David A.

David Ajoku

5.0

(1)

Ex-Apple, NVIDIA, Tesla • 2x AI founder — Coaching aspiring MBA founders

Harvard University Logo

Studied at Harvard University

Apple Logo

Worked at Apple

Available Tuesday at 4:00 PM UTC

Only taking on 3 clients this quarter.

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

David's Coaching Offerings

Custom hourly · $499/hr

Get help with Recommendations, Cover Letters, and .

David also coaches for Career Coaching and Startup Founders. View all.

David’s MBA Qualifications

Coaches professionally

As an international student, I navigated the path from an F-1 visa to a career at Apple, NVIDIA, and Tesla, with two master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon. I've sat in the exact seat you're in: writing essays that need to feel distinctive without being gimmicky, picking schools that actually translate to the U.S. career you want after, and figuring out how to tell your story in a way that lands with admissions committees who read thousands of them. International MBA applicants face a specific challenge: most application advice is built around domestic applicants. The narrative arcs that work, the school selection criteria, the post-MBA career lens — they all assume a U.S.-citizen default. That's a real gap. And if your background is international, non-traditional, or both, that gap is where strong applications struggle. I work specifically with international applicants because that's the path I walked, and it's where I can add real value: - Finding the narrative angle that makes you distinct without leaning on the generic immigrant story - Picking schools through a sponsorship and post-MBA career lens - Positioning a non-traditional background as a strength, not a gap to explain - Writing essays that feel authentic and like you. - Preparing for the post-admit reality: visa timing, internship sponsorship, long-term career arc Whether you're applying to a MPP/MPA/MS/MBA program, the crux of a great graduate school application starts with crafting a bespoke winning strategy designed for you. I take a small cohort of clients per cycle. I'm selective because outcomes matter more than volume. If you're an ambitious international applicant aiming at top programs and you want a coach who's lived this path, book a free 30-minute consult.

David can help with:

Recommendations

Cover Letters

Resume

General Exploration

Supplementary Materials

School Selection

Essays

Secondary Review

Application Strategy

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Interviews

Editing

Ding Analysis

Networking Strategy

Waitlist Strategy

David also coaches for Career Coaching and Startup Founders. View all.

About David

I came to the United States as an immigrant on an F-1 visa without a clear roadmap. Over time, I built a career working with companies like Apple, NVIDIA, and Tesla, earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, and am currently completing my Master’s at Harvard Kennedy School. I also successfully navigated the U.S. immigration system and received an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (green card) based on my work in technology and entrepreneurship. Because of that journey, I understand the unique challenges international professionals face when trying to build a career in the U.S. My coaching focuses on helping immigrants and international students break into elite tech companies, craft powerful professional narratives, and position themselves for long-term immigration success, including strategies around sponsorship, career positioning, and entrepreneurship pathways. In addition to my work in industry, I’m the founder of Demystifyd, a platform dedicated to helping international professionals access better career opportunities and navigate the complexities of building a life and career in the United States. If you're an ambitious international professional looking to break into top tech companies and build a long-term future in the U.S., I’d be excited to work with you.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I remember how difficult it was to navigate my career in the United States as an immigrant. When I first arrived, there was no playbook for how to break into top tech companies, build the right network, or understand how career decisions could affect long-term immigration opportunities. Much of what I learned came through trial and error, mentorship from generous people along the way, and a lot of persistence. That journey eventually led me to opportunities with companies like Apple, NVIDIA, and Tesla, as well as degrees from Carnegie Mellon and Harvard. But I know how overwhelming the process can feel when you're trying to figure it all out on your own. I coach because I want to shorten that learning curve for others. If I can help someone avoid years of confusion, make smarter strategic career moves, and build a stable future in the United States, that’s incredibly meaningful to me. Watching someone gain clarity, confidence, and access to opportunities they didn’t think were possible is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

Work Experience

Demystifyd Logo

Founder, Chief Product Officer

Demystifyd

2023 - Present

Hiring Manager

AI-powered career platform for international students serving 2,000+ users across 38 countries and 16 universities. Built and shipped from zero. Learn more: www.demystifyd.com

Aware.AI Logo

Founder, CEO

Aware.AI

2022 - Present

Hiring Manager

AI maternal health platform inspired by my mom. Shipped mobile apps on the App Store and Google Play. Drove 70M+ organic views and 100x follower growth through AI-native marketing strategy. Recognized by the U.S. government and awarded an EB-2 National Interest Waiver green card for this work. Learn more: https://www.getaware.ai/for-partners

Oneday Logo

Venture Advisor

Oneday

2025 - 2026

Advised founders on AI product strategy, go-to-market, and fundraising strategies.

Kava Labs Logo

Head of Product Strategy - AI and Blockchain

Kava Labs

2024 - 2025

Owned strategic vision and roadmap for 3 next-generation blockchain products targeting a combined $10B+ market opportunity.

Apple Logo

Senior Engineering Program Manager, iPhone

Apple

2022 - 2023

Led the iPhone 15 engineering program @ Apple

NVIDIA Logo

Product Engineer - Deep Learning GPUs & AI Superchips

NVIDIA

2021 - 2021

Worked on NVDIA Grace chips, and NVIDIA GPUs. Speaker at GTC 2022

Tesla Logo

Product Engineer - Drive System (Model S/X/Y)

Tesla

2019 - 2020

Worked on Tesla model 3, model X, and model S.

CTS Corporation Logo

Chief Engineer - Global Actuators

CTS Corporation

2017 - 2019

Led the end-to-end development of the $0.25 Billion Smart VGT Actuator product from concept to launch, managing a global team of 40+

David was also given offers to work at

  • Meta Logo

    Meta

  • Amazon Logo

    Amazon

Education

Carnegie Mellon University Logo

Carnegie Mellon University

Masters, Engineering & Technology Management

Distinguished Alumni | Tartan on the Rise: https://www.cmu.edu/engage/events/tartans-on-the-rise/2026/david-ajoku

Carnegie Mellon University Logo

Carnegie Mellon University

Masters, Mechanical Engineering

Licensed U.S. Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Mechanical Engineering Top graduating student: https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/december/agma-award.html

Western Michigan University Logo

Western Michigan University

Bachelors, Aerospace Engineering

Top graduating student in class.

Sichuan University Logo

Sichuan University

Study Abroad, Manufacturing Technology

International immersion that informed my early thinking about cross-cultural product development and global supply chains.

Harvard University Logo

Harvard University

Masters, Technology & AI Policy

2025 - 2027

In progress

David was also personally admitted to

  • Tuck School of Business Logo

    Tuck School of Business

1 Review

Overall Rating

5.0


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David A.

David A.

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