I'm a Meta data scientist. My Ph.D sets me apart in Big Tech — but I wouldn't recommend my path to everyone.

Tech Insider : Business
Anand Ramanathan is standing in front of the ocean, wearing a blue jacket with the NASA logo on it.
Ramanathan said his Ph.D taught him to value skepticism and verification.

Courtesy of Anand Ramanathan

I was a senior director of GenAI at Meta. I have 4 tips for breaking into AI — including whether you need a Ph.D.

Tech Insider : Business
Devi Parikh smiling
Parikh quit her job as a senior director of GenAI at Meta in 2024.

Courtesy of Yutori

I am an AI scientist at Amazon Web Services. It's not too late to get a Ph.D. in AI.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Technology
Girik Malik is standing in front of a whiteboard in his office.
Girik Malik, 30, is an applied scientist at Amazon Web Services. He told Business Insider that a Ph.D. in AI will become more valuable, not less, as the technology becomes more prevalent.

Girik Malik

Rivian's CEO explains why he got a Ph.D. — and why he chose MIT over Stanford

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Technology
RJ Scaringe is pictured
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe described picking between Stanford and MIT as being "recruited for a nerd sports team."

Amy E. Price/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images

After I got my Ph.D., I realized I didn't want to work in that field. I was in financial ruin until I found the right job for me.

Tech Insider : Business
A woman wearing a cap and gown.

Boy_Anupong/Getty Images

I quit my Ph.D. program to be a wife and mother at 23. It's not what I expected for my post-college life, but I'm happier.

Tech Insider
Terryn Witherspoon-Woolfolk and her husband cutting a cake on their wedding day
The author, left, wanted to be a mother and wife – not an academic.

Courtesy of Trevor Mercer

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