CJS Chris J Shanku

Chris J Shanku

I create trust through truth.

Builder at heart. Award-winning storyteller. Relentless about making technology feel human.

CyclotronAI Solutions Architect
ex-Microsoft8 years
Total Experience17 years
LocationAtlanta, GA
Contact chris@shanku.net shanku.net calendar.shanku.net linkedin.shanku.net thegrove.llc
CJS
Chris J Shanku Cyclotron · ex-Microsoft

AI Portfolio

5 entries · tap to expand
The Grove Personal LifeOS · Multi-agent 3 Agents

The Grove is the personal life operating system I built for my family and me - a multi-agent harness that captures what matters across work, recovery, co-parenting, and health, then pushes the right nudge at the right moment. It runs on a homelab I own end to end, and it treats my own life like a product I ship to every day.

thegrove.pro
Human in the Loop Media · YouTube Live · Every Wednesday 23 episodes

Human in the Loop is a weekly YouTube Live show about building with AI - made with AI at every step, from research to the on-air graphics. Each episode works a real problem in the open instead of pitching a finished answer, so the audience sees the messy middle where a human still has to make the call.

humanintheloop.stream
ProofWorks AI-built working demos Tools built16

ProofWorks is my portfolio of AI-built working demos - each tool a working proof you can click, not a slide. It spans meeting prep, competitive intel, account research, and regulated-workflow patterns across financial services, data platform, and agent workflows, built human-plus-agent. Sixteen tools have shipped so far, each one earning its place by removing a real piece of manual work from the week.

proofworks.tools
twelfth.help Recovery · Daily delivery Live Jun 26

twelfth.help carries a daily recovery message to the person who needs it, the way the twelfth step asks us to carry it to the next one still struggling. It is a productized sibling of the step work I do every morning - free and open for anyone in recovery, with a managed track for the fellowships and programs that want it run for them.

twelfth.help
WayFact FSI data curation [private beta]

WayFact resolves financial-services filings, AI buzz, and Microsoft signal streams into dated, sourced facts - built for analysts, builders, and for the agents working alongside them. It runs as a standalone venture under TheGrove AI LLC.

wayfact.com

Storytelling & Community

on and off the stage
The Moth 3 performances · Atlanta
StorySLAM - Winner "It's Time" Dec 2024 StorySLAM - 2nd Place "The Divorce" Feb 2025 GrandSLAM - 9.0/10 "I Knew You'd Come Back" Jun 2025

Award-winning storyteller and regular performer at The Moth. Stories draw on fatherhood, recovery, career pivots, and the courage to say yes before you know how.

Speaking & Mentoring C-suite keynotes · UGA guest lecturer
Engagements12
Reached595+
Span2018-2026
UGA semesters8
All engagements
COCA-COLA '24 MBCA '24 ALLY '24 CDAO '23 GENAI TOUR '23 (OCT) GENAI TOUR '23 (AUG) GENAI TOUR '23 (JUN) NELNET '23 UGA DIAD '22 UGA MATH '21+ FSI FRIDAYS '20 PBI WORLD TOUR '18

I am curious and compassionate. I am mindful and grateful. I answer the mail and help the next one in line. I live for community and am worthy of success. I am a man of integrity.

Career

17 years · 7 roles · tap to expand
Cyclotron
AI Solutions Architect · Remote
2026 - present
  • Technical owner in the deal for enterprise AI engagements: leading 60 to 120 minute executive discovery sessions that convert broad Copilot and agent ambitions into scoped problems with explicit value hypotheses.
  • Architecting solutions across Azure, data platforms, AI, security, and Power Platform, then writing the scope documents - assumptions, dependencies, and change-control language - that carry the engagement into delivery. Solution Architecture
  • Partnering with Microsoft sellers to shape co-sell motions early, at the stage where a partner still influences the deal rather than inheriting it. Microsoft Co-Sell
  • Supporting a portfolio of account executives across financial services, health and life sciences, public sector, retail, and technology, building the practice's agent offerings into repeatable motions.
iLink Digital
Senior Director, AI + US Financial Services Practice Lead · Atlanta, GA
2025 - 2026
  • Designed and deployed AI-powered operational tools for the practice: The Ledger for relationship health across 100+ contacts, automated meeting prep, a voice-preserving email drafting agent with a review gate, and a follow-up engine that risk-scores every commitment. AI for Ops
  • Built and rolled out iLink.Tools, a collection of Human + Agent-built customer-facing tools to accelerate our sales cycle. 100K+ page views since launch. AI for Sales
  • Brokered direct introductions between iLink's C-suite and Microsoft's GM leadership across Insurance, Banking, and Capital Markets at Microsoft FabCon, turning that access into 15 qualified opportunities.
  • Personally covered deep technical pre-sales conversations for customers and Microsoft sellers when no Business Unit specialist was available, building AI-powered research and demo tools to prepare and differentiate at the pace a dedicated technical pre-sales team would. AI for Engineering
  • Built a Human + Multi-Agent verification system - dedicated QA, red-team/security, architecture, and responsible-AI review - that gated every one of those tools before it reached a customer or seller. AI for Testing
  • Built an AI research pipeline to arm live customer and Microsoft-seller conversations with account-specific proof points on same-day turnaround, human-verified before anything reached a customer. AI for Research
  • Built an AI video-production pipeline - AI-drafted script, automated screen capture, cloned voice, digital-twin avatar, programmatic assembly - to produce product demos for customers and Microsoft sellers. AI for Marketing
  • Identified a customer's inefficient manual support process (roughly 1,000 tickets/year to answer routine data questions) and built a natural-language-to-SQL agentic assistant against 600K+ records to replace it with self-service.
Microsoft
Senior Specialist, Data & AI (Banking) · Atlanta, GA
2022 - 2025
  • Delivered 97% Azure Data Services revenue in FY25 (97% FY24, 89% FY23).
  • Led Banking in the FY24 Azure Arc-enablement Hero Motion, enabling >$1.4M in net-new ADS; drove a $1M Databricks win at a Midwest bank.
  • Facilitated the Ally GenAI case study - the first GenAI use case across all of US FSI - plus Xome Data Modernization, both on Microsoft's Customer Stories.
  • Named to Microsoft's Executive Briefing Center (EBC) speaker list for AI and Fabric; keynoted the Microsoft + OpenAI partnership to a top-200 exec audience.
  • Only FSI representative selected for the Atlanta Innovation Hub Ambassadors program, giving tours and demos as a proxy Innovation Hub Architect.
Awards: Hero Award (Dec 2022) · Making It Happen nomination (Jan 2024)
Microsoft
Senior Technical Specialist, Intelligence / Power Platform / Power BI (FSI) · Kansas City, MO
2017 - 2022
  • The go-to Power BI expert across all of Financial Services; met or exceeded quota FY18-FY22 (96% VTT with 50% YoY growth in FY21).
  • Hosted 40+ Power BI Dashboard-in-a-Day workshops; selected to speak at Power BI World Tour (Oct 2018).
  • Delivered >1,000% VTT in FY20 as Power Platform Technical Specialist; led biweekly PBI SWAT sessions across Modern Work, Data & AI, and Biz Apps.
Awards: Peer Nominated Award (Sep 2019)
Valorem Consulting (now Valorem Reply)
Manager, Digital Insights · Kansas City, MO
2016 - 2017
  • Led the Modern Data Experience team (12 consultants, $3M+ annual revenue) across business strategy, P&L, and all technical pre-sales; grew the practice by over 500%.
  • Created ConsulTrain, an internal readiness program that upskilled consultants on customer engagement and consulting excellence.
  • Hand-picked by Microsoft TSPs to deliver technical pre-sales on Power BI, Power Apps, Flow, Cortana Intelligence, and SQL 2016; sold $1M+ to 15+ EPG and SMS&P clients.
Valorem Consulting
BI Solutions Consultant · Kansas City, MO
2014 - 2016
  • Lead Data & Analytics consultant for self-service BI delivery and technical pre-sales; sold and delivered $150K+ of D&A revenue.
  • Built Tabular SSAS cubes and Power BI dashboards with complex DAX; established company-wide credibility as the go-to BI reference.
Avanade
BI Architect / Offshore Manager / Delivery Lead · Atlanta, GA
2009 - 2014
  • Wore many hats at the intersection of Accenture's consulting discipline and Microsoft's technical innovation, delivering scalable BI on the SQL Server 2012 stack across complex stakeholder environments.
  • Led offshore delivery teams (2-5 resources); resolved 500+ defects across 5-10 lines of business; trained dozens of new consultants through 30+-participant classroom seminars.
  • Where I first learned to say "yes" to opportunity, even when it came disguised as uncertainty.

Skills

top 5 · then full stack
Signature strengths
Storytelling 5.0
Agentic Systems 4.5
Multi-Agent Architecture 4.5
Responsible AI 4.5
Public Speaking 4.5
Cloud Platforms
Microsoft AzureMicrosoft 365Google WorkspaceGCP
AI / ML
Microsoft FoundryAzure OpenAIAnthropic ClaudeGoogle GeminiLangChainpgvectorRAG architecturesAI agent frameworksAgent-to-AgentAgentic SystemsAI-Native SDLCLoop EngineeringHarness EngineeringContext EngineeringModel RoutingOpenClawHermes Agent
Data & Analytics
Microsoft FabricPower BI (11 yrs)BI MigrationsDatabase MigrationsSQL ServerCouchDBPostgreSQLDatabricksDAXPowerQueryMicrosoft PurviewAzure ArcCosmos DB
Development
PythonJavaScript / TypeScriptReactFastAPI.NET / C#PowerShell
Automation
n8nPower AutomatePower PlatformDockerGitHub Actions
Pre-Sales
Solution architectureProposal developmentTechnical discoveryRFP responseExecutive briefingsPartner enablement

Credentials

degree · 12 certifications
University of Georgia
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Athens, GA
Certifications 12 · 3 issuers
Microsoft · 8
Azure AI FundamentalsAzure Data FundamentalsPower Platform FundamentalsMicrosoft 365 FundamentalsPower BI Data AnalystMCSE Data Management & AnalyticsMCSA BI ReportingMicrosoft Certified Trainer
Kimball Group · 1
Dimensional Modeling in Depth
Dale Carnegie · 3
Present to PersuadePowerful ConversationsDisagree Agreeably
Principles & influences values · books · quotes
Core values
Community · Compassion · Curiosity · Gratitude · Leadership
Influential books
  • Atomic Habits James Clear
  • Storyworthy Matthew Dicks
  • Never Split the Difference Chris Voss
  • Someday is Today Matthew Dicks
  • Boundaries Henry Cloud
  • The Obstacle is the Way Ryan Holiday
Words I keep close

As long as you live, keep learning how to live.Seneca

If someone offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes - then learn how to do it later.Richard Branson

Shipping log

reverse-chronological · self-updating
2026-07-28
The GroveShipped video publishing pipeline (analysis, scripting, production, upload) with multi-stage QA and credential management for storytelling platform.
2026-07-28
Human in the LoopShipped agent-assisted email composition with human review gate; published episode content with video embed infrastructure improvements.
2026-07-28
ProofWorksBuilt GovBrief, a regulatory compliance memo generator with Claude inference, KB matching, PDF export, and React wizard UI; shipped with security hardening and full test gate clearance.
2026-07-28
twelfth.helpShipped rich-text editor for assignments with markdown serialization, sanitization, and security review clearance.
2026-07-20
The GroveMigrated 15+ background services from cron to LaunchDaemon with zero-downtime reliability hardening and post-boot verification.
2026-07-20
twelfth.helpBuilt sponsor-assignment system with backend routes, API types, and full test coverage for mentorship platform.
2026-07-20
ProofWorksDeployed authentication system across all surfaces and improved data backup coverage for cloud infrastructure.
2026-07-16
Human in the LoopShipped dynamic shorts generation on Remotion and automated multi-episode video publishing pipeline.
2026-07-16
The GroveShipped dynamic resume system with native pipeline, content automation, and 120-day historical backfill integration.
2026-07-16
shanku.netBuilt resume generation pipeline with JSON schema validation and templating; shipped dynamic resume v3 with refreshed career bullets and updated media links.
2026-07-14
twelfth.helpResolved production outage by migrating LaunchAgents to LaunchDaemons for improved service reliability.
2026-07-10
Human in the LoopShipped dynamic vertical video generation on Remotion for episodic content rotation and overlay management.
2026-07-06
The GroveExecuted comprehensive audit and disposition enforcement across agent, skill, and memory systems; closed all 27 compliance checks.
2026-07-04
Human in the LoopShipped generative YouTube thumbnail system combining video processing with agent selection for content series.
2026-07-04
ProofWorksShipped FSI Showcase tool with mobile-optimized one-pager generator, customer research pipeline, and automated demo capture using Playwright.
2026-06-29
twelfth.helpLaunched Telegram Mini App for step work with restored spiritual principles content and OCR corrections.
2026-06-28
The GroveShipped 2 production Telegram mini-apps (backlog & finance) + outbound AI voice scheduling system with calendar integration & security hardening.
2026-06-28
twelfth.helpBuilt TMA authentication bridge and frontend workbook with additive auth layer and live regression testing.
2026-06-27
Human in the LoopBuilt OBS overlay system (screenshare, nameplates, episode snapshots), generative thumbnail engine with Telegram interactive picker, and social card redesign for video content platform.
2026-06-25
ProofWorksShipped financial news relevance filtering, earnings UI, multi-source signal feeds, and AI avatar demo narration pipeline for investor tools.
2026-06-21
The GroveShipped HyperFrames video skill integration and live portfolio site with regression testing infrastructure.
2026-06-21
Human in the LoopShipped broadcast overlay system for video production with automated countdown, closing scenes, and roster displays integrated into OBS pipeline.
2026-06-21
ProofWorksShipped Standard Tool Header reskin across 11 surfaces; built video-as-code feature; resolved XSS vulnerability; cleaned up legacy infrastructure.
2026-06-21
shanku.netBuilt HyperFrames rendering stack with branded templates, CSS animations, and accessible filmstrip portfolio section.
2026-06-12
The GroveConsolidated OAuth authentication, migrated frontend to Cloudflare Pages, added read-only OCR and credential management APIs.
2026-06-12
Human in the LoopPublished episode with embedded video, timestamps, transcripts, and social media integration; implemented service monitoring for incident response.
2026-06-12
ProofWorksShipped internal financial accounts tool and led design system migration across 10 product applications.
2026-06-12
WayFactBuilt quarterly financials ingestion from Alpha Vantage earnings data with 10-Q AI highlights extraction and API endpoints; deployed read-only data layer over Cosmos with versioned schemas.
2026-06-07
The GroveShipped showcase site redesign with design system overhaul; rebuilt weekly garden form; migrated Telegram bot infrastructure.
2026-06-07
Human in the LoopShipped 11 production releases for learning platform homepage, episode pages, and public embed API with 50+ UI refinements and analytics integration.
2026-06-07
ProofWorksShipped internal backend service, programmatic API layer with security hardening, and product roadmap showcase; deployed to production with verification.
2026-06-04
twelfth.helpShipped multi-release sponsorship platform: encryption, admin portal, daily messaging, enrollment flows, and responsive showcase landing.
2026-05-31
The GroveDecommissioned legacy backend and database systems; rebuilt notes data integrity across 4 propagation surfaces with iterative cycle fixes; shipped UI and infrastructure updates for production cutover.
2026-05-31
twelfth.helpShipped twelfth.help v0.1.0 with portal login, step-work routing, and production infrastructure via API gateway.
2026-05-29
Human in the LoopShipped episode asset restructuring, image upload endpoint, and calendar integration for content management pipeline
2026-05-28
ProofWorksBuilt multi-phase pricing platform redesign with schema audit, AWS integration, PDF export, and AI readiness assessment across 6 feature modules.
2026-05-23
Human in the LoopBuilt multi-platform episode publishing pipeline supporting LinkedIn, YouTube, and short-form video with guest overlay support and automated metadata generation.
2026-05-22
ProofWorksShipped Operations Hub with interactive branch management UI, internal portal with expense tracking and authentication, and workshop materials platform.
2026-05-15
ProofWorksBuilt Operations Hub MVP with E2E lending workflows, Teams integration, and OpenAPI connector for Copilot Studio in 3 days.
2026-05-08
Human in the LoopPublished episode content management system with dynamic scheduling and YouTube integration for serialized show releases.
2026-05-07
The GroveShipped v1.1.0 - 1.2.0 system refactors: credential storage retirement, role/table cleanup, message enrichment rebuild, core decomposition, and email/Teams capture integration.
2026-04-22
The GroveMigrated backend database from CouchDB to Postgres across 15+ service modules with schema mapping, rollback procedures, and audit tooling.
2026-04-22
ProofWorksBuilt and shipped v6.0 internal platform with ATO Hub, passing all security gates and compliance reviews across 2 phases.
2026-04-19
Human in the LoopShipped v1.2 Episode Assets Library with security hardening and integrated episode content management system.
2026-04-19
ProofWorksShipped Spectra model selector product and hardened iLink backend security; resolved routing, error sanitization, and deployment issues across multiple releases.
2026-04-11
Human in the LoopShipped dismissible homepage teaser feature and established Human-in-the-Loop infrastructure with multi-phase agent onboarding and project restructuring.
2026-04-11
ProofWorksShipped LoanLens and Meridian full-stack features including API security hardening, hierarchical review workflows, and multi-phase backend/frontend builds through staging to production.
2026-04-10
The GroveBuilt and shipped Teams deal operations automation with real-time updates, adaptive cards, and deal matching; migrated foundation systems to v0.1+ with full test coverage.
2026-04-05
The GroveBuilt multi-layer autonomy system with email threading, proposal queue, and intelligence agent; shipped interaction tracking and calendar integration fixes.
2026-04-05
Human in the LoopShipped admin episode CRUD, YouTube timestamps on episodes, auto-generated YouTube Shorts from key moments with word-level captions, admin enhancements with auto-promotion workflow, and landscape/vertical clip generation for social.
2026-04-03
ProofWorksShipped multi-tool CI/CD platform with 3-branch deployment pipeline, admin portal with analytics, and compliance-ready backend hardening across 7+ tools.
2026-03-29
The GroveBuilt multi-user authentication and shared family coordination platform with role-based access, 28 automated test passes.
2026-03-22
The GroveBuilt and shipped multi-phase feature releases including skill feedback systems, security hardening (DOMPurify), routine tracking, and automated testing with Playwright across 5+ production versions.
2026-03-22
shanku.netBuilt and iterated personal brand site with typography fixes, content refinement, and OG image optimization.