AI May Take Your Job, But Not Your Influence: Michael Wald’s Message to Students

By Lisa Nguyen

“I believe all of you should become influencers — not the sexy-man, sexy-girl kind, but the niche influencer. You don’t have to be famous; you just have to be someone with a voice,” said Michael Wald.

In a lively and interactive session at Ming Chuan University’s Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) program, entrepreneur and influencer Michael Wald brought fresh energy — and a few surprises — to the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) class.

Wald introduced himself as a U.S. citizen of Puerto Rican and American descent, explaining that his multicultural background shaped his worldview: “To do marketing, you need to understand people. And to understand people, you need to understand different cultures. If you’re an international student in Taiwan, you’re already on the right path.”

Be an Influencer!

Wald revealed the day’s topic — how to become an influencer and why it gives you an unfair advantage in your career, business, and life. “In my company, I’ve already replaced interns with AI. If that doesn’t scare you, it should,” he warned.

But he also offered a solution: build your personal brand. “When you’re an influencer, even on a micro level, you’ll never run out of opportunities. You can find jobs, clients, or business deals through your social presence,” he said.

Is Gen Z Lazy — or Misunderstood?

Wald then opened a discussion about how society perceives Gen Z: “They say you don’t care about money, that you’re lazy, that you don’t want to hustle. Is it true?”

Students immediately responded, debating issues of values, ambition, and frustration with the job market. One student argued that Gen Z isn’t lazy — they’re simply pessimistic because housing prices and salaries don’t match their efforts. Another added that their generation values balance, purpose, and protecting the planet.

He followed with another thought-provoking question: “What does respect mean to your generation?”

Students replied that respect now comes from authenticity and creativity — not money or titles.

Steps to Becoming an Influencer

Step 1: Choose your niche.
“Your niche lives at the intersection of your credibility, demand, and momentum,” Wald explained. He encouraged students to start with what they already know — for instance, their study-abroad experience in Taiwan.

Step 2: Ask the key question.
“Each of you could be influencers on how to study abroad,” he said. “There are thousands of students out there who would love to learn from you. Ask yourself this: What feels like play to you but is work to others? That’s your clue — that’s your niche.”

He shared his own example: “For me, reading about business and talking to CEOs — that’s play. For others, it’s work. But that’s why I built a business around it.”

Step 3: Share — don’t perform.
“You don’t need to be perfect. Just share your real story. That’s how you build trust.”

Step 4: Influence equals leverage.
“Influence is leverage. If you can reach a million people online, it’s like having a million jobs at once. Your voice multiplies your opportunities,” Wald explained.

Step 5: Create impact — not just income.
Wald shared stories from his global marketing agency, which operates across Asia, the U.S., and Latin America. He described how social media has helped him attract clients worth over $100,000 a year, and how content creation can open doors to fun, creativity, and opportunity.

“If you want to learn marketing, content creation, or entrepreneurship,” he told the class, “I’m looking for interns. You don’t have to wait until you graduate — the best way to learn is to start doing.”

Final Message

“Don’t be afraid to start. Don’t wait for permission,” Wald concluded.

“You already have a phone, a voice, and a story worth sharing. Influence isn’t about fame — it’s about impact.”