Syracuse Alum Helps Shape OpenAI’s Next Chapter
Lucas Krupkin never expected his career would lead him to one of the world’s most closely watched technology companies.
Today, the Posse Miami alum is helping build OpenAI’s emerging advertising business as one of the first external hires on the organization’s global advertising team. For Lucas, the opportunity represents another step in a career built on curiosity and a willingness to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach.
Growing up in Miami, Lucas never imagined attending college outside of Florida. He dreamed of becoming a journalist until a friend encouraged him to apply for the Posse Scholarship. “No one from my high school had ever gotten Posse,” says Lucas. “I didn’t really know what it was.” After participating in Posse’s three-part Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP), Lucas was selected to join a Posse at Syracuse University.
“My parents were crying,” says Lucas. “I realized this wasn’t just a scholarship. Someone was betting on me.”
At Syracuse, Lucas discovered a passion for storytelling through advertising. He combined studies in business and communications while serving as president of both the Marketing Association and the Advertising Association, experiences that strengthened his leadership skills and professional confidence.
Don’t take anything at face value. Ask why—and then ask why again.
Determined to build a career in technology, Lucas pursued opportunities that would stretch him beyond his comfort zone. After countless applications, he earned an internship at Meta, where he was the only intern from a non-Ivy League institution among a cohort of 30 students.
That experience launched a career that included five promotions while supporting advertisers ranging from small businesses to global brands. Along the way, Lucas also championed initiatives that elevated Latino leadership, including creating a speaker series featuring Latino executives and interviewing Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri.
As artificial intelligence emerged as the next frontier in technology, Lucas found himself drawn toward OpenAI. After reaching out through a single LinkedIn connection and persistently pursuing an opportunity over nine months, he joined the company’s newly formed advertising team.
While artificial intelligence often dominates headlines, Lucas says he is motivated by its potential to expand access to powerful tools that support learning, creativity and entrepreneurship. Just as important, he has been struck by the thoughtfulness with which his colleagues approach the responsibility of developing rapidly evolving technology.
“We’re doing some very serious things,” says Lucas. “Hopefully, we’ll steer it in the right direction.”
That sense of responsibility reflects the leadership philosophy Lucas traces back to his Posse experience.
“My main job is to help the person next to me and grow the team,” says Lucas. “If everyone around you succeeds, then you succeed too.”
He believes one of the most valuable lessons Posse taught him was learning to approach people with empathy and curiosity.
“Put yourself in other people’s shoes,” says Lucas. “Don’t take anything at face value. Ask why—and then ask why again.”
