Teens about to write board or competitive exams should prepare for many career options, experts said at a webinar on December 22, 2025. The event, titled “Career Compass: Navigating Your Next Step,” was hosted by SASTRA University and The Hindu Education Plus. Experts said career choices bring anxiety and uncertainty, so students need a multi-disciplinary approach. Artificial Intelligence (AI) affects all fields deeply. Students should pick subjects wisely and add AI skills to stay ahead, they added. "Career options were getting defined by AI," said Sumanth Raman, healthcare expert and founder of Algorithm Health. Quantum computing also brings huge chances. Anirudh Krishnan, lawyer and founder of AK Law Chambers, said that classic careers like medicine, law, engineering, management, and accountancy remain important. He urged students to follow their passion and ignore peer or parent pressure. "Don’t be a product of someone else’s decision," said S. Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice-Chancellor of SASTRA University. Krishnan shared that he switched from engineering to law after a year and never regretted it. He encouraged students to accept failure and be brave to change paths. Sruthi Kannan, Head of Strategy and Innovation at NatWest Group India, stressed going beyond degrees. She said skills like communication, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving should be at the heart of learning. While degrees matter, strong capabilities matter more, speakers explained.