Achieving Career Success in the Era of Growing Artificial Intelligence
Embracing your UNIqueness: a student article series
Published on the 16 April 2025 by UNSW Business School EDI Team
Maverick Cui, UNSW Bachelor of Computer Science, aims to be a multi-disciplinary professional with deep expertise in product management, agile development, and digital strategy.
With a background that spans both technical and business domains, Maverick brings a unique blend of skills that allow him to seamlessly bridge the gap between innovation and what the market needs.
Driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence, he aims to deliver solutions that make a real impact and is keen to explore opportunities in technological innovation, product management, or digital transformation.
While Maverick’s degree sits within the School of Computer Science and Engineering, he has built strong and meaningful connections with UNSW Business School through electives such as ECON1101 (Microeconomics), collaborative student networks, and mentorships.
He is especially grateful for the guidance of experts like Daniel Chew, Head of Finance Systems at UNSW Finance Department, whose insights continue to shape Maverick’s understanding of innovation and finance. Maverick believes that every career opportunity is a business opportunity, and this mindset keeps him constantly engaged with the broader business landscape that the UNSW Business School champions.
Maverick shared his keen insights with the UNSW Business School EDI team about what it means for undergraduate students today trying to gain career-ready skills and how to embrace the qualities that make them uniquely human during the era of AI.
As a second-year Computer Science international student from China, my UNSW journey has transformed me from a shy newcomer to a confident young professional engaged in over 200 global tech summits and leading 23 projects from concept to completion.
Looking back at my first days on campus, filled with anxiety and communication challenges, I'm amazed at how UNSW has cultivated not just my technical knowledge, but the essential human qualities that no AI can replicate.
The AI Challenge to Traditional Career Paths
In an age defined by artificial intelligence, a profound transformation is reshaping the landscape of careers and skillsets. The rapid advancement of AI, notably generative AI and large language models, has undeniably begun automating tasks once thought uniquely human — graphic design, photography, UI creation, and even sophisticated data analytics.
As powerful AI tools replicate in mere seconds skills that previously took years of mastery, the essential question for students and aspiring professionals arises: How can you achieve lasting career success when conventional skills are increasingly commoditized?
A recent insightful conversation brings this issue into clear focus, highlighting a subtle yet powerful truth: "The surface layer of human skills is rapidly depreciating, whereas the deep structure of creative generation will become the only truly scarce asset."
Traditionally, students dedicated themselves to acquiring specific skills—how to capture the perfect photograph, design intuitive interfaces, or create compelling visuals. Today, however, AI tools effortlessly replicate these "surface" abilities. Yet, beneath this technological marvel lies a crucial reality: the genuine value of human work stems not merely from technical prowess but from what individuals perceive, value, and seek to express through their chosen medium.
My Personal Transformation at UNSW
When I first arrived at UNSW, I struggled with communication and social interaction. Despite my passion for financial technology, Internet of Things (IoT), AI, and internet product planning, I found it difficult to express my ideas or connect with others.
What changed this trajectory wasn't simply acquiring technical knowledge in my Computer Science degree, but rather embracing the holistic development opportunities UNSW offers outside the classroom.
Through UNSW's transformative programs like Let's Communicate, Leadership Foundation, and the Professional Development Program, I discovered capabilities within myself that transcended coding and algorithms. These programs didn't just teach me to speak confidently; they helped me articulate my unique perspective as an international student navigating the intersection of technology and human connection.
Participating in these programs further expanded my worldview, connecting me with like-minded students globally who share my commitment to leveraging technology for positive change.
This network has proven invaluable as I've completed internships at seven leading technology and financial companies and become a partner in two startups—experiences that have taught me that technical expertise alone isn't sufficient for true innovation.
In 2023–2024, I interned at the BMW Group IT (Beijing) as a Senior Product Management Assistant, contributing to the digital transformation of large-scale group initiatives and supporting BMW’s global sustainability goals. I also assisted in enabling business growth for models like the BMW i3 and X5.
In 2024, I joined the China Mobile Internet Division as a Product Manager Intern, where I led a team of 20 global interns to design, develop, and commercialize a 0-to-1 AI image generation platform.
Despite these successes, I’ve encountered many failures—of the seven startup projects I participated in, only two survived. But these failures were deeply educational; they helped me understand not just what I’m capable of, but what kind of career and life I truly want.
I’ve learned that failure is often the fastest route to clarity. Most of these opportunities came through proactive research, cold outreach, and a strong internal drive—but also thanks to the support and guidance of UNSW programs and mentors.
Building "Non-Generic Capabilities" Through Community Engagement
In essence, the AI era compels a fundamental re-evaluation of career development, placing greater emphasis on cultivating what can be termed "non-generic capabilities": intrinsic motivations, profound curiosity, ethical sensibilities, empathy, and innovative imagination.
These uniquely human attributes remain impervious to automation and AI replication, representing the future's most valuable assets.
My commitment to dedicating approximately one-fifth of my time to community service as a volunteer with NUAA, St. John Ambulance, and Australian Red Cross has been central to developing these non-generic capabilities. These experiences as a certified emergency response volunteer have strengthened my empathy, adaptability, and ethical decision-making in ways that classroom learning alone never could.
When faced with emergency situations while volunteering, I've learned to make quick decisions while maintaining composure—skills that translate directly to the fast-paced world of technological development. More importantly, these experiences have deepened my understanding of the human impact of technology, ensuring that my technical work remains grounded in genuine human needs.
Leveraging UNSW's Ecosystem for Unique Development
At UNSW, a university renowned for championing innovation and diversity, students have unprecedented opportunities to leverage resources that foster their distinctiveness. By actively engaging with university support systems, mentorship programs, and vibrant student societies, individuals can not only refine their technical skills but, more importantly, explore and develop their unique "creative intentions."
Mentorship initiatives, such as those facilitated by UNSW's extensive alumni networks and industry partnerships, offer students direct insights into the professional world. These mentors do not merely impart technical expertise; they inspire students to question conventional career paths, motivating them to delve deeper into their genuine passions and ethical convictions. Through structured mentoring relationships, students learn to articulate their core motivations clearly, leveraging mentors' experiences to guide their unique professional trajectories.
Similarly, internships and work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities offered by UNSW Business School immerse students in real-world scenarios, prompting them to apply their academic knowledge while critically examining their own "creative impulses." Exposure to professional environments encourages students to reflect on their intrinsic motivations and how their individuality can create meaningful contributions, positioning them ahead of peers who rely solely on generic skillsets.
I am also the UNSW student representative in the U21 Global Citizen Program, where i have the priveralige to work with more than 1,000 students from top universities from around the world on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and try to find solutions ahead of the 2030 - 2050 deadlines.
Finding Your Voice in a Community of Diversity
Student societies also play a pivotal role in helping UNSW students uncover and nurture their non-generic capabilities. Clubs and associations provide dynamic platforms for students to lead, collaborate, and innovate around shared passions or societal concerns. Whether engaging in social entrepreneurship initiatives, sustainability projects, or cultural advocacy, students exercise empathy, leadership, and innovative thinking—qualities immune to replication by AI. Such experiences empower students to clearly define and communicate their distinct values, enabling them to navigate a career landscape that rewards uniqueness and originality.
Further enhancing the university's ecosystem are tailored support programs aimed at bolstering inclusivity and accessibility. Scholarships and financial assistance programs ensure students from diverse backgrounds can fully engage with university life, fostering a richly diverse academic community. This diversity directly enhances students' ability to appreciate varied perspectives, develop greater emotional intelligence, and innovate inclusively—core non-generic skills vital in the AI era.
The Future Belongs to the Uniquely Human
As an undergraduate student with interests spanning financial technology, IoT, AI, and product strategy, I've come to believe that we must focus less on competing with AI and more on cultivating what makes us irreplaceably human.
Through my journey at UNSW, from a hesitant first-year student to someone now confidently navigating global tech summits and startup ventures, I've discovered that our uniqueness lies not in what technical skills we possess, but in our creativity, ethical compass, and capacity for genuine human connection.
Ultimately, the true competitive advantage in the era of artificial intelligence is not what you can do, but rather who you uniquely are and what motivates you profoundly.
At UNSW, students have the tools and resources needed to define and embrace their uniqueness, translating it into enduring career success and personal fulfillment. I encourage all students to look beyond their degrees and embrace the full spectrum of opportunities that UNSW offers to develop their most human qualities, the very qualities that will ensure their relevance and success in an AI-transformed world.
