Build Your Claude Brain
A hands-on half day where you set up your own Claude “second brain” against your real work - and leave running it yourself, not holding a folder of notes.
What this training builds
Your business, your processes, your files - that's what turns chatting with AI into getting real work done. In this programme you set up your own Claude against your actual work, and you do the building yourself.
It's not a lecture. A short foundations session gives you the mental model, then you spend the rest of the time hands-on: connecting your tools, saving your first Skills, and building a working automation - with a trainer beside you the whole way.
The point is capability, not dependence: you leave able to keep building on your own, with a prioritised list of what to do next.
Owners, founders and professionals
For people who want to actually use AI in their work, not just chat with it. Beginner-to-intermediate, no coding required. Groups are kept small so everyone gets hands-on help.
By the end you will be able to
- Set up Claude correctly for business use - the right plan, privacy settings and persistent context
- Connect the tools you already use (Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Notion) so AI works with your real data
- Create and reuse saved Skills for the jobs you do over and over
- Build a working automation against your own files, end to end, without a developer
- Prioritise your next AI use cases so you keep improving after the session
Module by module
Foundations and live demos
A plain-English mental model of modern AI, then Claude live: Projects, connectors, Skills and agents - so you know what each piece is for.
Map your use cases
A guided exercise mapping your own work to pick the one or two highest-value things to build today.
Build your Claude brain
The core of the session. You set up your own Claude, connect your tools, save Skills and build an automation against your real files, with the trainer floating and unblocking.
Show and tell + next steps
Each person shares what they built, and leaves with a prioritised list of what to build next.
Delivery formats
Public workshop (in person)
Small public sessions (8 seats) run in Christchurch. Everyone builds their own setup with a trainer walking the room.
$299 + GST per personOnline cohort
The same curriculum delivered live over video for people outside Christchurch, in small groups so everyone still gets hands-on help.
$299 + GST per person - minimum 6 peoplePrivate in-house
Run privately for your team at your office or online, built around your tools and your real work.
$299 + GST per person - minimum 6 peopleNo public dates open right now
The next public session is being planned. Join the waitlist and you’ll hear first when a date opens - or we can run it privately for your team.
Who delivers this programme
Blake Harkness
Lead Trainer & Founder, Harkness AIBlake is a Christchurch-based AI engineer who runs AI education across New Zealand - from small hands-on workshops to conference sessions of 300+ people. He founded Harkness AI to help Kiwi businesses build real AI capability, and has published over 300 educational AI videos.
- Mechatronics engineering background
- AI Forum New Zealand - AEC Working Group contributor
- Engineering New Zealand - AI Advisory Group member
- Young Kiwis in AI - Founder (meetups across 11+ cities)
- 300+ published AI educational videos, 1M+ views
What it looks like afterwards
Recently completed a half day course with Blake building my Claude Brain. The course was insightful & practical. Running 2 companies I know this is going to help me claw back some time on a lot of the repetitive tasks. Thank you Blake, excellent value and advice.