AI Implementation · Security · Leadership
I work with businesses to build real AI systems, tighten their security, and coach leaders through what comes next.
01 — AI Implementation
Most companies are still experimenting with AI. I help them get past that and into production. I've been building with Claude's full stack (API, Claude Code, MCP, agentic workflows) and I bring the security mindset that serious deployments need.
Figure out which AI use cases actually make sense for you, then design the system and plan the rollout.
Build and ship AI-powered apps using Claude API, Claude Code, MCP, and modern web stacks.
Set up AI governance, data handling policies, and compliance controls before they become a problem.
Get your team comfortable building and maintaining AI systems on their own.
Built with Claude
An allergy tracking app that helps people figure out what triggers their symptoms and what to do about it. Built end-to-end with Claude Code on a TypeScript/Next.js/Convex/Vercel stack.
A gelato-making app where you talk to an AI character who walks you through recipes and suggests flavors based on what you like. A fun way to show what conversational AI can do in a consumer product.
Stack: Claude API · Claude Code · MCP · TypeScript · Next.js · Convex · Vercel
02 — Information Security
Security that actually works for growing companies, not against them. I help you lock down your environment, train your people, and put just enough process in place so you can pass client security reviews and be ready when it's time to certify.
Harden identities and data with sane defaults. 2SV, context-aware access, DLP, drive sharing controls, admin audits & alerting.
Run simulated campaigns, measure risk, and brief leadership on what to fix. Baseline + quarterly testing.
Clear, role-appropriate sessions your team will actually remember. Live or async modules, secure-by-default habits.
Policies and procedures that map to SOC 2 / ISO 27001 without bureaucracy. Policy set, risk register, incident basics.
When timing is right, expand toward audit readiness with minimal disruption. Gap assessments, prioritized backlogs, auditor collaboration.
Make sure your AI deployments handle data properly. LLM governance, AI-specific risk assessments, and compliance that keeps up with how fast this space moves.
Approach → Start small, grow with intent
Understand product, data flows, client pressures, and risk.
Phishing baseline, training, workspace hardening, policies.
Monitor, coach, iterate, report to execs.
Plan SOC 2/ISO tracks when timing and ROI align.
03 — Professional Coaching
I've rebuilt my life more than once. After immigrating, after losing my professional network, after personal loss, after big career pivots. I know what it feels like to be stuck and unable to see the next move.
My coaching is part listening, part strategy. I draw on leadership psychology, Stoicism, and self-compassion, but honestly, most of it comes from having lived through the hard parts myself.
“I moved from feeling lost and burnt out to finding a job I love — and believing I deserved it.”
“His coaching helped me feel grounded, even as everything was shifting.”
“I found my sessions with Harold to be quite helpful, especially for the personal aspect. Harold asks the right questions to identify opportunities for improvement, even if I don't know myself the direction to take. I found the experience valuable and worth the investment.”
Names and photos withheld for privacy.
About
I've spent 20 years building and leading in tech. I've run engineering teams, built security programs, started companies, and coached people from first-time managers to executives.
Right now I split my time between three things: helping companies ship AI with Claude, serving as a fractional CISO for growing teams, and coaching leaders through career transitions.
I immigrated to the U.S. in 2017 and built my way into Austin's tech scene from zero. Starting over taught me more about resilience than any book or framework ever could.
Let's Talk
If any of this sounds like what you need, reach out. No pitch deck, just a conversation.
hello@zavarce.com