Gabriel, co-founder of the mental wellness journaling app Writeway, went through many changes during the Covid-19 pandemic, both personally and professionally. It was a period of significant transition. He not only navigated personal changes but also steered his company through a shifting landscape. His experience highlights the power of education and learning, particularly through programs like the Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE) at MIT.
A Foundation in AI and a Curiosity for Learning
Gabriel's background is in mathematics and computer science, with a master's degree specializing in artificial intelligence. His connection with MIT Sloan Executive Education began in 2019 with an AI course. At the time, he was already an AI lead at his company and shared a lot of insights internally. He was curious to see how MIT Sloan Executive Education would approach the subject matter. He quickly discovered that the programs were unique and distinct from other institutions, solidifying his decision to take the Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy online course.
MIT's reputation in technology naturally appealed to Gabriel. However, the decision to enroll wasn't solely based on prestige. He meticulously compared programs from various schools, and MIT Sloan Executive Education simply made the most sense for him.
Building Confidence and Leadership Through Knowledge
Initially, Gabriel envisioned taking only one AI course. He didn't anticipate moving into a management role. However, as his company evolved and started going through change, he recognized gaps in his knowledge and the need for new skills.
He embarked on a journey and started taking multiple courses: first, Mastering Design Thinking, a must for any entrepreneur, he advises. Then, Social Media Strategy, Pricing, and Platform Strategy – all crucial for him as he didn’t have a marketing background. He also found the three courses particularly impactful when taken sequentially. He was surprised at how tightly connected they were. “I printed a reference from the Social Media Strategy course and look at it regularly to remind myself of its importance”.
"Instead of having an AI panic, people need to know how AI can help their business, and also manage their expectations of AI. Nobody can escape from the era of AI."
Cybersecurity for Leaders and Business Dynamics were other areas Gabriel explored through MIT Sloan. Business Dynamics, in particular, shifted his mental model. These experiences, along with other courses, eventually led him to earn his Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE). The ACE program became instrumental in helping him pinpoint the specific skills and knowledge he needed to acquire.
AI in Business: A Strategic Perspective
For CEOs of growing companies, Gabriel strongly recommends the Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy course that started his MIT Sloan journey. He believes that in the age of AI, no one can afford to be uninformed. “Instead of having an AI panic, people need to know how AI can help their business, and also manage their expectations of AI” he says. His reasoning is that “nobody can escape from the era of AI”. He cautions against viewing AI as a magic button or something to be feared. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of aligning AI with a company's business model and competitive advantages, and “evaluate what AI can do to help your business”.
Interestingly, while Gabriel initially explored AI for Writeway's writing assistance features, the company ultimately decided to remove it. “It’s all about you, and people shouldn’t worry about how good their writing, their grammar and punctuation are. They just need to express their true self”. While AI isn't part of the user experience, Writeway leverages AI tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, and automated code review to streamline development, reduce costs, and boost productivity. AI helps them accelerate their processes and enhance their workforce.
Knowledge as Empowerment
Gabriel shared that he needed to become more confident within his company. During the pandemic, despite being part of the executive team, he felt his voice wasn't being heard enough. So he immersed himself in learning – taking courses at MIT, reading extensively, and studying case studies and theories. This provided the confidence and theoretical framework he needed to make informed decisions. "A lot of times, it's just instincts. The courses here give you the tools to stand for yourself and better convince people". he explained. He found that structured learning brought clarity to the decision-making process, improving his ability to collaborate and ultimately led him to his current management role. For Gabriel, knowledge became a powerful tool – even a shield – for being able to “take the lead, grow, and try to break the rules”.
Gabriel is a big advocate for education. He believes education is a resource that shouldn’t be a privilege and should be more accessible to everyone. By sharing his story, he hopes to demonstrate how education, and particularly the Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE) program, can lead to personal and professional growth, helping to make better decisions and become a better person. He says, “Education is always a good investment. If you’re going to spend money, spend it in a way that will make things better”.
The benefits of MIT Sloan Executive Education extended beyond his professional growth. Gabriel, based in Canada, connected with a fellow Canadian from the same Province in one of his courses. They went on to take another online course together and eventually met in person.
Explore the 90+ MIT Sloan Executive Education courses and learn more about the Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE).