From Consultant
to AI Engineer
You solve complex business problems and communicate value to clients.
Now learn to build AI solutions instead of just advising on them.
You Advise on AI.
You Want to Build It.
You recommend AI solutions to clients but lack the hands-on skills to implement them yourself.
Consulting hours are exhausting, and you want to create products instead of PowerPoints.
Technical skills feel like a foreign language despite your business and analytical strengths.
Business Translation Is Your Superpower.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
Most engineers struggle to connect technical work to business outcomes. Consultants who learn to build can do both. Your ability to understand client needs, scope problems correctly, and deliver value is exactly what AI teams need. Learn the technical skills while leveraging your consulting background.
Python and AI Fundamentals
Build coding skills focused on AI applications
Build Real AI Systems
Create working prototypes and production applications
Position Your Story
Frame consulting experience as your competitive advantage
Meet Your Mentor
My aim has been the same for years: become a world-class AI engineer. Every career move I've made has been measured against that.
I started as a software tester on a $500/month internship in the Netherlands. Taught myself to code, learned to ship real systems, and worked my way to Senior Engineer at GitHub.
Then I left GitHub. I joined an AI research lab as Member of Technical Staff, where I currently build products for secure AI monitoring.
The cohort draws directly from my real experience so you can make progress fast.
I run this special cohort with only a few people because hands-on work with me is what it takes to bring you to become a world-class AI engineer.
Real Results
Vittor
AI Engineer
Built and deployed his portfolio piece, then landed the AI role
"The coaching played a huge part in my success. I focused on AI fundamentals, the certification path, and soft skills like professional writing. Having access to expert guidance gave me confidence during interviews and helped me feel I was on the right path.
I built my own platform (simple but functional) and deployed it on AWS. I used it in my portfolio and showcased it during interviews. The way complex topics were explained, especially the restaurant analogy for AI systems, really stuck with me. Focusing on doing the basics well was absolutely essential."
What You Will Get
8 Weekly Tuesday Sessions
3 hours each for 24 live hours total.
Project Scoping at Kickoff
We set the scope of what you'll ship and the milestones to get there before the live sessions start.
Code Reviews
Reviews of your code from Zen during the cohort.
Lifetime Demo Access
Every architecture demo is recorded and yours to keep.
Demo Day
You present what you built and get feedback from Zen, with a recording you can use in your portfolio.
12 Months Community Access
Included with the cohort.
Engineers Who Understand Business Are Rare
Frequently Asked Questions
What advantages do consultants have in AI engineering?
Consultants bring rare skills that pure engineers often lack: structured problem-solving, stakeholder management, presenting technical concepts to executives, and understanding ROI. You know how to scope projects, manage expectations, and deliver value on deadline. Many AI projects fail due to poor communication between technical teams and business stakeholders. Consultants turned engineers bridge this gap naturally.
Which consulting skills transfer to AI engineering?
Several skills transfer directly: (1) Problem framing, knowing which problems are worth solving with AI, (2) Client communication, explaining technical tradeoffs to non-technical stakeholders, (3) Project scoping, breaking complex work into deliverable phases, (4) Presentation skills, demonstrating and selling your work internally. The main gap is hands-on technical implementation. Focus your learning on Python, AI APIs, and building working systems rather than theoretical concepts.
How much time will this take?
You'll spend 3 hours every Tuesday in the live session and roughly 3 hours of async work in between, for 8 weeks. The Tuesday session time is fixed.
I've signed up for cohorts before and dropped out. How is this different?
It probably isn't, and you should hold the money. Most cohort dropouts are people who couldn't articulate what they were shipping when they signed up. That's why the consult exists, and why I turn down most applications. If we get on the call and you can't tell me what you'll have shipped at the end of week 8, I'll point you to the AI Native Engineer community until you can.
I'm not pivoting careers. I want to build a product. Does this still work?
Yes, the cohort works for people shipping their first serious AI system whether the goal is to land a senior role or to launch a product. The shipped system serves both equally well.
Do I need prior AI experience?
You need to be able to code in Python or TypeScript. Complete beginners can follow the classroom they get access to before the cohort sessions to come in well-prepared.
What does it cost?
It's a four-figure investment that we discuss during the 30-minute consult, alongside whether the cohort is the right fit for your project.
Can I do this while working full-time?
Yes, most attendees do. The live session is one Tuesday a week and the async work fits around your existing schedule, as long as you can carve out roughly 6 hours a week.
I accept those who have the highest chance of success.
In the 30-minute call we discuss your goals and whether you are ready for the program.