With a demanding role in community service, University of Mary Washington MBA student Marty Bywaters-Baldwin is focused on helping others find their own meaningful work. And he’s using the latest technology to do it.
Chief mission officer at Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, he helped launch the CareerPath Accelerator, a tool that uses evidence-based practices and artificial intelligence to identify users’ skills and match them with suitable career paths.
“We’ve designed an interactive, scenario-based tryout where people can practice doing a job,” he said. “We then combine AI insights with support from Goodwill staff to provide career coaching or help create a plan for further training.”
As part of his MBA program at UMW, Bywaters-Baldwin is refining the CareerPath Accelerator through an independent study overseen by Associate Professor of Management Alexandra Dunn. While he combines emerging technology with a commitment to helping community members find sustainable, long-term careers, Dunn connects his work to theoretically grounded research and current developments in organizational behavior.
At a time when concerns about AI disrupting the job market are growing, the project highlights how the technology can expand opportunities. Dunn said this approach adds an “innovative dimension” and demonstrates how an MBA can address real-world challenges – particularly for professionals who remain active in the workforce while completing their studies. Read more about UMW MBA Student Connecting Classroom to Career and Community Service.