I came to business school with a traditional foundation — a CPA background, experience at two Big Four firms, and time spent in FP&A at a big tech company. On paper, it was a solid, well-defined path. But alongside that trajectory, I was always fascinated by technology and, more importantly, always tried to solve problems using tech. And then AI came.
At the beginning, like most of us, I used it for fun. I asked it to make me a Funko Pop figure or to help write emails because I am international. Unfortunately, I did not have AI when I applied to business schools. That would have helped.
But then I realized something. This was my opportunity to improve at scale.
I started reading articles, listening to conversations, and watching reactions. Everybody seemed terrified that AI would take their jobs. I started hearing things like, “Studying computer science is the biggest mistake someone can make,” or, “Are we going to be replaced by robots?” or “Will AI ever be able to write without the annoying long dashes?”
I am not here to calm you down. I am here to share my perspective, some evidence, and most importantly, practical tools.
Let’s start with the past. During the Industrial Revolution, machines appeared. Two people faced the same moment. One cried, “We are doomed, machines will take our work.” He used to cut glass by hand. The second said, “This is interesting, let me learn how to work with this machine.” Who do you think ended up with more money for moonshine?
Another example. Millions of years ago, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens met. One voice said, “They will replace us, we are doomed.” Another said, “Let’s learn from them.” Okay, maybe that example did not end perfectly, but you get the point.
Humans are afraid of change. But the AI revolution is here. And the people who will come out on top are the ones who choose to take advantage of it.
Here is one simple thing you can do right now. Pause reading and ask AI this: “Hi ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Wassup’ Grok. I work as X in Y. My responsibilities are W and Z, and I am afraid you will replace me. How can you enhance my work and help me become a better employee?”
Trust me. You will be shocked by how much faster and better it can make you.
That approach is the safest bet for people who simply want to be better at what they already do. If you want to actually harness the revolution, you need to learn how to control it.
I started Ariom Consulting as an AI consulting firm built on a simple advantage. I understand business. I understand finance. And I know how to implement AI in a practical, hands-on way. That combination creates a double threat: strategic consulting paired with execution. The goal is not AI for hype, but AI that removes manual work, fixes bottlenecks, and lets teams focus on quality and growth.
In practice, this means helping organizations rethink how work gets done. I support a healthcare startup as a fractional finance manager and AI and automation lead, automating invoices, audit checks, payroll, and analysis, and providing on-demand solutions for unexpected startup challenges. In parallel, I lead strategy and business transformation at a luxury manufacturing company, implementing automations across production lines, replacing manual workflows, and building AI agents in sales and customer service to drive revenue and improve customer experience.
I am not sharing this to brag. I share it because it took me a long time to understand my advantage. I know business. I am a Fuqua alum. I know AI. And once I stopped treating AI as a threat and started treating it as leverage, everything changed.
So, the big question is, what should you do?
If you got an offer from investment banking or consulting, go for it and enjoy life, or whatever is left of it after work hours. But if you are struggling or afraid of losing your job, turn that fear into motivation.
Be encouraged to read about automation. Be encouraged to use platforms like n8n or Make.com to automate simple things. Filter emails or set reminders to help you be your best. Or get a WhatsApp notification ahead of every Duke basketball game so you never forget to order Heavenly Buffalo wings before tipoff.
Learn the basics. Do not be afraid to be different. Show your skills. Face the future. Worst case, you add another tool to your toolbox. It might be heavy, but you never know when you will need it.
Before AI became critical to my work, Fuqua had already taught me a lot about leadership, patience, failure, and resilience. It taught me when to speak and when not to. It taught me to use my uniqueness and stop feeling like an imposter. And it taught me to extend a hand to those who may not know how to ask for help or feel embarrassed to do so.
So, here is my hand.
Whether you are a prospective student, a current student, an alum, or from a different school entirely (except UNC), I am here to offer guidance, tools, and an open ear.
And remember, you do not need to think about what happens when a machine replaces you. You need to think about how to use the machine to become irreplaceable.
The post AI: Friend or Foe? Lessons From Life After Fuqua appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
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I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : AI: Friend or Foe? Lessons From Life After Fuqua
From Curiosity to Opportunity
At the beginning, like most of us, I used it for fun. I asked it to make me a Funko Pop figure or to help write emails because I am international. Unfortunately, I did not have AI when I applied to business schools. That would have helped.
But then I realized something. This was my opportunity to improve at scale.
I started reading articles, listening to conversations, and watching reactions. Everybody seemed terrified that AI would take their jobs. I started hearing things like, “Studying computer science is the biggest mistake someone can make,” or, “Are we going to be replaced by robots?” or “Will AI ever be able to write without the annoying long dashes?”
I am not here to calm you down. I am here to share my perspective, some evidence, and most importantly, practical tools.
What History Teaches Us About Change
Let’s start with the past. During the Industrial Revolution, machines appeared. Two people faced the same moment. One cried, “We are doomed, machines will take our work.” He used to cut glass by hand. The second said, “This is interesting, let me learn how to work with this machine.” Who do you think ended up with more money for moonshine?
Another example. Millions of years ago, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens met. One voice said, “They will replace us, we are doomed.” Another said, “Let’s learn from them.” Okay, maybe that example did not end perfectly, but you get the point.
Humans are afraid of change. But the AI revolution is here. And the people who will come out on top are the ones who choose to take advantage of it.
A Practical First Step With AI
Here is one simple thing you can do right now. Pause reading and ask AI this: “Hi ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Wassup’ Grok. I work as X in Y. My responsibilities are W and Z, and I am afraid you will replace me. How can you enhance my work and help me become a better employee?”
Trust me. You will be shocked by how much faster and better it can make you.
That approach is the safest bet for people who simply want to be better at what they already do. If you want to actually harness the revolution, you need to learn how to control it.
Turning Business Fluency Into AI Leverage
I started Ariom Consulting as an AI consulting firm built on a simple advantage. I understand business. I understand finance. And I know how to implement AI in a practical, hands-on way. That combination creates a double threat: strategic consulting paired with execution. The goal is not AI for hype, but AI that removes manual work, fixes bottlenecks, and lets teams focus on quality and growth.
In practice, this means helping organizations rethink how work gets done. I support a healthcare startup as a fractional finance manager and AI and automation lead, automating invoices, audit checks, payroll, and analysis, and providing on-demand solutions for unexpected startup challenges. In parallel, I lead strategy and business transformation at a luxury manufacturing company, implementing automations across production lines, replacing manual workflows, and building AI agents in sales and customer service to drive revenue and improve customer experience.
I am not sharing this to brag. I share it because it took me a long time to understand my advantage. I know business. I am a Fuqua alum. I know AI. And once I stopped treating AI as a threat and started treating it as leverage, everything changed.
Advice for Those Feeling Uncertain
So, the big question is, what should you do?
If you got an offer from investment banking or consulting, go for it and enjoy life, or whatever is left of it after work hours. But if you are struggling or afraid of losing your job, turn that fear into motivation.
Be encouraged to read about automation. Be encouraged to use platforms like n8n or Make.com to automate simple things. Filter emails or set reminders to help you be your best. Or get a WhatsApp notification ahead of every Duke basketball game so you never forget to order Heavenly Buffalo wings before tipoff.
Learn the basics. Do not be afraid to be different. Show your skills. Face the future. Worst case, you add another tool to your toolbox. It might be heavy, but you never know when you will need it.
What Fuqua Ultimately Gave Me
Before AI became critical to my work, Fuqua had already taught me a lot about leadership, patience, failure, and resilience. It taught me when to speak and when not to. It taught me to use my uniqueness and stop feeling like an imposter. And it taught me to extend a hand to those who may not know how to ask for help or feel embarrassed to do so.
So, here is my hand.
Whether you are a prospective student, a current student, an alum, or from a different school entirely (except UNC), I am here to offer guidance, tools, and an open ear.
And remember, you do not need to think about what happens when a machine replaces you. You need to think about how to use the machine to become irreplaceable.
The post AI: Friend or Foe? Lessons From Life After Fuqua appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : AI: Friend or Foe? Lessons From Life After Fuqua