Simon Cleary
@simoncleary
Founder building human-first AI agency products—turning non-technical needs into helpful, safe AI experiences.
MexicoWhat I'm looking for
I’m a builder and community leader bridging deep human insight with emerging AI tools. Over 10 years designing loyalty, trust, and engagement—from cruise ships to award-winning bars to 22 self-built web platforms.
Right now, I’m developing an AI agency through hands-on MVP creation (8 live) while completing AI certifications from MIT, Stanford, Google, and more. I focus on making AI feel helpful, not hollow—especially for non-technical teams.
My LifeJacket AI projects are built to solve unmet human needs with human-first safeguards. HydraSkript (bias & age-safety filters), HydraSpark (AI safety check-ins, platonic mode), and HydraLearn (wellness-aware prompting, burnout alerts) are all part of that vision.
So far, I’ve launched 8 platforms at MVP, gathered 15+ beta testers (friends and early adopters), and achieved 92% 4-week retention. My mission is to launch LifeJacket AI (Q1 2026): human-first AI integration for SMBs & community-led brands.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Founder, LifeJacket AI
LifeJacket AI
Built and launched 8 AI MVPs with 15+ beta testers and 92% four-week retention, focused on human-first AI for SMBs and community-led brands. Currently developing the LifeJacket AI agency for Q1 2026.
General Manager
The Marquis Bar & Grill
Nov 2021 - Apr 2024 (2 years 5 months)
Led day-to-day operations for a Vancouver bar and grill, managing staff and ensuring a consistent guest experience. Coordinated operational planning to support events and service delivery.
Senior FOH & Events Manager
Black & Blue Steakhouse
Dec 2018 - Mar 2021 (2 years 3 months)
Managed senior front-of-house operations and supported events to deliver high-quality service in a fast-paced steakhouse environment. Coordinated team workflows to improve guest satisfaction during peak service periods.
Owner / General Manager
L.A. Bar, Restaurants Hostel
Feb 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 10 months)
Launched a venue to become the #3 ranked bar on TripAdvisor in under 8 weeks using UGC, local partnerships, and co-created events. Integrated hostel and tour operations into a unified guest ecosystem, increasing guest spend by 35%.
Owner / General Manager
L.A. Bar & Hostel
Feb 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 10 months)
Launched a TripAdvisor top-3 ranked bar in under 8 weeks using UGC, local partnerships, and co-created events. Integrated hostel/tour operations into a unified ecosystem and increased guest spend by 35%.
Designed onboard experiences for 2,000+ guests weekly, applying a high-volume mindset to community-style engagement. Pioneered the Guest Ambassador program as an early model for community moderation and advocacy.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
DeepLearning.AI
ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers (course), Prompt Engineering
2024 - 2025
Completed ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers to use prompt engineering effectively in development workflows.
GA4 (certification), Marketing Analytics
2024 - 2025
Completed GA4 certification focused on measurement and analytics using Google Analytics 4.
Meta
Meta Community Management (certification), Community Management
2024 - 2025
Completed Meta community management certification to support online communities and engagement.
Professional Certificate, Artificial Intelligence
2024 - 2025
Completed the Google AI Essentials and GenAI for Developers certifications as part of recent AI upskilling.
Stanford Online
Professional Certificate, Artificial Intelligence
2024 - 2025
Completed Stanford Online courses in Human-Centered AI and AI & Society as part of recent AI upskilling.
MIT Open Learning
Professional Certificate, Artificial Intelligence
2024 - 2025
Completed MIT Open Learning coursework including Ethics of AI and Prompt Engineering for Productivity.
Harvard VPAL
Professional Certificate, Digital Leadership
2024 - 2025
Completed Harvard VPAL courses in Digital Leadership and Managing Remote Teams.
DeepLearning.AI
Professional Certificate, Prompt Engineering
2024 - 2025
Completed DeepLearning.AI coursework in ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers as part of recent AI upskilling.
Google AI Essentials (course), Artificial Intelligence
2024 - 2025
Completed the Google AI Essentials course covering key concepts in AI and practical usage.
Stanford Online
GenAI for Developers (course), Generative AI
2024 - 2025
Completed GenAI for Developers to build and apply generative AI solutions.
Stanford Online
Human-Centered AI (course), Human-Centered AI
2024 - 2025
Completed Human-Centered AI to apply AI design principles focused on people and real-world impact.
MIT Open Learning
AI & Society (course), AI and Society
2024 - 2025
Completed AI & Society to understand societal implications of AI systems and their governance considerations.
MIT Open Learning
Ethics of AI (course), AI Ethics
2024 - 2025
Completed Ethics of AI to study ethical risks, responsible practices, and decision-making frameworks for AI.
Harvard VPAL
Prompt Engineering for Productivity (course), Prompt Engineering
2024 - 2025
Completed Prompt Engineering for Productivity to improve practical outcomes with prompt-based workflows.
Harvard VPAL
Digital Leadership & Managing Remote Teams (course), Digital Leadership
2024 - 2025
Completed training in Digital Leadership and Managing Remote Teams.
Discord
Discord Moderation (certification), Community Moderation
2024 - 2025
Completed Discord moderation certification to manage community safety and moderation workflows.
Availability
Location
MexicoAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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