A.J. here. My recent conversation with Cambridge Professor Hamza Mudassir completely changed how I think about business strategy in the age of AI. Hamza isn't just another academic—he's led three $650M+ exits and has uniquely positioned himself at the intersection of practical business success and cutting-edge AI research.About Hamza MudassirHamza Mudassir is a Strategy Lecturer at Cambridge University, where he brings digital disruption to life for his MBA, EMBA, and MPhil students. He’s also the founder of two ventures—Platypodes.io and Strategize.inc—where he helps businesses navigate big changes in AI and corporate strategy. With an MBA from the Cambridge Judge Business School, advanced AI strategy training at MIT, and M&A at INSEAD, Hamza combines deep expertise with hands-on experience.Over the years, Hamza has held top roles at companies like Amazon, Jagex, and Adstream, leading them through significant growth and successful sales—three in the past six years! His insights on strategy and AI frequently appear in Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, bringing his unique take on the future of business to a broad audience. Outside work, he’s a die-hard gamer with every console imaginable, often joined by his two Ragdoll cats for gaming marathons while helping his daughter reach her dream of being a KPop star.What struck me most was his insight that the era of rigid business frameworks is ending. These frameworks were created when we had limited data and needed simple models to understand complex business environments. But now, AI can simulate millions of scenarios, incorporating centuries of business wisdom, market dynamics, and competitive responses.During our conversation, I shared how I recently helped increase an acquisition price by $150K simply by using AI to analyze negotiation patterns. This isn't theoretical, and Hamza explained how it's happening now, and entrepreneurs who need to pay attention risk being left behind.What fascinated me was Hamza's prediction that within 5-10 years, AI will assist in things like negotiating and making most routine business decisions, leaving entrepreneurs free to focus on big-picture innovation and exceptional situations. He compared where we are now to "the Wild West of AI" - a time of incredible opportunity for those willing to embrace it.Also, what resonated with me was that the best businesses aren't the ones with the fanciest strategies—they're the ones that consistently execute the basics well. But as entrepreneurs, we all know how hard it is to maintain that consistency while juggling fires, opportunities, and daily chaos. This is where AI becomes your secret weapon - not for replacing your judgment, but for:- Testing decisions against millions of scenarios before committing resources- Identifying blind spots in your thinking (we all have them)- Keeping you focused on proven growth drivers when shiny objects appear- Providing pattern-matching insights from centuries of business history- Challenging your assumptions with data-driven perspectivesIn this episode, we dive deep into practical steps entrepreneurs can take to leverage AI for better strategic decisions, including:- How to ensure your business data is clean and properly structured- Ways to experiment with current AI tools to analyze patterns in your business decisions- Focusing on using AI to maintain consistency in your core business processes- Identifying areas where AI can help you stick to proven strategies instead of chasing every new opportunityIf you're building a business that needs to thrive in the AI age (and that's all of us), this is an episode you can't miss.Key Insights:Use AI to test your ideas. With AI, you can create a “digital twin” of your business and try out different ideas without taking real-world risks. The AI will learn your decision-making style and help you see what works.Make time for deep reflection. Running a business can be isolating, especially when making big decisions. Find ways to reflect safely, like using unbiased feedback or finding a space where you can think freely about your direction.Get comfortable with uncertainty. The entrepreneurial journey often involves unexpected twists and turns. Embrace flexibility and be ready to adapt as new information or challenges come up. Sometimes, having a mindset that allows for uncertainty is a key strength.Plan for “What ifs” with AI. Use AI to run many “what if” scenarios, including rare but impactful situations. This can prepare you for surprises and keep your business steady through unexpected changes.Model your business ecosystem. Simulate how competitors, customers, and policies affect your business. This will help you make smarter choices by showing how different moves might play out in the market and how all players are connected.Hamza's best advice for entrepreneurs:"You could have an AI that can effectively not just navigate a digital twin of your company and make great ...
