Today we’d like to introduce you to Thiago Ferreira.
Hi Thiago, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Honestly, it started with frustration.
In mid-2024, I attended an AI conference here in Miami. Full day. Over 20 different panelists. And I sat there waiting for someone, anyone, to mention small and medium sized businesses. It never happened. Every solution, every use case, every conversation was aimed at enterprise. The other 90% of businesses in this country didn’t seem to exist.
That hit me hard. Because I’d lived through a version of that gap myself. I had just walked away from almost 10 years in corporate business development. The final year was a corporate nightmare I wouldn’t wish on anyone. And what followed wasn’t much better: weeks of applying to hundreds of jobs I didn’t even want, getting ignored by most of them, and slowly realizing I was chasing the wrong thing entirely.
So I stopped. I decided to spend a few months going all-in on AI certifications instead. ChatGPT had just gone mainstream and everyone was amazed by what AI could do, and I genuinely was too. But I kept thinking about that conference. About how this technology, just like the internet before it, was going to reshape everything. And how small and mid-size businesses were once again going to be left to figure it out on their own.
That’s the gap I built Elevate AI Consulting to fill. A Miami-based AI consulting firm focused on practical, human-centered AI adoption. No hype, no jargon, no fear-mongering. You can learn more at elevateaiconsulting.com.
I also teach a course called “Human-Centered AI for All” at the University of Miami, which keeps me grounded in what actually works for real people and the workers of the future, not just tech insiders.
I knew from day one I never wanted another nightmare boss, or to ever have to update my resume again. And I’m glad I fought to make it happen.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not even close.
Starting from scratch, in a completely new industry, with no tech background will do a number on your confidence. For months I dealt with serious self-doubt and imposter syndrome. And for months, there was no income at all. My husband was my anchor through all of it — he believed in what I was building before I fully did, and he never let me quit.
The hardest part wasn’t the market. It was my own head. I have an MBA, but zero traditional tech experience. My only “coding” background is managing my MySpace page as a teenager!
So even after completing nearly 20 AI certifications in just a few months, I still felt like a fraud. Like I was just studying, not actually doing anything.
That changed the day I landed my first real, tiny project. A friend asked for help. I sent an invoice for a modest consult and a mini training session: around $150 total. That “tiny” invoice changed my life, something flipped in my head.
I went from “I’m someone who’s learning about AI” to “I’m someone who runs an AI consulting business.” That shift in identity made all the difference.
Everything after that was still hard, but at least I felt confident that if I made that first $150, I could make $150 more!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Elevate AI Consulting exists to close a gap. Most AI conversations happen at the enterprise level. We work with the businesses that get left out of that conversation. Small and mid-size companies, teams that are curious but overwhelmed, leaders who know AI is important but don’t know where to start.
What sets us apart is pretty simple: we actually believe the human side of AI matters.
And that is not just marketing talk.
I’m a gay, Latino founder, and that perspective shapes everything about how we work. AI should expand opportunity, not eliminate it. AI should be your superpower, not your pink slip.
That’s not just a talking point for us, it’s a filter. If a company comes to us and their AI strategy begins with “how many people can we cut?”, we are not the right partners and do not work with them. Full stop. Every client we take on is using AI to upskill their teams, work smarter, and grow. When we talk about growth, we mean hiring MORE humans, not fewer.
We are also a certified LGBTBE business by the NGLCC, which reflects our commitment to showing up authentically in every room we enter.
Our services include corporate AI training workshops and bootcamps, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) helping businesses get found by AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, custom AI software development, and Fractional Chief AI Officer (FCAIO) engagements for companies that need ongoing AI leadership without a full-time hire. We serve clients across the U.S. and Latin America, and we do it in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
I’m also an adjunct professor of “Human-Centered AI for All” at the University of Miami, which keeps me grounded in what actually works for real people, not just enterprise teams.
Our tagline says it best: You bring the intelligence. AI is just the tool.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We work with companies that are ready to train the workforce of the future and build AI solutions that support their teams, not replace them. If that’s you, we’d love to connect.
We also genuinely enjoy partnering with other entrepreneurs and organizations who share the belief that AI is an enhancement, not a replacement. If you’re aligned on that, let’s talk.
The easiest ways to reach us:
Website: elevateaiconsulting.com/contact
Instagram: @elevateaiconsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate-ai-consulting
Email: thiago@elevateaiconsulting.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elevateaiconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevateaiconsulting/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate-ai-consulting
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateAIConsulting
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M3PrhieGBCWgJPrB9
