When Aidan Routzon came to the Daniels College of Business to pursue a master’s degree, he saw artificial intelligence as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a rapidly changing field.
That bet paid off. Routzon, a graduate of Daniels’ Master of Science in Management program, now works at RingCentral, where he develops AI-driven strategies to improve processes and make work easier for employees.
The Daniels Newsroom caught up with Routzon to talk about his path into AI, how his Daniels experience helped prepare him and what advice he has for students hoping to follow a similar path.
What is your current role, and how does your work involve artificial intelligence?
My title is CX Systems and Automation Designer for RingCentral and my role is centered around AI implementation. I do not have a background in engineering, and that’s not what my job requires. My job involves evaluating existing processes and developing AI-driven strategies to improve them. My favorite thing about my job and RingCentral is that I get to come to work every day and think of ways to make my coworkers’ lives easier. I am constantly collaborating across teams to increase efficiency and help people excel at what they do every day.
What first interested you in pursuing a career in AI?
The thing that interested me most about pursuing a career in AI was the desire to be at the forefront of something. Across education and industry, the emergence of AI is compared to the dot-com boom. When I applied to pursue my master’s degree, I saw a unique opportunity to be at the beginning of something. It felt like an opportunity that I could not let pass me by.
How did your experience at the Daniels College of Business prepare you for your current role?
The faculty behind the program were crucial to my development and helped get me where I am today. Specifically, Andrew Schnackenberg and his course, Leading Self, were instrumental in my development at Daniels. Schnack helped me figure out what I wanted and introduced me to mentors like Tony Gorski, who helped me get where I wanted to go. Without the guidance I gained at Daniels, I have no idea where I would have ended up.
How have the business and management skills you developed at Daniels helped you succeed in a technical field?
The management class series as a whole, Leading Self, Leading Teams and Leading Organizations, was pivotal in teaching me the leadership, discipline and forward thinking required to thrive in professional environments. Overall, without the foundational courses of the MSM, transitioning from being a student for most of my life into a corporate environment would have been much more challenging. These courses were led by Andrew Schnackenberg, Lily Morse and Andy Cohen. They each deserve recognition for developing the skills of their students with as much care and attention as they do.
What was the process of landing your current job, and what helped you stand out as a candidate?
I got my current job through a unique sequence of events. It started when Tony Gorski was a guest speaker in the class Leading Self. After his speaker session, I started attending mentorship meetings with him. I eventually got the opportunity to do an AI implementation internship for his company, UVConcepts. While working for UVConcepts, I was applying to jobs through LinkedIn and went through five rounds of interviews with RingCentral. I began working for RingCentral in February and spent the last three months of my master’s program working full time while attending school full time. Those months were incredibly challenging but also formative for me, and they made the transition into full-time employment easier. It was not a traditional path, but it is one that I am grateful for.
What advice would you give current Daniels students who are interested in working in AI?
My advice to current Daniels students who want to work in AI is to utilize your network and develop your skill set. We are at a unique time in history where young people have an opportunity to lead the charge. AI is an intimidating world with lots of technical language and a steep learning curve. However, the best way to learn is to do. Daniels has great resources available, but no one can force you to start, and starting is the best way. Experimentation and a willingness to fail and learn from my mistakes are how I have gotten where I am. If anyone wants to get in contact with me, I am happy to share more and see how else I can help.