ZS Associates
2026 Regional Winner | Maximizing Impact
Industry
Consulting
Company HQ
Evanston, Illinois
Number of Employees
13,000+
Office Locations
Worldwide
How ZS Associates built a scalable AI talent engine with Udemy
Business outcomes
355
hackathon submissions
77%
learning-to-application conversion rate
4,161+
learning hours consumed
Challenge
Building AI talent at scale
ZS Associates is a global management consulting and technology firm focused on transforming healthcare and more through analytics, technology, and deep industry expertise. For more than 40 years, ZS has partnered with organizations to solve complex business challenges, combining consulting, data science, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation to drive measurable impact. With more than 13,000 employees across more than 35 offices worldwide, ZS helps clients accelerate growth, improve decision-making, and create better outcomes through data-driven insights and advanced technologies.
As demand for AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics talent accelerated across ZS Associates, the firm faced a critical business challenge. Historically, the Advanced Data Science (ADS) Track Transfer program relied on a 40-hour instructor-led workshop delivered through an external vendor. While effective, the model was costly, difficult to scale, and limited the number of employees who could participate.
The firm needed a learning approach that could reach hundreds of employees simultaneously and create a repeatable model for developing future AI talent.
“We needed to rapidly build internal AI capability at scale while minimizing reliance on external hiring and resource-intensive instructor-led training,” said Sapan Koul, Learning Strategist.
“We needed to rapidly build internal AI capability at scale while minimizing reliance on external hiring and resource-intensive instructor-led training.”
Solution
Curated pathways embedded in talent transformation
ZS Associates redesigned the learning strategy around Udemy and embedded it directly into its talent transformation process. Rather than treating learning as a standalone activity, the firm positioned it as a strategic enabler of workforce capability building. The ADS and Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) Track Transfer program used curated Udemy learning pathways to prepare employees for technical assessments, hackathons, internships, and future AI-focused career opportunities within the firm.
The learning strategy extended beyond technical upskilling. Alongside AI, machine learning, generative AI (GenAI), Python, cloud, and MLOps content, participants used Udemy to strengthen communication, consulting, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. MLOps refers to the practices for deploying and maintaining machine learning models in production. Professional capabilities like these are equally important for success in client-facing AI roles.
The solution included:
• Curated learning journeys: structured ADS and MLE pathways aligned to role-specific competencies
• Self-paced development: flexible learning that let employees build skills alongside project work
• Hands-on application: Udemy Labs experiences integrated with hackathons and applied challenges
• Broad skill coverage: technical and professional skills development within a single platform
“By embedding learning directly into our talent transformation process, we created a scalable engine for developing AI-ready talent,” Koul said.
“By embedding learning directly into our talent transformation process, we created a scalable engine for developing AI-ready talent.”
Results
355 hackathon submissions and a 77% conversion rate
Through Udemy, ZS deployed approximately 500 licenses and enrolled 461 employees in learning pathways, who consumed more than 4,100 learning hours. The program generated 355 hackathon submissions, a 77% learning-to-application conversion rate demonstrating exceptionally strong engagement and knowledge transfer.
The firm achieved these results within approximately two weeks of program launch. The most significant outcome was the creation of a scalable engine for building AI capability, replacing a resource-intensive instructor-led model with a modern learning ecosystem capable of rapidly developing AI talent at scale.
“Rather than simply consuming content, our learners actively applied their skills to solve real-world AI challenges,” Koul said.
“Rather than simply consuming content, our learners actively applied their skills to solve real-world AI challenges.”
Looking Ahead
Scaling learning
ZS sees an opportunity to reuse the Track Transfer framework for other high-priority capability-building initiatives across the entire firm.
“This model gives us a repeatable way to scale learning across additional roles and emerging skill needs, creating a sustainable foundation for future workforce transformation,” Koul said.
“This model gives us a repeatable way to scale learning across additional roles and emerging skill needs, creating a sustainable foundation for future workforce transformation.”
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