For many students finishing their undergraduate degrees, deciding what comes next is not always straightforward. Some take time to gain work experience, while others feel ready to continue directly into graduate studies. Elijah Maubert '25 chose the latter path. Fresh from ɬ, where he studied philosophy, political science, and social entrepreneurship, he moved straight into the Master of Public Policy program, confident in both the timing and his direction.
“I had a lot of theoretical knowledge that I wanted to translate into something practical,” Elijah says. In his undergrad thesis, he explored the ethics of artificial intelligence, arguing for something he called the “explainability thesis.” If companies or governments use AI to make decisions about people, they should be able to explain those decisions to the people affected. “I felt there was a real policy on this front,” he explains. “I thought that that would be something I'd be able to kind of learn about how to influence that change.”
The leap into a demanding master’s program right after undergrad wasn’t easy. Elijah admits he wondered whether his age and limited professional experience might set him back. But encouragement from Professor Daniel Weinstock, who told him not to let his youth discourage him, gave him the confidence to go for it. “Even though I was young and coming straight into a professional program, he told me not to be discouraged. That gave me a lot of confidence.”
The reality of the program hit quickly. “It is very taxing, and 11 months really does go by quickly,” he says. “That was something I underestimated—but I don’t regret it at all.” What helped was knowing exactly why he was there. “Although it was challenging, I knew what I was coming into the program to do, and that gave me a boost.”
Instead of being intimidated by his more experienced peers, Elijah leaned into the opportunity to learn from them. “I didn’t find it daunting—it was actually an attractive proposition. I got to learn from people who’d already been in the workforce, while I was bringing in fresh perspectives. I saw it as an opportunity to refine my critical thinking and build my network.”
That mix of confidence and curiosity made Elijah stand out. “As my cohort found out quite quickly, I’m a bit of an AI nerd,” he laughs. His Policy Lab capstone gave him a chance to put those interests into practice. Working with the Competition Bureau of Canada, Elijah and his teammates took on algorithmic pricing—how AI can set prices in ways that help both businesses and consumers, but also how it can create risks and harms if left unchecked. “It wasn’t directly about alignment or interpretability, but it pushed me to explore new ground within my niche,” he says. “I was really thankful for that opportunity. And I had an amazing team—Angelina, Isabella, and Pumaya—and our coach Tim Lane was fantastic. It was one of the highlights of the program.”
Looking back, Elijah is candid about what it takes to make the most of the MPP. “When I was applying, I thought the program would give me space to figure out what I wanted. But 11 months is intense, and there’s a tough winter in the middle of it. If you don’t know why going in, it can just fly by you. Once you know why, you can really make the most of the program.”
His other piece of advice? Don’t underestimate the cohort experience. “Because of the intensity, your schedule aligns more with your classmates than with other friends you might have in the city. Form good friendships, support each other, and make the most of it. Those relationships are one of the best parts of the program.”
Elijah’s year in the MPP helped him see how the questions he had explored in the classroom could shape implementable policy. “It was the perfect year for me to come into the MPP,” he says. “It gave me exactly what I needed to take my ideas and put them into practice.” As he moves forward, now as a consultant at Dalberg in Kenya working on some really cool projects, he carries a clear sense of direction and the confidence that thoughtful, well-applied ideas can make a difference in the work he is passionate about.
