Your AI coach for insights work

You know insights.
Let’s make AI work for you.

One-on-one coaching with Z Johnson, built around your real work. From your first questions to more advanced workflows, we’ll build the skills and judgment to use AI with confidence.

Let’s talk about your goals

A personal conversation with Z. No AI experience required.

Z Johnson, your one-on-one AI coach
Work directly with Z.2026 Insight250 winner. 20+ years in insights.
Insights experienceMicrosoft, Ipsos, Course5, Zappi & Knit
Industry recognition2026 Insight250 winner
TMRE & IIeX speaker
Personal attentionOne coach. Your goals. Your pace.

You don’t need to be further along.
You need a place to start.

Maybe you’re avoiding AI. Maybe you use it every day but wonder what you’re missing. Wherever you are, we’ll shape coaching around what would make a difference in your work.

“I’m not sure where to begin.”

Ask the questions you’ve been holding back. Learn how the tools work, what to trust, and how to use them on a task that matters to you.

A starting point: turn a research brief into a useful thinking exercise.

“I use AI. I want better results.”

Move beyond occasional prompts. Develop repeatable approaches, evaluate outputs, and find useful applications across your research process.

A starting point: improve your approach to synthesis or reporting.

“I’m ready to go deeper.”

Explore agents, automation, or adoption decisions with someone who understands research workflows and their limits.

A starting point: decide which steps in a workflow are worth automating.

Bring the work that’s on your mind.

A tricky project. A tool you can’t get useful results from. A workflow you suspect could be better.

Our sessions are a place to work through it together—and build skills you can use again.

  1. Tell me where you are.

    We’ll discuss your goals, your current AI comfort, and whether coaching fits what you need.

  2. Make a plan that fits your work.

    We’ll choose practical priorities and define what progress looks like for you.

  3. Work together, one hour each week.

    Try approaches, ask questions, and get feedback. As your skills grow, we’ll adjust the plan.

“Z is an expert in Consumer Insights and leading technology-enabled change. She’s also a brilliant coach, a wonderful human being and a joy to work with!”
Tom Holliss, Chief People Officer, Zappi
Colleague testimonial
Recognized in the 2026 Insight250

An AI coach who understands the work behind the insights.

I’m Z Johnson. I’ve spent more than 20 years in insights, working across brand-side research, agencies, research operations, and technology.

That includes research leadership at Microsoft and research partnerships at Ipsos and Course5. I’ve helped people learn tools, integrate technology, and think through what actually makes their work better.

In coaching, I bring that context to your questions. We’ll look at where AI can help, how to check its work, and where your own judgment matters most.

Get to know how I think about AI.

My two free weekly newsletters bring AI back to insights work: what the changes mean, and what you can actually try. Explore a few issues to get a feel for the perspective I bring to coaching.

A regular hour to move your AI skills forward.

Personalized coaching for insights professionals at any level of AI comfort or fluency.

  • One private, 60-minute session each week
  • A plan tailored to your goals and real work
  • Practical exercises and reusable resources
  • A monthly review of your progress
  • Brief questions between sessions
$1,500 USD / month

Start with a three-month engagement.
Continue monthly when it’s useful to you.

Let’s talk about your goals

Email Z to arrange an introductory conversation.
We’ll discuss fit before you commit.

A few things you might be wondering.

Can I start if I barely use AI?

Yes. We’ll start with your questions and build at a pace that works for you. You don’t need technical experience or a particular job title.

What if I already use AI regularly?

We’ll focus on where you want to improve: more reliable outputs, repeatable workflows, evaluating tools, or exploring agents and automation. Our first conversation will help establish whether your goals fit my expertise.

Can my employer pay for coaching?

Yes. If you’re seeking employer support, we can outline the goals and scope of your engagement so you can discuss it with your manager.

Can we work with my research projects?

Yes, where your organization’s policies and permissions allow it. We can also use redacted or example materials. We’ll discuss confidentiality and appropriate AI use before working with sensitive information.

What happens after three months?

We’ll review your progress and decide what would be useful next. You can continue monthly with new goals, or finish when you’ve accomplished what you came to do.

What would you like to do better with AI?

You don’t need a polished plan. Bring a question, a challenge, or an idea. We’ll start there.

Let’s talk about your goals