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On April 9, students and faculty gathered in the Rowe Building for an engaging Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Andy Chen, President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Systems Council. The Council supports individuals and organizations involved in systems engineering, and Chen, a renowned consultant, joined Master of Digital Innovation students, Computer Science graduate students and postdocs, and faculty from the Faculties of Computer Science, Management, and Engineering for a thoughtful and interactive discussion.

Sharing practical insights into venture investing, Chen emphasized three key criteria he uses when evaluating new ventures: market size, scalability, and the team itself. Of these, he underscored that a team is the most critical, highlighting the importance of not just technical skill, but also strength in areas like finance, marketing, and resilience. He also noted the value of having a minimum viable product or proof of concept when seeking investment.

A central theme of the discussion was the evolving role of Artifical Intelligence. Chen suggested that while current AI tools are strong at generating answers, the real value lies in asking better questions. Looking ahead, he predicted a shift away from traditional programming toward using AI tools that handle much of the technical workload.

The core of our work is ‘deeply human’

The conversation also explored areas where academia and industry collaboration is essential. Andy pointed to major challenges such as the climate crisis—particularly the underuse of real-time data—along with opportunities in personal healthcare for aging populations and the need for more resilient infrastructure systems that can withstand crises.

For students, Andy emphasized one key takeaway: communication is critical. Regardless of technical expertise, the ability to clearly convey ideas and work effectively with others is what ultimately drives success.

Overall, the session highlighted that while technology is evolving rapidly, the core of impactful work remains deeply human.