Embracing innovation: accelerate your AI career with an MBA

“At Cambridge, I noticed quickly that AI was a focal point for students across multiple disciplines,” says Juliet Powell, a recent MBA graduate, and now a Generative AI & Product Consultant at Mercor (a Silicon Valley-based AI hiring platform). “Many students were eager to understand how AI could be applied to all sorts of different fields – from finance and healthcare to entrepreneurship and sustainability.” 

Fuelled by this enthusiasm and a fascination with the intersection between technology and business strategy, Powell set up the first Artificial Intelligence special interest group (SIG) at Cambridge Judge Business School with fellow MBA student Romit Kapoor, along with classmates Sean Shu and Annie Wang. “There I saw first-hand how much enthusiasm and curiosity there was for AI,” she says.  

“Part of the motivation to establish and lead the AI interest group was also to demystify AI. The pace at which change is happening is lightning quick! It was crucial to provide a dedicated forum at Cambridge Judge where students, academics and professionals could engage in meaningful conversations about the evolving role of AI in business and society, and their role within it.”

AI open days and innovation clinics 

As part of the SIG, Powell says students had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one innovation clinics, where they could get feedback from data scientists and software engineers from the wider University of Cambridge on AI-related ideas, questions and projects.  

In 2024, the group also hosted an AI open day featuring talks, workshops and panel discussions on topics such as AI ethics, diversity in tech and emerging AI applications. “We invited thought leaders and industry experts to share insights and discuss real-world use cases,” says Powell. “This was hugely popular and drew a diverse group of students and faculty keen to discuss AI’s potential and ethical implications.”  

Co-founder Kapoor says the SIG isn’t only targeted at those from technical backgrounds. “We founded the AI special interest group to provide a space for MBA students who may or may not come from related technical backgrounds to find their footing and explore how they may add value in an increasingly AI-first world,” he says.  

“Artificial intelligence is in my opinion a net accelerant for humanity and could help us solve some of the greatest challenges of our time. We wanted to familiarise students with general concepts of AI and how their past expertise could be enhanced with AI tools.” 

AI-focused MBA electives 

But the special interest group isn’t the only way students on the MBA can delve into artificial intelligence, AI and wider digital trends are threaded throughout the MBA programme at Cambridge, with new additions including AI-focused elective courses that students with a particular interest in the field can choose. 

“Last year, I took the elective on AI in Business Ethics, run by Professor David Stillwell, Professor of Computational Social Science at the Business School, and it was a fascinating and timely course,” says Powell. “It provided a technical grounding on GenAI and large language models (LLMs), examining the legal and ethical considerations of AI and exploring how GenAI will impact the future of work.” 

This year, electives on the MBA include ‘Artificial Intelligence and Other Disruptive Technologies’ and ‘Implementing Generative AI Ethically’.  

“Our AI-focused electives cover both the basics of how the technology works, but also the managerial implications for areas like how to manage staff through this future of work, and how technologies get adopted in organisations,” says Professor Stillwell.  

“This year, we also ran a session for all MBA students in their Orientation, where we introduced them to some GenAI tools,” he says. “This included tools for writing and creating presentations, for analysing data and for carrying out research.” 

AI careers: opening doors in the tech sector

So how useful is the MBA in real-world applications? Natalie Shenoy, a Cambridge Judge alumna and currently Azure Data and AI Lead at Microsoft, says the MBA programme was fundamental in helping her to land her current role. “I got my role at Microsoft thanks to a mix of technical skills and the strategic insights I gained during my MBA,” she says. “The programme taught me essential skills in leadership, strategic thinking and business management, which are crucial for navigating the fast-paced world of AI.”  

Kapoor meanwhile says the Cambridge ecosystem opened the door to the tech sector. “Being part of Silicon Fen in Cambridge – the UK’s premier tech cluster – was massively helpful in allowing us to interact with cutting-edge technology opportunities,” he says. “The programme also facilitated several interactions with industry leaders from around the world, and I really enjoyed learning about the human aspect of why leaders make the decisions they do. I believe this combination of understanding leadership both from an academic lens and real-world experiences, sets us in excellent stead for leadership roles.” 

For Powell, it was meanwhile the intellectual freedom and people she met that helped open doors. “The MBA programme at Cambridge Judge provided a safe and supportive environment – a rare space where my mind was free to explore bold ideas without fear of judgement,” she says. 

“But the best part of my MBA experience has undoubtedly been the people I have met – exceptional minds from all over the world who have broadened my horizons and challenged my thinking in the best possible way,” she continues.  

“The diversity of perspectives and experiences has enriched every discussion and project, pushing me to approach problems from new angles and think more critically and creatively. I have gained lasting friendships with individuals from all over the world, creating a supportive network that will continue to inspire and guide me throughout my life and career.” 

Working in AI: MBA alumni career outcomes

I work as a senior analyst on the AI team at Prosus, one of the largest tech investors in the world. The role of our team is to support our investments and operating companies in building and applying machine learning and AI teams, technologies and innovations to drive business impact at scale. In practical terms, this means we often rapidly build and test new ideas at scale to learn what is and is not working in consumer facing businesses. This work is extremely rewarding, with so much opportunity. I started with Prosus immediately after my MBA and credit the programme with skills I use every day in my current role, from corporate finance to entrepreneurship, team building and strategy.

Andrew Tanabe, Senior AI Operations Lead at Prosus Group, MBA class of 2022/23

Six top tips on AI careers

Natalie Shenoy gives her 6 top tips for MBA students interested in pursuing a career in AI: