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Career Advice for Grads in an AI World

Hiring
June 29, 2025
Top leaders share the best career advice for new grads navigating AI-era opportunities.
Topics discussed in the episode:
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How can founders embrace AI to create new opportunities?
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Why should founders optimize for growth over compensation?
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What is the importance of patience in product development?
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How to leverage AI and no-code tools to build products?
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How can founders turn AI challenges into opportunities?
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How to make your degree valuable amidst AI advancements?
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Will AI replace careers like web designers or developers?
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How can students get ahead of AI to create real value?
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Should I take a job I don't love to start my career?
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How to stand out in the AI-driven job market?

How can founders embrace AI to create new opportunities?

The evolving landscape demands that founders be adaptable and explore possibilities created by AI.

\"There are opportunities that literally haven't been even created yet... Because AI will change so much...\"

  • Embrace exploration to discover emerging opportunities.
  • Stay adaptable in face of technological changes.
  • Leverage AI advancements to innovate and create value.

Why should founders optimize for growth over compensation?

Prioritizing learning opportunities can help founders build skills for long-term success.

\"So optimize for growth, not compensation early in your career. Surround yourself with people that you can be a sponge and learn from.\"

  • Seek environments that foster learning and growth.
  • Value mentorship over immediate financial gain.
  • Build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge.

What is the importance of patience in product development?

Patience and persistence are key in building successful products and finding product-market fit.

\"If you want to really make a good game, it takes a lot of patience because you'll have one iteration after the next, and it will be bad very often.\"

  • Embrace iteration in product development.
  • View failures as steps to success.
  • Be patient to refine your product.

How to leverage AI and no-code tools to build products?

Utilizing AI and no-code platforms allows founders to quickly build and distribute products.

\"We have the democratization of engineering with the largest productivity hack the world has ever seen, AI... even a journalism student can build it now.\"

  • Use AI and no-code tools to accelerate development.
  • Leverage large platforms to access audiences.
  • Turn ideas into products without heavy engineering.

How can founders turn AI challenges into opportunities?

Founders can leverage AI disruptions to create unique value and stand out in the market.

\"You are generation AI. You are AI native. So, bringing the fact that you have AI in your tool set is one of the things that makes you enormously attractive.\"

  • Embrace your native AI skills to differentiate yourself.
  • Use AI tools to create unique solutions.
  • Turn industry challenges into innovation opportunities.

How to make your degree valuable amidst AI advancements?

Continuous learning and networking are crucial for founders navigating AI's impact on industries.

\"What you should take forward from your college degree... is your capacity to learn.\"

  • Embrace lifelong learning to stay relevant.
  • Leverage your network for support and opportunities.
  • Adapt to industry changes with agility.

Will AI replace careers like web designers or developers?

Understanding AI's impact helps founders adapt and build relevant skills for product development.

\"...what you have to bring to it is your creativity, your originality... AI can do all that [coding].\"

  • Focus on creativity and strategic thinking over routine tasks.
  • Embrace AI tools to augment your capabilities.
  • Adapt to changing roles by enhancing unique human skills.

How can students get ahead of AI to create real value?

Leveraging AI strategically can help founders build innovative products and find product-market fit.

\"Think about how to use AI strategically... which problems could it be applied to? How could it be applied to those problems in ways that is interesting and unique.\"

  • Use AI to solve unique problems innovatively.
  • Continually learn and improve your AI skills.
  • Apply AI thoughtfully to create real value in your startup.

Should I take a job I don't love to start my career?

Strategic career moves can help founders find product-market fit and build successful startups.

\"...doing a job versus not doing a job is always a better way to ultimately be getting to a much better job 25, 10 years out.\"

  • Consider jobs as stepping stones toward long-term goals.
  • Be strategic about roles that develop relevant skills.
  • Keep a plan in mind for evolving your career.

How to stand out in the AI-driven job market?

Becoming proficient in AI tools can give founders a competitive edge in building products and scaling startups.

\"You want to be incredible at using AI to get work done... You will seem like you've come from the future into this company.\"

  • Master AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation.
  • Develop prompt engineering skills to maximize AI's potential.
  • Combine AI expertise with human judgment and creativity to stand out.