Build Internal AI Capability That Reduces Outside Dependencies

Strategic advisory developing your internal capabilities and technical judgment to build advanced AI products independently.

Dr Colin Kelly

PhD in NLP (Cambridge)

Former Head of Applied AI Research

Hiring AI Engineers Requires Organizational Capability

You can hire data scientists. You can recruit ML engineers. You can even poach from Google or OpenAI.

But building genuine organisational AI capability requires more than headcount. It requires strategic thinking about team structure, technology choices, development practices, and decision-making frameworks. It requires leadership that can distinguish between genuine technical sophistication and impressive-sounding complexity.

Many organizations hire AI talent but struggle to build sophisticated products. The missing piece is organizational capability—the structures, processes, and judgment to use that talent well.

We help you build the structures, practices, and judgment to use that talent effectively.

Is This Right For You?

This service is designed for:

CEOs and founders who want to build AI as a genuine core competency, not an outsourced function

CTOs building AI teams who want strategic guidance on structure, hiring, and technical direction

Heads of AI/ML who need a thought partner with deep technical and strategic experience

Organisations who've hired AI talent but aren't seeing sophisticated output

Companies transitioning from AI experimentation to AI as a competitive advantage

For organizations who want to own AI capability internally, not outsource it indefinitely.

What's Included

Strategic Framework Development

  • AI capability maturity assessment: where you are vs. where you need to be
  • Technology strategy: build vs. buy vs. partner decisions with clear rationale
  • Roadmap development: sequenced capability building with realistic timelines
  • Investment prioritisation: where to focus limited resources for maximum impact

Team Structure & Development

  • Organisational design for AI teams: structure, reporting, integration with product/engineering
  • Role definition and hiring strategy: what skills you actually need vs. what job descriptions typically say
  • Career pathways and retention: keeping your best people as they develop
  • Skill gap analysis and training recommendations

Technical Leadership Development

  • Executive AI literacy: helping leadership make informed technical decisions
  • Technical judgment development: knowing what questions to ask and when to push back
  • Vendor and technology evaluation frameworks
  • Build vs. buy decision-making processes

Governance & Decision-Making

  • AI ethics and responsible development frameworks
  • Project prioritisation and portfolio management
  • Success metrics that actually measure capability, not activity
  • Risk management specific to AI development

How We Work

1

Capability Assessment

2-3 weeks

Deep analysis of your current AI capabilities: team skills, technical infrastructure, processes, and organisational readiness. We identify specific gaps between where you are and where you need to be.

Output: Capability assessment report with prioritised recommendations

2

Strategy Development

2-4 weeks

Working with your leadership, we develop a practical capability-building roadmap. This isn't a 50-page strategy deck — it's a focused plan with clear actions, owners, and timelines.

Output: AI capability strategy and implementation roadmap

3

Advisory Engagement

3-12 months

Ongoing advisory relationship supporting execution. Regular sessions with leadership, ad-hoc guidance on specific decisions, and periodic capability reassessment. Frequency and intensity tailored to your needs.

Output: Measurable capability growth

4

Independence

Ongoing

Our goal is to make ourselves unnecessary. As your internal capability grows, our involvement decreases. We're successful when you don't need us anymore.

Output: Self-sufficient AI capability

The Capability Building Journey

Timeline varies based on starting point and investment level

1

Stage 1: Foundation

Months 1-3

  • Establish core team structure and roles
  • Implement basic development practices and tooling
  • Create evaluation frameworks for AI projects
  • Build executive AI literacy
2

Stage 2: Execution

Months 3-6

  • Deliver first sophisticated AI projects with advisory support
  • Refine hiring and onboarding processes
  • Develop internal technical review practices
  • Establish vendor management capabilities
3

Stage 3: Independence

Months 6-12

  • Team operates independently on complex projects
  • Internal technical leadership makes confident decisions
  • Established patterns for evaluating new opportunities
  • Advisory becomes periodic check-in, not active guidance
4

Stage 4: Excellence

12+ months

  • Organisation becomes known for AI capability
  • Attracts top talent based on reputation
  • Contributes to broader AI community
  • Advisory relationship becomes peer exchange

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from hiring a Head of AI?

A Head of AI is an employee focused on execution. We're strategic advisors focused on building the capability for your Head of AI (and their team) to succeed. We bring external perspective, pattern recognition across industries, and no organisational politics. Ideally, we help you hire the right Head of AI and set them up for success.

How much of your time do we get?

Advisory engagements typically involve 2-4 hours per week of direct engagement plus async support. This scales based on intensity of activity — more during critical periods (hiring, major technical decisions), less during steady-state execution.

Do you help with hiring?

Yes. We help define roles, review candidates, conduct technical interviews, and advise on offers. We don't replace your recruiting function, but we ensure you're hiring for the right capabilities and evaluating candidates effectively.

What if we already have an AI team that's underperforming?

Common situation. We'll assess whether the issue is team capability, organisational structure, unclear direction, or something else entirely. Sometimes the team is fine but the environment is working against them. We'll give you an honest diagnosis and practical path forward.

How do you measure success?

Capability growth, not activity. Specific metrics depend on your starting point but typically include: team capability assessments, project delivery quality, internal technical decision-making confidence, and ultimately, reduced need for external advisory.

Can this work alongside other consultants or vendors?

Yes. We often work alongside implementation partners, providing strategic oversight and ensuring external work builds internal capability rather than creating dependency.

Ready to Build Your AI Capability?

Let's discuss where you are, where you want to be, and what it would take to build genuine internal AI expertise.

Get in Touch

Ready to discuss building your AI capability? Send us a message.

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