AI Strategy · Automation · Product
I help CEOs and senior leaders put AI to work — automations built on real strategy, with returns you can measure.
My focus now: finding where AI genuinely saves time, money or attention — and building it properly.
Independent product strategist with 15+ years of experience, from seed-stage start-ups to multi-billion-dollar companies.
Rod Ramos is an independent AI strategy advisor based in Vancouver, BC. He helps CEOs and owners of operations-heavy businesses (50–300 employees, $5M–$100M revenue) figure out where AI actually pays off, choose tools without a vendor agenda, and see it through. Engagements run through his consultancy, F1 Automations.
Specialties
Who I Am
This is my personal brand and independent advisory practice. For the company I founded to build AI automation systems, visit F1 Automations.
15+ years building products, from seed-stage start-ups to multi-billion-dollar companies
Focused now on AI strategy and automation with measurable returns
MIT-trained in designing AI products
Global experience across multiple industries
Testimonials
"Rod showed both strategic and tactical awareness — building long-term roadmaps while tackling short-term pain points.
Simon Field
Change Management & Transformation Consultant
"He helped us communicate the value of ML to non-technical stakeholders and mentored the team through intense phases. Calm, clear, and steady.
Sridhar Natarajan
Senior Software Engineer – Generative AI
"Organized, methodical, and thoughtful. I could always depend on him to deliver what was promised — and more.
Edward Lau
Analytics & Performance Strategist
"Rod has the unique ability to zoom in and out — thinking big picture while executing steps that drive revenue, engagement, and growth.
Teddy Wickland
VP of Operations @ Taro Health
"As a product leader, he constantly thought about what's right for users. As a team member, he always cared about what's right for the people around him.
Guillaume Gamache Emard
Program, Product & Delivery Expert
"Rod is the definition of a great teammate — focused on customer benefit, always making smart, data-backed decisions.
Jesse Hill
Product Management Leader
How I Work
I start with the business case, not the technology.
Then I keep the build small enough to be judged honestly.
Where it's worth building
- 01Business case, written down
- 02Map the workflow as it is
- 03Talk to the people doing it
- 04Choose the smallest automation
- 05Review, keep, or drop
Then prove it
- 01Baseline recorded
- 02Smallest useful build
- 03Tested with real users
- 04Return measured
- 05Deliverable: AI Strategy Plan
Investment
The right work starts with a clear fit.
I share my hourly rate personally after reviewing the context and confirming there is a genuine, relevant project to discuss. You can ask through Get in Touch below.
I can help with
- Deciding where AI is worth building — and where it isn't
- Turning a manual workflow into an automation that holds up
- Making the business case and measuring what it returns
- Validating a new product, feature or AI opportunity
- Upskilling your workforce so they're ready for AI
I’m not the right fit for
- Custom software builds — that's the work my team at F1 Automations takes on
- Marketing campaign execution
- Legal, financial or fundraising advice
- Free pilots or speculative work
Get in Touch
Ready to see where AI earns its place?
Let's talk about what's worth automating.
FAQ
Independent AI strategy advisor in Vancouver, BC. Works with CEOs of operations-heavy businesses on where AI pays off — and where it doesn't. MIT-trained in designing AI products, with 15+ years building them. Writes at I Think Product (ithinkproduct.com).
Assesses your operations, ranks AI opportunities by return, picks tools with no vendor agenda, oversees implementation, reports monthly against KPIs. Some call it a fractional Chief AI Officer. Senior AI leadership without a full-time hire.
The consultancy Rod founded. Engagements are delivered and billed through F1 Automations; you work directly with Rod. Kept small on purpose.
Retained AI Strategy Partnership: $5,000/month, 3-month minimum. Standalone assessments are quoted per engagement. No vendor commissions or referral fees.
A review of your operations, data, systems, and team to find where AI would save time or money. You get an opportunity map (a ranked list of where AI would save you time or money) and a sequenced plan. Sometimes the answer is "not much AI needed" — that's a valid result.
Businesses of 50–300 employees, roughly $5M–$100M revenue: professional services, construction & trades, manufacturing & logistics, healthcare administration, financial services, property management.
No. Vendor-neutral, no commissions, no reseller margins. If a process fix beats AI, that's the recommendation.
3 months. Enough to assess, prioritize, and get first initiatives producing measurable results. Most continue month-to-month after.
Yes — leadership teams, industry associations, peer groups. Topic: practical AI for mid-sized businesses, ROI over hype. Inquiries via the contact section below.
When complexity outweighs benefit: broken processes that need fixing first, problems a rule change or existing tool solves, data too messy or thin to trust, savings that don't justify the cost of change. Saying no is part of the job.