AI Strategy & Execution Advisory
(most common)
Timeline: 4–8 weeks | Best for: Mid-market executives facing high-stakes AI decisions
What this looks like
I work with your leadership team to:
- Build AI strategy and roadmap
- Validate tools and vendors
- Train your team
- Establish governance
- Oversee execution
This is for companies where AI decisions have real financial and operational stakes — you're choosing between multiple vendors, building an internal team, or re-evaluating stalled initiatives.
I don't embed in your company full-time. I work with your leadership team on a fixed-term basis (usually 4–8 weeks), focused on making and executing specific decisions — not producing reports.
What you get:
- • AI roadmap based on your goals and constraints (not vendor hype)
- • Vendor validation and selection (technical + commercial diligence)
- • Governance structure (who owns what, how decisions get made)
- • Execution oversight (making sure vendors and teams deliver what they promised)
- • Team training (AI fundamentals + specific tools they'll use)
Common situations where this applies:
- • You're choosing between 3+ enterprise AI platforms — and switching later costs $500k+ and 18 months
- • Your AI initiative stalled 6 months ago — and you don't know if it's a people problem, a technology problem, or a governance problem
- • You have multiple departments buying AI tools independently — creating tool sprawl, duplicated spend, and no central ownership
- • Your board is pushing you to "do something with AI" — but you don't have internal expertise or a clear plan
What this is not:
- • Implementation or engineering work (I don't write code or build systems)
- • Full-time embedding (I work on a fixed-term engagement basis)
- • Comprehensive AI transformation (I focus on specific decisions, not multi-year programs)
Pricing:
Fixed-fee project basis. Depends on scope and timeline. Discuss your situation first.
AI Due Diligence (for investors)
Timeline: 2–4 weeks | Best for: PE Operating Partners, VCs, and board members
What this looks like
Independent technical and strategic assessment of a portfolio company's AI initiatives.
I evaluate vendor contracts, technical feasibility, execution risk, and governance structure — then provide clear recommendations on what needs to change.
This is for investors and board members who need to know if a portfolio company's AI spend is worth it — and what adjustments need to happen.
What you get:
- • Technical validation of vendor claims and AI strategy
- • Execution risk assessment (people, technology, governance)
- • Commercial analysis (are contracts reasonable? Are terms fair?)
- • Clear recommendations on what to keep, what to change, what to stop
- • Follow-up support to implement changes (if needed)
Common situations where this applies:
- • Your portfolio company is spending $500k+ on AI — but you're not confident they're making the right decisions
- • A portfolio company signed a multi-year vendor contract — and you want to know if they locked themselves into the wrong platform
- • Leadership says "AI is going well" — but you don't have internal expertise to validate their claims
- • You're considering an investment in a company with significant AI spend — and need independent technical diligence
Deliverables:
- • Written assessment with clear recommendations
- • Technical and commercial risk analysis
- • Board-ready summary (if needed)
- • Follow-up call to walk through findings
Pricing:
Fixed-fee project basis. Depends on complexity. Discuss your situation first.
Training & Enablement Workshops
Timeline: Half-day or full-day sessions | Best for: Leadership teams and functional teams
What this looks like
Custom workshops designed to get your team up to speed on AI fundamentals, specific tools, or strategic thinking — not generic courses.
I don't run off-the-shelf training programs. I design sessions based on your team's actual workflows, goals, and tools — so they can apply what they learn immediately.
Common workshop formats:
- • AI fundamentals for executives — What AI actually is, how it works, what's real vs. hype
- • Tool-specific enablement — How to use the AI platform your company just bought
- • Vendor evaluation training — How to assess AI vendors without relying on sales pitches
- • AI governance for leadership — How to structure ownership, decision-making, and risk management
What you get:
- • Custom-designed session (not generic slides)
- • Focused on your team's actual use cases and tools
- • Interactive format (not lecture-style)
- • Follow-up Q&A and materials
Common situations where this applies:
- • Your company just bought an AI platform — and your team doesn't know how to use it effectively
- • Leadership needs to understand AI fundamentals before making strategic decisions — but generic courses don't map to your business
- • Your team is evaluating vendors — and you want them to ask the right technical and strategic questions
Pricing:
Fixed fee per session. Half-day or full-day formats available. Discuss your needs first.
Not a fit
- • You need implementation or engineering resources. I don't write code or build AI systems. I help you make decisions and oversee execution.
- • You want a comprehensive AI transformation program. I focus on specific, high-stakes decisions — not multi-year transformation initiatives.
- • You're looking for someone to validate a decision you've already made. I provide independent analysis, not rubber stamps.
- • You need ongoing management consulting. I work on fixed-term engagements, not open-ended advisory relationships.
- • Your AI decisions are low-risk and reversible. If switching costs are minimal and stakes are low, you don't need this.
Let's talk
Email me at kate@thebrained.com or call +1 (917) 804-0333.
Include:
- • What you're trying to do with AI
- • Your timeline
- • What's at stake (financially, operationally, competitively)
- • What type of engagement you think fits (or not sure yet)
I'll respond within 24 hours to let you know if I can help.