Meet Ryan Shah

We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Shah recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I draw my resilience from navigating the job market from 2024 to 2025, which proved to be one of the toughest periods I have ever faced. That stretch exposed me to constant setbacks and rejection, often after investing significant time and effort into each opportunity, and it forced me to confront what persistence really means. Instead of allowing the discouragement to define me, I learned to regroup quickly, refine my approach, and continue moving forward with intention. I am somewhat grateful for that experience because it reshaped my mindset and taught me that everything is earned, not given. That understanding strengthened my discipline, sharpened my focus, and gave me a deeper appreciation for growth that comes through challenge.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I focus my professional work on pushing the boundaries of what is possible with artificial intelligence, and a major turning point in that journey was earning a Guinness World Record in partnership with Microsoft for an AI achievement that expanded my sense of what I could accomplish. That moment showed me that the limits I once assumed were fixed could be completely reimagined, and it inspired me to pursue creative and technical goals that once felt out of reach, including aiming for recognition on the Billboard charts and at the Grammys through AI generated music one day, exploring the potential for award winning AI driven films that could compete at the Oscars, and working toward becoming a bestselling author by writing accessible and forward looking books about AI. What excites me most about this work is the pace of innovation and the freedom to invent entirely new categories of expression, all while building credibility in the field. It has been encouraging to see the respect this path has earned from peers who now refer to me as an AI expert both in person and on calls with major companies. This recognition motivates me to continue driving impact and setting new standards for what AI can achieve.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three qualities that shaped my journey most were networking, storytelling, and resilience. Networking expanded my access to information, support, and opportunities by helping me build genuine relationships with people who opened doors I did not even know existed. Storytelling allowed me to communicate my work in a way that created clarity, excitement, and trust, which is essential when you are involved in emerging fields like AI. Resilience held everything together by allowing me to keep going through setbacks and long stretches of uncertainty.

For anyone early in their journey, I recommend approaching networking as a long-term investment based on curiosity and consistency rather than quick wins. Focus on showing real interest in people and staying connected to those who inspire you. To strengthen storytelling, practice explaining your work in simple terms to different audiences and study how strong communicators structure their messages. To build resilience, create routines that help you manage rejection and pressure, and remind yourself that progress often happens quietly before it becomes visible. Developing these three qualities will give you a durable foundation for any path you choose.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

My biggest area of growth over the past twelve months has been a significant increase in my fluency with AI, along with a meaningful expansion of my networking capabilities. I have spent considerable time deepening my technical understanding, experimenting with new tools, and staying ahead of emerging trends, which has strengthened both my confidence and the value I can bring to any project or collaboration. At the same time, I have become much more intentional about building relationships, seeking out industry leaders, and engaging with communities where real innovation is happening. That combination of stronger technical fluency and broader professional reach has elevated the quality of my work and opened doors that were not accessible to me a year ago.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanshahtech
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanshahtech
• Other: Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@ryanshahtech

Image Credits

KSU Young Professionals, Distant Relatives, & Microsoft