From Banking to AI

I. ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

The banking industry is undergoing structural change. AI is accelerating, roles in finance are disappearing, and career paths are becoming less predictable.

At the same time, a new generation of companies is being built by people who know how to turn ideas into reality using AI.

Bankers – with their deep domain expertise, decision-making skills, and strong understanding of risk – are uniquely well positioned to participate in this shift.

This workshop is not about panic decisions or abandoning banking overnight.

It is about building a second track based on your existing skills and experience – thoughtfully, realistically, and with control.

This workshop is designed by an ex-banker for fellow bankers who are:

• considering building or transitioning into an AI-driven business
• looking to develop their own AI business alongside their current role, creating an additional or passive income stream
• aiming to strengthen their current position or transition within a bank, asset manager, or financial institution into an AI-related role

In one offline, in-person Saturday, you will explore how AI can be used to strengthen your financial independence and long-term stability, whether alongside your current role or as preparation for a future transition.

You will leave with clarity, structure, and a realistic roadmap – not motivation slogans.

II. WHAT TO EXPECT

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• Understand what AI really is (and isn’t) as a business tool
• Learn how bankers can leverage existing skills to build AI-driven products or services
• Identify realistic AI business opportunities relevant to your profile
• Have a clear framework of AI risks and understand how to evaluate AI-powered projects
• Understand how to:
  • validate ideas before investing time or money
  • build AI products without being a developer
  • work with AI teams, vendors, or partners
  • evaluate AI-powered projects from an investor and decision-maker perspective
  • approach Product-Market Fit, pricing, and fundraising rationally
• Gain a clear personal action plan for 2026

This is a practical working day with open discussion, real examples, and honest answers – including what doesn’t work.

III. WHO IS THE COACH

The course is delivered by Nick G., a former banker with 18 years of executive-level banking experience, who deliberately transitioned into AI.

The journey was not linear:

• building an executive career in international banking
• taking a sabbatical to learn Python, followed by GenAI, LLMs, and embeddings
• building and breaking prototypes
• making costly mistakes and experiencing real AI project failures
• ultimately delivering more than 15 AI-powered projects over three years, successfully building and bringing AI-powered startups to market and supporting companies in their AI transformation

Today, the coach works as:

• AI entrepreneur and developer
• Startup AI advisor
• AI transformation manager
• Lecturer at the Swiss Digital Skills Academy
• Speaker on applied AI topics at international conferences and podcasts
• Host of the Head of AI Club in Zurich, and member of a multi thousand community of AI experts and professionals in EU and US.

Follow Nick on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgushchin/

This workshop compresses three years of hands-on AI business experience into one focused day – including mistakes, lessons learned, and practical insights you won’t find in courses or books.

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Disclaimer

This workshop does not offer a magic pill or a magic wand. What you will receive is a comprehensive, real-world learning experience, equivalent to eventually millions CHF worth of practical trial and error experience.

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