8 hands-on sessions · Fall 2026
Become the AI leader your organisation needs
Go from confident AI user to the person who builds their own agents and workflows - and leads AI adoption around them. Eight hands-on evenings or mornings in Amsterdam.
REGISTRATION OPEN · Cohorts start 15 September
Fall 2026 · registration open
Choose your cohort: four start dates this autumn
Choose from four cohorts across two rounds. Every cohort follows the same 8-session programme.
Tuesday evenings
19:30–22:00
15, 22, 29 Sep · 6, 13, 20, 27 Oct · 3 Nov
Friday mornings
09:30–12:00 (incl. breakfast)
18, 25 Sep · 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Oct · 6 Nov
Second round, evenings
19:30–22:00
Thu 29 Oct & Thu 5 Nov, then Tuesdays 10, 17, 24 Nov · 1, 8, 15 Dec
Second round, mornings
09:30–12:00
Thu 29 Oct & Thu 5 Nov (afternoon), then Fridays 13, 20, 27 Nov · 4, 11, 18 Dec
Fully in-person in Amsterdam · every session is recorded so you can rewatch it
Not sure which programme fits you?
Get a feel for the programme
Beyond Workshops: Building Real AI Leadership
Hands-on skills
Build real AI solutions during each session - from your first Claude Skills to autonomous agents and multi-agent workflows.
Strategic thinking
Learn to make AI work in your own daily workflow AND lead adoption around you - identify high-impact use cases and build the business case that convinces leadership.
Measurable impact
Every session builds on our capability framework. You start with a personal baseline, grow across defined skill levels, and finish with a certified level profile backed by the solutions you built.
Programme curriculum
8-session AI Champions Programme
Fall 2026 · Tue evenings from 15 Sep or Fri mornings from 18 Sep · second round from 29 Oct
20 hours of intense training (8 sessions x 2.5 hours) taught in English, with homework and resources between sessions so you keep applying what you learn back at work.
Session 1
Exploring AI knowledge & capabilities
Discover the full spectrum of AI capabilities through hands-on exploration of the leading platforms. Learn how capabilities differ across tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity, and master the right prompt techniques for reasoning models versus traditional models.
In practice: learning outcomes
- ✓Explore how Deep Research, Reasoning, and Analysis capabilities differ across ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and Perplexity
- ✓Master different prompting techniques for reasoning models versus traditional models
- ✓Understand strategic approaches to selecting the right AI tool for specific use cases
- ✓Develop the mindset needed to champion AI adoption across your organisation
Tools covered
Fully in-person in Amsterdam. Sessions are recorded so you can rewatch anything you miss. Speakers subject to availability.
Participant feedback
What previous participants say
I gave it a 10 because the programme is genuinely practical and valuable. It feels like learning how to tell the time without having to build the watch first. Everything is immediately usable in my day-to-day work.
People think they know how to use AI - I did too. But you need to understand the basics to get truly good output. This course sets you up for success.
There's so much I can take back to colleagues - the high pace, the depth of knowledge, the amount of background information. The learning continues beyond the sessions. I genuinely feel you are ahead of the curve.
Your instructors
Taught by experienced AI professionals
Wouter van Haaften
Founder & AI strategy lead
Worked with 350+ companies, educated 5,000+ professionals. Host of NL's #1 AI podcast.
Greg Nieuwenhuys
Senior Partner
Co-leads the leading-AI-change session. Bridges AI strategy with business impact and adoption for leadership teams across industries.
Guido Steenbergen
AI Enablement Manager
Co-leads session 5 on leading AI change. Turns strategy into real business impact and helps teams make adoption stick.
Ole Stam
AI Associate
Leads the internal AI assistants session. Patient, hands-on guidance on building your first Claude Skills and assistants.
Suzanne Legtenberg
Senior Manager
Leads use-case ideation and quick wins. Helps you turn a longlist of ideas into a prioritised roadmap and business case.
Hidde van den Bergh
Associate Partner
Leads the agentic AI sessions. Builds agents, MCP integrations and multi-agent workflows daily.
Investment
€4,995
per person (excl. VAT)
What's included
- ✓20 hours of hands-on, practical training (8 sessions x 2.5 hours)
- ✓All session recordings to rewatch
- ✓Exclusive AI Champions community access
- ✓Implementation templates and frameworks
- ✓Annual professional conference
- ✓Ongoing instructor and peer support
- ✓A certified level profile of the skills you developed
Fall 2026 cohorts: start 15 September (evening) / 18 September (morning)
Second round starts 29 October · Amsterdam · fully in-person
Beyond the programme
You graduate into our alumni network
Finishing the programme is the start, not the end. Every graduate joins our growing WAIMAKERS alumni network: a community of AI builders across companies, with ongoing events and first access to what we build next.
Ready to become an AI Champion?
Max 25 places per cohort - the interest list is already oversubscribed
Not sure which programme fits you?
Fall 2026
Register your spot for the AI Champions Programme
Choose the track that fits your week - there are 25 places per cohort. We contact you personally to confirm availability and make sure it's the right fit.
Not ready to book? · Questions first? champions@waimakers.com