SDA Bocconi Asia Center

Will AI take your job? Is an MBA still worth it in 2026? In this Podcast Episode, I sit down with Akhilesh Gupta, an SDA Bocconi Asia Center alumnus and Director AI Solutions at Altir, to break down the real impact of AI on careers, MBAs, consulting, and future skills. Applications for SDA Bocconi Asia Center is open currently: https://bit.ly/Sda-app2 From viral marketing campaigns like the Vodafone ZooZoo project to navigating career breaks and building relevance in the AI era, this conversation is packed with honest insights for students, professionals, and MBA aspirants. If you’re confused about your career, thinking about an MBA, or worried about AI replacing jobs, this episode is for you. What you’ll learn in this podcast: - Will AI actually replace jobs or just change them? - Is doing an MBA still worth it today? - Which roles are at risk of becoming obsolete? - How consulting is evolving in the AI era - Skills you need to stay relevant in the future - How beginners can start learning AI - What top B-schools really look for in students - SDA Bocconi experience, alumni network & global exposure - Real career advice after 10 years of MBA About the Guest: Akhilesh is an SDA Bocconi alumnus with experience across operations, consulting, and marketing. He has worked on high-impact campaigns and brings a practical perspective on careers, MBA value, and adapting to AI disruption. Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilesh1/ Timestamps: 0:00 Trailer 1:35 Introduction 2:06 Should we worry about AI taking jobs? 2:54 Akhilesh’s Background 4:08 Why MBA from SDA Bocconi? 6:42 His work in Operations 9:54 Career Break 12:31 The Viral Vodafone ZooZoo Free Project 13:57 Is MBA still relevant? 16:10 Roles that will become obsolete 18:06 Consulting in the world of AI 19:49 Skills required to stay relevant 22:45 How to upskill in AI as a beginner 27:24 Evaluation of students 29:16 SDA Bocconi Alumni 29:54 Success after 10 years of MBA 31:13 B-Schools vs AI 32:44 International Immersion Experience at SDA Bocconi Italy 34:59 Selection Process for Exchange Program 35:37 Advice for students 39:28 Outro Explore all pre MBA courses here: https://www.mbacircle.in/s/store Brief about me: I am Ananta Chhajer, an IIM Ahmedabad alumni, founder of MBA Circle and a content creator Connect with me on Linkedin: https://linkedin.openinapp.co/8k5qr Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anantachhajer/ Telegram Group for Free Resources: https://t.me/mbacompass