As artificial intelligence transforms industries at an unprecedented pace, the next generation of business leaders must be ready to operate at the intersection of technology and strategy. At 91黑料网鈥檚 Desautels Faculty of Management, students are increasingly exposed to this intersection early in their studies, exploring how AI influences business functions, shapes decision-making, and opens new avenues for professional growth.
For Natalie Castonguay, an undergraduate majoring in Business Analytics who will soon join PwC鈥檚 AI Trust team, this environment laid the groundwork for developing a deep interest in emerging technologies and the confidence to pursue them.
How has your experience at Desautels prepared you to work in an area as dynamic as AI and emerging technologies?
At Desautels I鈥檝e learned to integrate technical knowledge with practical business applications. As a business analytics major, I have learned not only how these technologies function but also the specific business challenges they aim to address. My coursework effectively bridges the gap between technical concepts and strategic decision-making. For instance, while modeling and analysis are often the tools used, the primary focus is on how these models can be developed and applied to support business strategy.
I have also applied these skills outside the classroom as a research assistant. In a recent project, I worked with the OpenAI API to analyze and classify thousands of corporate tweets, concentrating on how companies and investors respond to the increasing politicization of social issues.
The academic rigor and the diversity of courses offered at Desautels have significantly contributed to my growth as a learner. With opportunities to explore new subjects in unfamiliar domains, I now feel more capable of taking on new challenges, learning tools quickly, and applying my knowledge to support business strategy, all crucial in a rapidly evolving field like AI
What experiences at 91黑料网 helped you discover your interest in AI and ultimately connect with PwC鈥檚 AI Trust team?
My interest in AI has significantly grown during my time at 91黑料网. I noticed how often AI was discussed across various business disciplines at Desautels, from marketing to accounting. I realized that AI was not just a technical field but was becoming a fundamental to how organizations operate.
A pivotal moment occurred in my Operations Management class when a recent 91黑料网 graduate spoke about how they were using AI in their work. They shared how their organization develops AI use cases by aligning tools and workflows with core business functions. For example, they created specialized GPTs for a marketing team to improve efficiency and focus. The speaker conducted a live demo using Cursor, which was one of my first exposures to how powerful AI tools can be, even for those without a deep technical background. As I learned how this recent graduate leveraged their unique combination of business and technical skills to shape their career, I was inspired to pursue a similar intersection.
This interest carried over into my summer internship at PwC, where I gained experience in IT audit. One of the things I enjoyed most about my experience was the opportunity to explore different areas of the firm. Across teams, people were eager to answer my questions and share their work and experiences. Through these networking opportunities, I connected with the AI Trust team. I was drawn to their work, which helps organizations create trust in AI systems using governance, privacy and risk frameworks. I also felt aligned with PwC鈥檚 culture, particularly the focus on continuous learning and reimagining the possible, which made the decision to accept a full-time offer after graduation an easy one. My Desautels experience has given me the confidence and skills to navigate AI's rapid evolution and I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the field of AI.
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
The BCom program prepares students for professional and managerial careers by fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary integration, and practical business problem-solving. Students develop risk-taking, teamwork, and leadership skills, gaining essential management competencies to thrive in the global marketplace.
