I'm Vaishali Shah — a 7-figure CEO, owner of four theCoderSchool locations across Connecticut, 2026 CEO of the Year (CEO School), and one of only a few hundred people globally certified by Open Machine in AI Agent Mastermind. I teach and implement Agentic AI for the operators, founders, and small businesses ready to lead in the AI era.
The AI Agent Mastermind from Allie K. Miller's Open Machine has only ever run two cohorts. Vaishali was in the second. Worldwide, just a few hundred people hold this certification — and she's one of them.
Only two cohorts have ever completed the AI Agent Mastermind program — Allie K. Miller's Open Machine flagship. Allie is the #1 most-followed voice in AI business and named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI. I was in cohort 2. Worldwide, just a few hundred people hold this certification.
The 4-week curriculum trains you to design, deploy, and manage AI agents in the real world — proactive autonomous agents, multi-agent coordination, orchestration locally and globally, and applying privacy best practices to real business workflows. Not theory. Not slideware. The operator's playbook.
On May 27, 2026, I begin teaching this to the inaugural Agentic AI cohort inside CEO School, founded by unicorn founder Suneera Madhani, who also named me 2026 CEO of the Year. Private cohorts for executive teams and founder communities are also available.
Bring this to your team →
She's been in your shoes — and she knows the way forward.
In 2017, a single Google search my husband made in hopes of looking for STEM activities for my son, sparked the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. At the time, I wasn't an entrepreneur—I had spent 12 years building a career in healthcare, working in clinical, management, and teaching roles. Like many people, I went to school expecting to work a traditional 9–5 career. But deep down, I knew I wanted more.
With no partners, no investors, and no financial backing from friends or family, I made the decision to go all in. I took a significant leap by investing our own savings and betting on myself and my family.
With no MBA, no marketing background, no technology background, and no business blueprint—just determination, resilience, and a willingness to figure things out—I built a 7-figure technology education business: four theCoderSchool locations across Connecticut, hiring 400+ people along the way.
What began as a leap into the unknown became a mission to help prepare the next generation for the future of technology. Along the way, I was honored to be named 2026 CEO of the Year by CEO School, founded by Suneera Madhani, and recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by Hartford Business Journal.
Now I'm writing the next chapter. I'm AI Agent Mastermind certified by Open Machine (Allie K. Miller, CEO) — one of only a few hundred people worldwide with this credential — and I've been named the inaugural Agentic AI instructor for CEO School's first AI cohort, starting May 27, 2026.
I teach and implement Agentic AI for the operators who built businesses the hard way. Because the people who already know how revenue, ops, and teams actually work are the right ones to lead the AI era — not watch it pass them by.
The biggest lesson I've learned is this: leadership isn't about the titles on your wall — it's about the resilience you build along the way. The same is true for AI. It isn't about which model you can name. It's about whether you can put it to work in your real business.
If you're ready to lead in the AI era, let's get started.
A reflection of the journey — the businesses built, the women served, and the certification that opens the next chapter.
1 of only a few hundred globally. Awarded by the firm led by Allie K. Miller — TIME 100 in AI, former Global Head of ML for Startups at AWS, builder of IBM Watson's first multimodal AI team, and the #1 most-followed voice in AI business.
Learn more →Retail, Franchise & Hospitality category — honoring outstanding leadership, vision, and business impact.
Visit CEO School →Recognizing Connecticut's top leaders under 40 making a significant impact in business and their communities.
View honoree profile →Featured live discussing the importance of women in STEM as a Women of Innovation Award finalist.
Watch the interview →Featured on "Where We Live" discussing introducing Connecticut children to computer science.
Listen to the interview →Teach your team. Build the agents with you. Or have us bring AI to the stage. Every offering is built on the Open Machine playbook and Vaishali's 7-figure operator experience.
The flagship offering. The inaugural cohort kicks off inside CEO School on May 27, 2026. Private versions are available for executive teams, founder communities, and small business groups.
For small businesses ready to deploy. We scope the highest-leverage AI agent for your operation, build it together, train your team to run it, and stay close while it goes live.
For conferences, corporate L&D, leadership academies, and founder communities. Vaishali brings the operator's perspective on AI — pragmatic, energizing, and grounded in real businesses.
Real words from people who've worked alongside Vaishali — building businesses, leading teams, and trusting her judgment in the room.
Before opening my first theCoderSchool, I called Vaishali. It was one of the best decisions I made before committing to a new business.
She gave me an honest, unfiltered view of what it really takes to run a successful school — the day-to-day operations, the challenges behind the scenes, and the strategies that actually move the needle. She didn't sugarcoat anything, and that was exactly what I needed.
Vaishali now owns four schools in Connecticut and has launched her own AI Company to help others — and none of that surprises me. She brings a rare combination of creativity, business instinct, and relentless determination. She doesn't get stopped by obstacles, she finds three ways around them. And what makes her truly exceptional is that she leads with both strength and warmth.
If you're looking for someone who is honest, collaborative, and genuinely knows how to build something from scratch, Vaishali is someone I'd wholeheartedly recommend.
Vaishali is someone who always shows up for her community. When she speaks, her words are rooted in positivity, wisdom, and genuine care for your growth, personally and professionally. She has been my sounding board, my encourager, and one of the most impactful voices in my journey. She doesn't just make you feel good; she makes you better.
I met Vaishali when I became an owner at theCoderSchool. I gravitated toward her immediately because her energy was magnetic and her heart was wide open. She made the journey of entrepreneurship feel less lonely. She shared freely what worked, what didn't, what she wished she had known, without hesitation and without ego. That kind of generosity is rare.
I am so grateful our paths crossed and so proud to call her my friend. 🤍
Since I have started working at the Coder School, it has become very apparent that Vaishali is not your average business owner. She has a model, rare mix of compassion for her mentees paired with headstrong business tactics. Vaishali has mentored me from the coaching position, to the coordinator position, and now to the manager position, all in the span of 4 years. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today without Vaishali's guidance. Recently Vaishali has trained me on how to use AI, specifically in Claude to help automate my tasks. It has saved me so much time.
Vaishali is the embodiment of determination — the word "no" is not in her vocabulary. She combines determination with the ingenuity to accomplish what others see as impossible, which is one of her many strengths.
She has opened 4 Coder School locations in 7 years. Based on my own experience, I cannot recommend her highly enough. I cannot stress how much of a positive impact she has made on my life, and I am eternally grateful for all of her guidance and education.
Book your free 30-minute discovery call or send a message — Vaishali personally responds to every inquiry.