Heidelberg AICurriculum

From Zero to Head of AI in 1 Year (as a regular person)

Nate Herk | AI Automation ·2026-06-12 ·1 min read

Summary written by us from the video's transcript. The video, and everything in it, is Nate Herk | AI Automation's work.

Learn how a former email developer transitioned to becoming head of AI for 15 companies in just one year, using low‑code automation tools and personal branding.

Takeaways

  • Low‑code automation platforms (Zapier, Make, NA10) enable non‑technical professionals to build AI solutions quickly.
  • Active participation in communities and free courses accelerates skill acquisition and provides networking opportunities.
  • Publicly sharing projects—via talks, YouTube, or LinkedIn—creates tangible proof of ability for hiring managers.
  • Balancing AI as a brainstorming aid with human judgment leads to effective decision‑making.
  • Hands‑on implementation, not just strategy, is essential for a head of AI role across diverse business units.

What a Head of AI Does

Eileen explains that as head of AI at Yang she defines and executes AI strategy across 15 separate businesses—from co‑working spaces to coffee shops and hotels. She balances strategic planning (prioritising quick wins vs long‑term projects) with hands‑on implementation, building automations from start to live deployment.

From Email Coding to Automation

After 15 years writing HTML/CSS for email campaigns, Eileen was laid off and discovered low‑code platforms like Zapier, Make, and especially NA10 (N8N). She used ChatGPT to fill code gaps, learning automation step‑by‑step while following community tutorials.

Learning by Doing: Community and Courses

Eileen joined the AI Automation Society’s free school, completed the NA10 course, then moved on to “plot code” (low‑code) training. The community provided support, resources, and a place to showcase her projects, accelerating her skill growth.

Show Yourself: Building Visibility

Following advice from Alex Hormozi, Eileen began speaking at meetups despite fear of public speaking, created two YouTube channels (English and Spanish), and posted regularly on LinkedIn. Demonstrating real projects gave interviewers concrete evidence of her capabilities.

Hands‑On AI in Practice

In her current role she maps processes with stakeholders, decides what to automate, writes the CL code, and iterates based on results. She also uses AI as a brainstorming partner—leveraging its ideas while retaining final decision authority.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring AI Leaders

Eileen’s journey shows that deep technical AI experience isn’t required; low‑code tools, community learning, and visible project work can fast‑track you into senior AI roles.