I help organizations cut through the hype and deploy AI where it actually matters — with governance, measurable outcomes, and people at the center.
Get quick answers about my experience, approach, or availability.
Most AI initiatives fail — not because the technology doesn't work, but because organizations chase hype instead of solving real problems.
I've spent years helping companies figure out where AI actually creates value, build the governance to do it safely, and train teams to sustain it. The result: measurable outcomes, not science projects.
At Vivacity Tech PBC, a national K-12 EdTech company
Previously: Toyota Group (JTEKT North America)
I sit at the intersection of three things most AI efforts get wrong.
Where does AI actually create value?
I identify high-ROI opportunities and build pragmatic roadmaps — not slide decks that gather dust.
How do we do this safely?
I build frameworks that protect the organization while accelerating adoption — not blocking it.
How do we make it stick?
I train teams to become AI-capable, not AI-dependent. Builders, not just consumers.
Warranty break rate analysis across 3 legacy data warehouses
No single source of truth. Data scattered across Customer Central, Dream, and NetSuite spanning 2018-present. ~150K warranties missing from source files. Zero mature 4-year cohorts for analysis.
Built analysis framework using Claude Projects. Migrated to Google Colab for full-file processing. Discovered and resolved 5 major data integrity issues through iterative validation. Recalibrated methodology to project from complete 1Y/2Y data.
Delivered defensible metrics leadership could trust: 32.8% clean break rate, 50% refurbished rate, 82% projected dropship rate. Validated 447K clean Empower+ cohort from 853K total rows.
$25K/year SaaS tool that nobody liked using
Understood the actual pain point. Built an internal replacement (TCO Calculator) for $25/month.
Directors and C-suite requesting walkthroughs. Vendor contract under review for cancellation.
AI vendor with impressive demos but critical security gaps
Built governance framework, conducted rigorous 14-day evaluation, identified 192% budget consumption from automatic processes alone.
Blocked the vendor. Protected the organization from GDPR/CCPA liability.
Uneven AI adoption — some teams thriving, others stuck
Launched AI Office Hours, tiered training programs, promoted internal talent into new AI Specialist role.
100% adoption of safe AI practices across 300+ employees. 31% of committed code now AI-assisted.
Mass spectrometry, EPA compliance, precision instrumentation at national labs. That background taught me to question assumptions, treat data with rigor, and never trust a result I can't verify.
I carried that into program management at Toyota Group, where I led multi-year product launches across global teams. Then into AI strategy, where I saw the same pattern everywhere: organizations buying tools without understanding problems.
Now I help fix that.
PMP · IBM AI Product Manager · Responsive AI Professional
I've also built things — including an AI research tool and internal business applications. I know enough about how these systems work to call BS when needed.
I'm available for full-time roles and advisory engagements across US and EU.
Schedule a 15-minute introashley@aiashley.io