
David Ajoku
5.0
(1)
Ex-Apple, NVIDIA, Tesla • 2x AI founder — Coaching aspiring MBA founders
Studied at Harvard University
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

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

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

Venture Advisor
Oneday
2025 - 2026
Advised founders on AI product strategy, go-to-market, and fundraising strategies.

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.

Senior Engineering Program Manager, iPhone
Apple
2022 - 2023
Led the iPhone 15 engineering program @ Apple

Product Engineer - Deep Learning GPUs & AI Superchips
NVIDIA
2021 - 2021
Worked on NVDIA Grace chips, and NVIDIA GPUs. Speaker at GTC 2022

Product Engineer - Drive System (Model S/X/Y)
Tesla
2019 - 2020
Worked on Tesla model 3, model X, and model S.

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

Amazon
Education

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
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
Bachelors, Aerospace Engineering
Top graduating student in class.

Sichuan University
Study Abroad, Manufacturing Technology
International immersion that informed my early thinking about cross-cultural product development and global supply chains.

Harvard University
Masters, Technology & AI Policy
2025 - 2027
In progress
David was also personally admitted to

Tuck School of Business
1 Review
Overall Rating
5.0
David has helped clients get into these companies: