Real Problems. Measurable Results.
Every engagement structured around the Human-Centred AI Readiness Framework
Most AI projects don't fail because of bad technology. They fail because organisations try to implement 'AI' before they're ready — skipping the strategy, team alignment, governance and operational change to enable it to work. I apply a holistic approach to address these common failure points.
The Human-Centred AI Readiness Framework works across 4 interconnected pillars:
Pillar 1
AI-Ready Strategy
- Define the right use cases before building anything
- Align to organisation and customer outcomes, not AI hype
- Develop success in measurable terms and highest value to build first
Pillar 2
AI-Ready Teams
- Define current state across teams and data silos
- Align and upskill cross-functional teams in data and AI literacy
- Develop culture of shared accountability and reciprocal value
Pillar 3
AI-Ready Product
- Define standout AI features for product roadmap
- Align product, data and AI teams to build-test-learn safely
- Develop safety-by-design, data foundations within the build from day one
Pillar 4
AI-Ready Process
- Define data maturity and ensure data is clean, compliant and feasible for AI to drive impact
- Align systems with responsible operating framework (feedback loops, governance, risk registers, impact metrics)
- Develop workflows with human-in-the-loop oversight and accountability over AI agents
Every case study below shows these pillars in action.
AI for growth & efficiency · SaaS
How a 700k-User SaaS Platform Got AI-Ready — and Stayed That Way
Wazoku · 15-month Fractional CDO engagement
"As our Fractional CDO, Tarika led on data strategy, governance, process optimisation and open innovation community engagement. Can't recommend Tarika highly enough."
Simon Hill — CEO, Wazoku
700K+
Global innovators on platform · repeatable AI governance model embedded
15mo
Fractional CDO engagement
↑
Delivery pace & alignment
AI strategy · Regulated · Aerospace
Unlocking £Millions in Decarbonisation Opportunity Across a Global Aerospace Value Chain
FTSE Aerospace client · 12-month delivery programme
"Great to have this level of critical thinking and planning evident as we take forward our ambitious plans for H2."
Client Sponsor — Innovation Lab, Aerospace
££M
New revenue opportunities via sustainable service models
12mo
Delivery programme
Multi
Divisions unified
Impact & education · Wellbeing tech · Responsible AI
Privacy-First Wellbeing App: 80% of Adolescent Users Improved Sleep in 3 Months
Goozby at Zinc VC · Wellcome Trust funded, Imperial Public Health · 12-week Build-Test-Learn
"This kind of intervention is exactly what we need to assess and improve adolescent health outcomes."
Professor Toledano — Imperial College
80%
Users improved sleep outcomes in 3-month pilot
MEFFY
Award: Safety in the Digital Age
Clinical
Validated for Imperial research
AI for growth & efficiency · SaaS
How a 700k-User SaaS Platform Got AI-Ready — and Stayed That Way
Wazoku · 15-month Fractional CDO engagement
Challenge
Scaling open innovation platform needed AI and data readiness without adding full-time headcount. Leadership sought senior expertise to define and deliver impact across strategy, teams and product.
Approach
Human-Centred AI Readiness Framework across strategy, teams, product and process. JTBD workshops, Power BI governance, MDM/RDM ownership structures, and repeatable delivery frameworks embedded into the business.
Impact
Repeatable AI governance model embedded across the platform. Improved internal alignment and delivery pace. Frameworks designed to scale independently of any single individual.
"As our Fractional CDO, Tarika led on data strategy, governance, process optimisation and open innovation community engagement. Can't recommend Tarika highly enough."
Simon Hill — CEO, Wazoku
700K+
Global innovators on platform · repeatable AI governance model embedded · improved internal alignment and delivery pace
15mo
Fractional CDO engagement
↑
Delivery pace & team alignment
AI strategy · Regulated · Aerospace
Unlocking £Millions in Decarbonisation Opportunity Across a Global Aerospace Value Chain
FTSE Aerospace client · 12-month delivery programme
Challenge
Siloed departments lacked a unifying AI strategy to commercialise new low-carbon services, reduce operational risk and engage stakeholders across divisions. The ambition was significant; the internal alignment was not.
Approach
Data Collaboration Programme to surface high-value decarbonisation use cases. Predictive analytics tools for emissions insights and decision-making. Agile and data literacy coaching. Regulatory oversight framework to keep the programme defensible as policy evolved.
Impact
££M in new revenue opportunities identified via sustainable service models. Unified cross-functional teams around a measurable roadmap and reciprocal data value model. Scalable platform strategy to power future AI-led innovation across the value chain.
"Great to have this level of critical thinking and planning evident as we take forward our ambitious plans for H2."
Client Sponsor — Innovation Lab, Aerospace
££M
New revenue opportunities via sustainable service models
12mo
Delivery programme
Multi
Divisions unified around roadmap
Impact & education · Wellbeing tech · Responsible AI
Privacy-First Wellbeing App: 80% of Adolescent Users Improved Sleep in 3 Months
Goozby · Zinc VC · Wellcome Trust funded · Imperial Public Health · 12-week build-test-learn
Challenge
Researchers needed an ethical, privacy-compliant tool to support adolescent wellbeing research. Existing tools could not ethically engage young users or gather privacy-compliant behavioural data — creating a critical gap between research ambition and real-world delivery.
Approach
Safety by Design product and data strategy from the ground up. GDPR-K compliance, ethically designed gamification and NLP nudges, encrypted on-device data storage, and behavioural science integration — governance embedded from day one, not bolted on at the end.
Impact
80% of users improved sleep outcomes in the 3-month pilot. MEFFY Award: Safety in the Digital Age. Enabled Imperial College to move forward with a validated approach to ongoing clinical research and public health innovation.
"This kind of intervention is exactly what we need to assess and improve adolescent health outcomes."
Professor Toledano — Imperial College
80%
Users improved sleep outcomes in 3-month pilot
MEFFY
Award: Safety in the Digital Age
Clinical
Validated for ongoing Imperial research
A Consistent Thread across every engagement
Whether an energy platform, an app store, a retail marketplace or a school classroom, the principle is the same: technology needs to be safe for the people using it.
AI for growth · Retail · Social commerce
Connecting 2M+ Products to Shoppers — Responsibly
Designed a personalised AI recommendation engine building trust between buyers and sellers while driving loyalty and growth.
2M+
Products connected · 'Future50 Most Disruptive Business' Award
AI for safer ecosystems · Telecoms · Regulated
Certifying App Safety Across 85+ Global Operators
Designed and scaled a SaaS safety certification framework for app stores - setting the consumer protection standard before regulation required it.
£100M+
Revenue impact · adopted in 60+ countries
AI for societal impact · Education
Building AI & Data Literacy for the Next Generation
Co-designed responsible AI and data literacy programmes with young people, families and schools — built around real interests, not a generic curriculum.
2,000+
Young people co-designed · MEFFY 'Safety in Digital Age' Award
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