Consultant for a Day™
Consultant for a Day™
One Day Hackathon for Womxn
Build a portfolio. A presence. A plan. And connections.
One intensive day for experienced womxn on a career break to turn what they already know into a consulting, freelance or fractional direction - with expert workshops, hands-on building, AI-powered tools and an evening of new connections.
4 of 20 places remaining · €65 incl. VAT, payable only after selection
Don't start over. Build from what you already know.
Your experience is worth more than another job application. In a tough job market, consulting, freelancing and fractional work can offer another way to put it to use.
You already have the expertise. This is a day to shape it into an offer, show what you can do and start taking it to market.
For experienced womxn on a career break, exploring a different way to work.
You don't need a business idea, a polished personal brand or a five-year plan. You bring the experience; the day helps you put it to work.
“I don't necessarily want another full-time job.”
“I have years of experience. Surely I can do something with it.”
“I'd love to consult or freelance, but I don't know where to begin.”
“I want to use AI by actually building something.”
“I need more than advice. I need to make a start.”
Learn → Build → Connect
This isn't a conference or a day of taking notes. You'll learn from people who do the work, spend time making your own, then meet people who can help you move it forward.
Learn from people who know
Workshops with independent consultants, AI practitioners, marketplace founders, Netherlands HR leaders and positioning experts. Explore finding a market, pricing, building credibility and working independently in the AI era.
Don't just learn. Build.
Work with experts and AI tools to turn your experience into a proposition, digital portfolio, LinkedIn presence and pitch. You'll build your portfolio hands-on with Lovable, the platform we use to help you create it — no coding required. No AI experience is required.
Close the laptop. Open the borrel.
Meet other womxn making the transition, consultants, founders, HR leaders and potential collaborators. Begin building a network around the professional identity you're creating.
By 5PM, you have something real to take to the market.
The day, hour by hour.
Workshops in the morning, building through the afternoon, and an invitation-only borrel to close the day.
- 9:30 – 10:00 amRegistration
- 10:00 – 11:00 amClarity Workshop
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pmWhat is even a Consulting Portfolio?
- 12:00 – 1:00 pmLunch and Networking
- 1:00 – 2:00 pmAI-Enabled Portfolio Design
- 2:00 – 3:00 pmLinkedIn Masterclass
- 3:00 – 4:00 pmPitch and Introduction for a New Professional Identity
- 4:30 – 6:00 pmNetworking Borrel
One day. From experience to something you can share.
Your experience
Bring what you've already done, not a finished business idea.
Expert perspectives
Get practical insight into independent work, the Netherlands market and AI.
Your offer + assets
Create your proposition, portfolio, presence, pitch and 30-day plan — building your portfolio hands-on with Lovable, guided by our team.
People + conversations
End with an invitation-only Dutch borrel and a wider professional circle.
Ready to go
Take your work, a practical next step and new connections with you.
AI runs through the work as a practical accelerator: research a market, develop an offer, create a portfolio and refine your positioning. You don't need AI experience to take part.
What will you walk out with?
A portfolio. A presence. A plan. And connections.
Proof of your expertise
An offer and tangible work that demonstrate what you know and what you can do.
A story people understand
Professional positioning, an introduction and a clearer online presence.
A next move you can make
A practical 30-day path to test your direction and start relevant conversations.
People around your next chapter
New peers, experts and potential collaborators from the day and the borrel.
Your AI toolkit: Practical tools and workflows for researching, creating and working independently after the day. There is no guarantee of clients, jobs or income.
Apply. Get selected. Confirm your place. Join us.
Applications are open for the next Consultant for a Day™. Applying does not involve payment.
- 01
Apply
Tell us about your professional experience, what motivates you to participate, and what you could bring to the day.
- 02
Get selected
We review every application and select a carefully balanced cohort of 20 participants.
- 03
Confirm your place
Selected participants receive a payment link. Your place is confirmed once the €65 incl. VAT participant fee is paid.
- 04
Consultant for a Day™
Join us for a full day of real business challenges, collaboration, learning and connection.
Participant fee: €65 incl. VAT
A commitment and contribution towards the full-day experience, including food, drinks and refreshments. Payment is requested only if you are selected.
Selection is never based on ability or willingness to pay.
We want the experience to remain accessible. A small number of fee-waived places may be available for participants experiencing financial difficulty. You can indicate this confidentially in your application.
Small by design. Full of momentum.
A full hands-on day
Time to work, reflect and exchange ideas.
20 selected participants
A curated cohort designed for quality, contribution and connection.
Guided creation
Practical exercises with expert input where useful.
An evening borrel
An invitation-only extension of the day.
The people behind the day.
Experts from technology, global platforms and independent practice guide the day — with workshops, hands-on building and honest conversations about what comes next.
Neha Lagoo Ratnakar
TEDx speaker · Author · Creator C4D · Dual-career strategist
Neha understands that career transitions are about more than finding work. She created Consultant for a Day™ to give experienced womxn a practical space to turn what they know into an offer, tangible work and a next step.
Connect on LinkedIn
Anastasia Zygmantovich
Senior Director, IT & Digital for R&D · Reckitt
With a background in data science, AI and digital transformation, Anastasia is passionate about making technology accessible and creating real business impact. She is currently taking a career break to spend more time with her three-year-old son, which makes this mission particularly close to her heart.
Connect on LinkedIn
Anchala Tomar
Founder Multiiplyi · Ex-Google · Expedia · Just Eat Takeaway
In a world where AI is taking jobs, Anchala used AI to create a new way for humans to earn — her own “Uno Reverse”. Passionate about celebrating the journey to the destination, she brings international experience from Google, Expedia and Just Eat Takeaway, complemented by executive education from MIT and Stanford.
Connect on LinkedIn
Emily Firth
Freelance People & Culture Expert · Co-Founder, TruthWorks
Emily is an in-demand freelance people and culture expert with a decade of experience, as well as the Co-Founder of TruthWorks, a community and commercial booking platform for freelance HR experts. A mum of two, she left her corporate career at Booking.com with a baby under one only for the pandemic to hit shortly afterwards. Alongside her own experience, she brings lessons from supporting and learning from a global community of hundreds of freelance consultants: what helps them win work, build lasting client relationships, and sustain their careers. At Consultant for a Day™, she'll share honest insights and practical advice on turning expertise into paid work and building a consulting career that works alongside the realities of day to day life.
Connect on LinkedInApply for one of 20 places.
We’re looking for experienced professionals who can bring valuable perspectives to real business challenges and who are motivated to explore what comes next.
Before applying
Selected participants contribute €65 incl. VAT to confirm their place. This includes the full-day programme, food, drinks and refreshments. You do not pay when you apply.
What we consider
- Relevant professional experience
- Depth and breadth of expertise
- Contribution to real-world business challenges
- Motivation for participating
- Perspective brought to the cohort
- Potential for meaningful collaboration
Your application opens in Google Forms. Payment is not a selection criterion and is only requested after selection.
Meet expertise you wouldn’t normally encounter.
C4D brings together 20 highly experienced international professionals taking their expertise to market through consulting, fractional and freelance work.
Join the conversation — whether you’d like to meet the cohort at our invitation-only borrel from 16:30 or explore partnering with C4D.
Community partners
Before you apply.
Who is C4D for?
Highly qualified womxn returning from career breaks who want to explore consulting, fractional work, freelancing, portfolio careers or other independent professional directions.
Do I need to be a consultant already?
No. The day helps you explore whether consulting or another independent route could fit your experience.
Do I need to have a business idea?
No. You can arrive with experience, questions and curiosity. The programme helps you shape a possible direction.
Do I need AI experience?
No. The AI activities are practical, guided and designed for non-technical professionals.
Is this a job fair?
No. C4D is a hands-on day for building an independent-work offer and portfolio, not a recruitment event.
Will I get a client or job?
There are no guaranteed clients, jobs or income. You will leave better prepared to explain your value, show your work and start relevant conversations.
What does the participant fee include?
The €65 incl. VAT participant fee includes the full-day Consultant for a Day™ experience, food, drinks and refreshments. Payment is requested only after selection.
How are participants selected?
We select 20 participants based on relevant experience, expertise, motivation, perspective, potential contribution to real business challenges and meaningful collaboration. Ability or willingness to pay is not a selection criterion.
What does the day include?
Expert-led practical workshops, hands-on building with AI tools, independent-work guidance, peer exchange and an invitation-only evening borrel.
Is the networking evening open to everyone?
No. It is invitation-only for participants and selected business contacts, partners and professional community members.
When and where will it take place?
23 November 2026, 9:30 am – 6 pm, at Huis van de Wijk Buitenveldert, A J Ernststraat 112, 1082 LP Amsterdam.
How can I apply?
Use any Apply button on this page to open the application form. There is no payment when you apply.
How can I partner with C4D?
Complete the separate partner interest form. Participation is subject to approval or invitation.
23 November 2026 · Amsterdam
You don’t need to have it figured out before you arrive.
That’s what the day is for. Come with your experience. Leave with a portfolio, a presence, a plan and connections.
20 selected participants · €65 incl. VAT after selection · Full day, food, drinks and refreshments included