In the realm of music, technology, and entrepreneurship, Will.i.am could be considered one of the innovators. The multi-talented artist, is now adding another accolade to his packed resume: Harvard Business School graduate.
In a recent appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” Will.i.am, who has an estimated net worth of $50 million, shared the exciting news that he is set to graduate from Harvard Business School in 2024. Reflecting on his decision to pursue further education, Will.i.am expressed a desire to not only capitalize on his existing success but also to discipline himself for further achievements in the business world.
Call Will.i.am Graudate
The journey to graduation holds special significance for Will.i.am, who missed out on the traditional high school experience due to signing a record deal at a young age. Walking across the stage at Harvard will mark his first ever official graduation ceremony.
“One year I woke up, and I’m like, ‘I wanna go to Harvard,’” Will.i.am said on the show. “I’m doing all of this business stuff, and I wanna make sure that I’m not just taking advantage of success and not disciplining myself to have further success.”
He added, “This will be my first time walking the stage.”
While he doesn’t explain what his course load was or for how long he attended, model mogul Tyra Banks graduated from Harvard in 2012 after completing Harvard University’s Executive Education Owner/President Manager Program, a three-year program that caters to CEOs, COOs, presidents, and managing directors of companies with annual sales exceeding $5 million. Banks was not pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree, but received alumnus status.
Living the full school experience, Will.i.am shared that he has been residing in a “regular” dorm, immersing himself in the academic environment and embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with higher education.
Business Ventures
Alongside his academic pursuits, Will.i.am continues to innovate and push the boundaries of technology and entertainment. He recently debuted SoundDrive, a startup unveiled at CES 2024, which claims it will revolutionize the music industry by creating and remixing tracks based on the speed and tempo of car drivers.
Additionally, Will.i.am’s AI radio show, “will.i.am Presents the FYI Show,” explores AI innovation at the intersection of pop culture, music, entertainment, world news, and technology. His co-host is AI.
“The FYI Show is a celebration of creators, innovators, and their dreams,” will.i.am shared in a press statement at the time. “Episodes delve into AI-powered projects, exploring the What and the How, while also understanding the passion behind them. At FYI, we provide the right tools, infusing AI to help materialize dreams. An amazing journey awaits us!”
Will.i.am has built a multi-platinum career as a solo artist and cofounder of the Black Eyed Peas, winning seven Grammys and accolades as a visionary in bringing together different cultures and genres of music. In recent years, he’s become almost as well known for his work in promoting robotics, AI and technology.
He recently created a Global Artist In Residence program with Formula 1 that’s so far yielded a new single and his first solo release in a decade: The Formula, featuring Lil Wayne.
He pitched Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali on the year-long music collaboration under which the artist creates live concerts for Formula 1 fans and to bring Formula 1 to non-racing fans.
“Think about all the engineers in the pit, all the work that’s gone into making that car not only beautiful but aerodynamic—from strategy and configuration to the weight distribution. Then you have that fearless pilot who’s driving and risking their lives on a track,” he says. “What’s happening in that professional setting is a mirror of what kids are doing in a learning setting with robotics: It’s a perfect example of science, technology, engineering. arts and math.”
