A Ph.D. brought him his dream job; here’s why he’s doing an MBA at 41 to level up for AI
From research to Intel
Upadhyaya, 42, lives in Oregon and works at Intel. His doctoral research focused on EUV lithography, a semiconductor manufacturing technology, and he wanted a role at a company involved in both chip design and manufacturing.
He began at Intel in 2015, then spent about five years in research and development before moving into supply chain roles. Those positions involved managing relationships and negotiating contracts.
A skills gap emerged
As his work shifted, Upadhyaya found that he needed stronger skills in executive communication and financial analysis. During an executive presentation, his manager sometimes helped make his points more business-focused and encourage a response from the room.
He also found some finance concepts difficult during contract negotiations. He decided an MBA could address those specific needs, rather than simply add another credential.
Balancing study and work
Upadhyaya takes one week off each quarter for in-person MBA sessions and studies online three days a week. His company is partly funding the program, which is useful given that MBAs can cost $100,000.
By graduation, he expects to have completed nine years of postgraduate study and invested an estimated $100,000 in his education, excluding scholarships and tuition waivers. He says the degrees have supported his career at different stages.
Expertise in the age of AI
Upadhyaya says his Ph.D. helped him build discipline, patience and comfort with ambiguity. Though he sometimes doubted his decision while peers earned more after shorter study, he says the experience made him sharper and more resilient.
He believes AI can process and analyze information quickly, but lacks the judgment built through learning and experience. In a previous Intel role, he found AI could not troubleshoot problems involving new or custom-made equipment because the circumstances were unique. He says choosing a field of genuine interest, developing expertise and continuing to learn can help people remain valuable as AI advances.
Key points
- Upadhyaya joined Intel in 2015 after earning two master’s degrees and a Ph.D.
- He moved from research and development into supply chain work after about five years.
- His MBA targets gaps in executive communication and financial analysis.
- He argues that expertise and human judgment can complement AI’s speed and scale.