AI would significantly alter industries, job roles, and work methodologies.
This awareness prompted me to confront two critical questions:
1) If AI can educate me on almost any subject, what is the purpose of pursuing an MBA?
2) In an AI-dominated economy, which skills will hold true value?
Over time, I discovered that it wasn't simply “more knowledge” that mattered—AI could supply that readily. The real worth of an MBA lies in elements that are challenging to replicate: the atmosphere it fosters, the people you connect with, and the expansion of your vision regarding what’s achievable.
THE MBA REDEFINED MY SURROUNDINGS BEFORE MY CAREER
One of the most overlooked aspects of an MBA is the environment it cultivates.
Being in an MBA program positions you among dynamic, driven, and perpetually inquisitive individuals. My background at Google had led me to believe I was well-acquainted with success. The MBA quickly brought me back to earth.
I encountered Olympians, entrepreneurs, policy innovators, investors, and others entirely reinventing their careers. These were more than just impressive names on a roster; they were individuals who took risks, posed insightful questions, and consistently pushed the limits of their capabilities.
Surrounding myself with that energy transformed my outlook.
At London Business School, I found myself engaging in unexpected activities—from speaking at events to launching my podcast, “Europe on the Bull.” I explored internships focused on climate technology and social impact, embraced motherhood during my studies, and ultimately co-founded an AI startup, Talk to Magpie AI.
None of these decisions were made in solitude; they were profoundly influenced by my surroundings.
The infectious nature of ambition and bravery became my first key takeaway from the MBA: we often fail to recognize how much our environment shapes our thought processes.
As my perspective broadened, so too did my appreciation for the areas where AI could not easily substitute human effort.
THE MOST AI-RESILIENT SKILL IS CONNECTION WITH OTHERS
The extensive use of AI led me to place a higher value on human relationships.
This revelation may seem paradoxical, yet it became one of the most significant insights of my MBA experience. While AI excels at summarization, automation, generation, and acceleration, it cannot replicate the trust built through face-to-face interactions, where individuals share their narratives and collaborate.
One of the finest aspects of the MBA was learning alongside peers from diverse countries and backgrounds that I had previously not engaged with in-depth.
Having lived in Singapore and worked with prominent firms, I assumed I was well-versed in global diversity. However, I realized I had remained within a relatively familiar professional sphere: technology, marketing, growth, and strategy.
The MBA drastically widened my perspective.
My classmates hailed from nations like Kazakhstan, Moldova, Chile, and Palestine. Through numerous late-night discussions, group projects, travel experiences, and shared uncertainties, I discovered how fundamentally similar people can be, despite their differences.
The MBA fosters these valuable interactions in ways that few workplaces can replicate. You don’t merely network; you collaborate, debate, travel, celebrate successes, grapple with challenges, and grow alongside individuals with vastly different life stories.
In an era where technical skills are increasingly accessible, the ability to build rapport across cultural divides becomes even more critical.
This realization was significant for me, as I did not enroll in business school solely for education; I aimed to uncover my purpose and define my next steps.
AI INFLUENCED MY PROFESSIONAL PATH, BUT THE MBA SHIFTED MY MINDSET
Before starting my MBA, I had already worked for high-profile companies like Uber, Meta, and Google—positions many prospective business students aspire to attain. On paper, my career seemed complete.
Yet, the MBA compelled me to confront a deeper question.
Did I want to continue optimizing within established organizations or venture into creating my own opportunities?
Armed with an awareness of my skill gaps, I entered the MBA program eager to deepen my knowledge of operations, finance, and the complexities that bridge various domains. More importantly, I longed to collaborate with individuals who would inspire me to think more expansively.
Concurrently, the rapidly evolving landscape of layoffs in tech shattered the illusion of job security. What once appeared stable now felt precarious.
Yet within that uncertainty lay potential.
Barriers to creativity and innovation were beginning to dissolve.
Nowadays, even a small team, equipped with AI tools, can develop products and services that once required extensive resources and lengthy timelines. I became convinced that this was a prime time to build, particularly for organizations that recognize the need for AI yet are unsure of the implementation path.
Is it daunting? Absolutely.
Nothing feels more tangible than testing whether the skills acquired during an MBA translate effectively into the real world.
However, this is where the true value of the MBA revealed itself to me.
Friends from the program became initial users excited to try our product. People expressed interest in internships not based on titles but due to their belief in our shared vision. Professors who might have pursued lucrative consultancy roles offered us their mentorship, recognizing our dedication through class interactions.
That is the genuine advantage of an MBA.
It surpasses mere branding.
It transcends academics.
It goes beyond recruitment.
It encompasses the goodwill, trust, and relationships that accumulate over time.
This convergence of AI and the MBA was significant for me. AI lowered the barriers to entry for creation, while the MBA expanded my belief in what I could create.
THE MBA CULTIVATED A SPACE FOR INNOVATION
One of the greatest gifts of an MBA program is time.
Time to reflect.
Time to notice.
Time to challenge your assumptions.
Time to innovate.
In a conventional job, the focus often remains locked on execution. You meet quarterly targets, deliver projects, drive growth, and shift to the next goal. The MBA disrupts that cycle. It allows consideration of grander questions regarding industries, technology, human interaction, and your own willingness to embrace risk.
At London Business School, experimenting with AI was met with encouragement rather than resistance. Students had access to cutting-edge models, hackathons, AI communities, pitch events, and ongoing discussions about the potential impact of these technologies on various sectors.
This dynamic atmosphere bolstered my confidence to commence building.
I delved into voice AI applications across hospitality, e-commerce, and healthcare, identifying areas where responsible AI integration can enhance human interactions. I developed AI workflows for my podcast and even created a multilingual storytelling app for my daughter utilizing voice technology and generative AI.
Each experiment yielded unique insights. Some advanced my understanding of technology, others illuminated user behaviors, while many reinforced my growing self-confidence.
More crucially, these endeavors highlighted that the act of building no longer necessitates external permission.
For the first time, individuals can transform ideas into products, companies, and creative solutions using remarkably small teams. The gap between concept and execution has diminished.
However, even as AI simplified the building process, the MBA instilled a greater sense of feasibility.
MORE THAN JUST A DEGREE
Is an MBA the only route to acquiring AI skills or enhancing one's expertise? Certainly not.
Countless avenues now exist for people to learn quicker, more affordably, and with greater independence. AI has democratized knowledge access, which is an outstanding development.
Nevertheless, I believe the MBA provides something that is difficult to replicate: a concentrated environment for transformation.
It connects you to exceptional individuals, exposes you to innovative perspectives, and offers sufficient distance from mundane work-life to reassess the future you aspire to create.
During my time at the MBA program, I witnessed AI transition from a novelty to an essential asset. I observed firsthand its rapid influence on industries, workflows, and human behaviors. Enrolling in the AI and Machine Learning elective at London Business School, led by Professor Lil Mohan, fundamentally shifted my understanding of technology and my role within my career.
By the end of the program, I made a decision I had long postponed. Instead of pursuing another operational position within a prestigious company, I opted to create something of my own.
As I embark on building Talk to Magpie AI, a voice-enabled AI company dedicated to delivering thoughtful, human-centered AI solutions for businesses, I recognize the power of voice as a natural communication medium for the future.
The MBA equipped me with the atmosphere, confidence, partners, and perspective necessary for that leap.
AI redirected my career path. The MBA transformed how I envision possibilities.
And that’s why, even in the AI era, I contend that the MBA remains invaluable.
