--- title: "Mentoring" url: "https://ricardodantas.me/mentoring/" markdown_url: "https://ricardodantas.me/mentoring/index.md" author: "Ricardo Dantas" description: "One-to-one mentoring with a working software developer: career growth for developers, and practical guidance on using AI for small and mid-size companies." --- # Mentoring for developers and for companies. Career advice if you write code. A practical look at AI if you run a business. One conversation at a time, on video, in English or Portuguese. I have worked as a software developer for a long time, built and shipped my own apps, and maintain open-source tools. I mentor in two areas. Both are conversations about your situation, not lectures. I give you my honest view, including when the answer is "that is not worth doing". ## For developers **Who it's for:** Developers at any level who want help with their career. You might be stuck in a role, aiming at senior or staff, thinking about a change, or trying to build something on the side. ### Topics - Getting unstuck: when work feels stagnant and you cannot tell why - Levelling up to senior or staff: what changes, and how to show it - Switching stacks or roles, including moving into mobile or going independent - Going indie: side projects, picking an idea, finishing and launching - Interviews, promotions and asking for what you are worth - Building a public profile: portfolio, open source, writing - Working with AI tools as a developer: what helps, what slows you down ### What a session looks like You tell me where you are and what you want. I read what you send beforehand, such as a CV, portfolio or a short note. On the call we work through your situation and agree concrete next steps. I base my advice on my own path as a developer, indie app builder and open-source maintainer, and I will say when something is outside my experience. ### Session types - **Career call** (45 min, €90): One focused question or decision, with next steps. Book a slot: https://calendar.app.google/uXjNHFR6aa3RS2Qj6 - **Deep dive** (90 min, €160): Review your CV, portfolio or side project in detail, and plan the next quarter. Book a slot: https://calendar.app.google/2UX2XaERXuAbC1pu6 - **4-session package** (4 × 60 min, €400, €100 per session): Ongoing mentoring over a few weeks, with notes between calls. Valid for 5 months. Book by email: [me@ricardodantas.me](mailto:me@ricardodantas.me?subject=Mentoring%20session%3A%204-session%20package) Sessions in English or Portuguese. ## For companies **Who it's for:** Founders, owners and leaders of small and medium-sized companies, and product or engineering leads, who are asking "should we be using AI, and how?" You do not need a technical team to start. ### Topics - Finding where AI actually helps your business, and where it does not - Choosing tools and models for the job - Build or buy: off-the-shelf tools, custom work, or nothing yet - Running a first pilot: scope, success measures, and when to stop - AI inside your product versus AI in internal workflows - Upskilling your team - Costs and risks: running costs, accuracy, and what can go wrong ### What a session looks like You send a short description of the business and the problem. On the call I ask questions, challenge assumptions and help you pick one or two things worth trying. You get a short written summary afterwards with recommendations and next steps. No slide decks full of buzzwords. If you need something built or integrated, that is [consulting](https://ricardodantas.me/consulting.md). Mentoring is for deciding what to do, consulting is for doing it. ### Session types - **AI strategy session** (60 min, €250): Map where AI could help, pick priorities, leave with a short written summary. Book a slot: https://calendar.app.google/NsZVa6s9Y3BiJrh39 - **Team workshop** (Half day, 3–4 h, €1,200): A remote working session with your team, up to 12 people, on tools, use cases and a first pilot. Book by email: [me@ricardodantas.me](mailto:me@ricardodantas.me?subject=Mentoring%20session%3A%20Team%20workshop) - **4-session advisory package** (4 × 60 min, €850, €212.50 per session): Guidance through scoping, running and reviewing a first pilot. Valid for 5 months. Book by email: [me@ricardodantas.me](mailto:me@ricardodantas.me?subject=Mentoring%20session%3A%204-session%20advisory%20package) Sessions in English or Portuguese. ## How booking works Both tracks use the same flow. 1. **Pick a session** From the session types above, or the list under Book a session. 2. **Book a slot or email me** Pick a slot on Google for sessions with a booking link and pay with Stripe to confirm it; for packages and workshops, email me with two or three times that suit you. 3. **Get a Google Meet link** By email and in your calendar invite. 4. **Send me a few lines** About what you want to cover, before the call if you can. All sessions are remote, on Google Meet, in English or Portuguese. ## Book a session Sessions with a booking link: pick a slot on Google and pay with Stripe to confirm it. For the others, email [me@ricardodantas.me](mailto:me@ricardodantas.me?subject=Mentoring%20session%3A%20%5Bsession%20type%5D) with the session you want and two or three times that suit you. - For developers, **Career call**: book a slot at https://calendar.app.google/uXjNHFR6aa3RS2Qj6 - For developers, **Deep dive**: book a slot at https://calendar.app.google/2UX2XaERXuAbC1pu6 - For developers, **4-session package**: book by email (subject "Mentoring session: 4-session package") - For companies, **AI strategy session**: book a slot at https://calendar.app.google/NsZVa6s9Y3BiJrh39 - For companies, **Team workshop**: book by email (subject "Mentoring session: Team workshop") - For companies, **4-session advisory package**: book by email (subject "Mentoring session: 4-session advisory package") ## Cancellation and rescheduling - Reschedule for free with at least 24 hours' notice. - Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, and no-shows, count as a used session and are not refunded. - Team workshops need 72 hours' notice to reschedule or cancel. - If I have to cancel, you choose a full refund or a new slot. - 4-session packages are valid for 5 months from the first session. Use the link in your confirmation email to reschedule, or reply to it. ## FAQ ### Which languages do you mentor in? English and Portuguese. ### Are sessions in person? No. Everything is remote, on Google Meet. ### What should I prepare? Developers: a CV, portfolio or a short note on what you want to decide. Companies: a few lines on the business, the process you are looking at and what you have already tried. If you have nothing, we start from scratch. ### Will you keep what I share confidential? Yes, as you would expect from any professional. I do not share what you tell me about you or your company. ### Will you promise results, like a promotion or a cost saving? No. I give you my honest view and a clear plan. What happens next depends on what you do with it. ### Do you recommend specific AI products? I will suggest what fits your case. ### Can you build it for me? Not in a mentoring session. If you need an app, a backend, or an AI feature built, see [Consulting](https://ricardodantas.me/consulting.md). ### How do I pay? For sessions you book on Google, you pay with Stripe (card) when you book. For packages and workshops, I confirm the price by email before we start. ### What if I need to cancel? Free rescheduling up to 24 hours before (72 hours for workshops); later cancellations and no-shows count as used. See [Cancellation and rescheduling](#cancellation-and-rescheduling).