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Microsoft Innovation Podcast

Mark Smith [nz365guy]
Microsoft Innovation Podcast
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  • From Excel to AI: How to Stay Relevant in Tech
    Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM Frederick Anaafi shares his journey from Excel trainer to Microsoft MVP, highlighting how AI - especially Microsoft Copilot - is transforming productivity and career paths in Africa and beyond. He offers practical insights on building AI fluency, driving community-led tech adoption, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy. 👉 ️ FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/762 🎙️ What you’ll learn How to build a tech career starting with Excel and Power BI Why AI fluency is essential for modern professionals Practical ways to adopt Microsoft Copilot without a subscription How to lead community-driven tech initiatives What it takes to become a Microsoft MVP in emerging markets ✅ Highlights “AI is the electricity of our era.” “If you don’t learn AI, then yes, you will be left out.” “Copilot helps you get results faster and be more efficient.” “Before entering the corporate world, you need to know Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.” “I failed the Excel Expert exam the first time, but I didn’t give up.” “We had close to 200 people attend the first DynamicsCon West Africa.” “AI engineering will be the ish—what people should really go into.” “Trust in Copilot comes from knowing it’s secure and responsible.” “We’re driving Copilot adoption through free virtual training.” “In Ghana, we have fewer than 15 MVPs, but we’re growing.” “The usefulness of Copilot is there—now we need to build trust.” “I see AI transforming every industry we work in.” 🧰 Mentioned Microsoft Excel Expert Certification: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/mo-211 Tableau: tableau.com Power BI: microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/products/power-bi Microsoft Copilot: copilot.microsoft.com DynamicsCon West Africa: eventbrite.com/e/dynamicscon-regional-west-africa-tickets-1249579418679 MCT West Africa Summit: mctwestafrica.com Microsoft MVP YouTube Series: How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7 ✅Keywords ai fluency, microsoft copilot, power bi, excel expert, tableau, data analysis, mvp programme, tech community, ai adoption, microsoft 365, dynamics 365, west africa tech Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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  • Gen X To Gen Z: Different AI Superpowers
    🔴 For full Show Notes  https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/761Personal leadership with AI means using it as a tailored amplifier, not an overlord. Meg and Mark unpack generational strengths in AI use, from structured Gen X prompts to Gen Z experimentation. They show how to turn books into personalised action plans with AI, build health and financial literacy, and create safe spaces for younger people to sharpen critical thinking. Listeners leave with ways to pair their strengths with AI, design better prompts, and lead on their own terms.👉Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz🎙️What you’ll learnHow to use AI with leadership and habits books to create personalised questions, habits, and behaviour changes that fit your life.How to combine Kindle and Audible to read faster while staying focused on complex ideas.How Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z professionals tend to approach AI differently, and how to borrow strengths from each style.How to design prompt pipelines that move from exploration to refinement to final outputs you can put to work.✅Highlights"The world is ending, AI is bad, the planet's burning, like up here and into the like, okay, actually, so what""artificial intelligence will be just another helpful feature on the tech infrastructure that... serve our daily lives""If we're not personally leading in our own lives with artificial intelligence, we are just going to be buffeted and swayed by other people's ideas."🧰MentionedNeil deGrasse Tyson https://amzn.to/485h2otSeven habits of highly effective people https://amzn.to/49SK2lNThe four hour work week https://amzn.to/49nMzEpNix https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7z5lDsS6UP/?igsh=MXBzMXk4MDhlYjN6bQ%3D%3D AND https://www.tiktok.com/@cwknixChris Huntingford https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishuntingford/✅Connect with the hostsMark Smith:  Blog https://www.nz365guy.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy Meg Smith:  Blog https://www.megsmith.nz LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnzSubscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group, and we may feature them in an upcoming episode.✅Keywords: personal leadership, ai, gen x, gen z, millennials, prompting, prompt pipelines, financial literacy, health literacy, ai literacy, vibe coding, strengthsfinderMicrosoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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  • Is AI Making Your Team Lonelier?
    Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVMAI in HR tech is evolving fast, but not always meaningfully. Emre Ok shares how to separate hype from real innovation, why context matters more than features, and how remote teams can stay connected in a world of AI-generated feedback. This episode explores practical ways leaders can use AI to enhance - not replace - human connection at work.👉 Full Show Notes https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/760   🎙️ What you’ll learn How to evaluate AI tools for real business impactWays to use AI to improve performance reviews and feedbackWhy context-aware AI agents are the future of HR techHow remote teams can build stronger connectionsWhat leaders should ask before adopting new AI solutions✅ Highlights “Is the tech you're implementing making your employees lonelier?”“You might as well just go to ChatGPT on another browser.”“We didn’t want to do it just to put a sparkly AI icon on our website.”“Performance reviews get such a bad rep, especially when they're an Excel spreadsheet.”“If it has context, if it knows your people, that's when it's real.”“The talent pool is global now—and that’s both exciting and frightening.”“Checking for bias is always an option.”“Copilot didn’t live up to the hype—but it’s getting there.”“The office just isn’t a necessity anymore.”“You don’t want to force it, but you want to encourage it.”“The more AI adapts to how people work, the better it gets.”“It’s harder to detach from work when your bedroom is also your corner office.”🧰 Mentioned  Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-appTeamFlect - https://teamflect.com/Microsoft Copilot - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/ChatGPT by OpenAI - https://chatgpt.com/✅Keywords  ai in hr tech, remote work, performance reviews, microsoft teams, copilot, employee engagement, feedback tools, bias detection, teamflect, chatgpt, hr software, workplace technology  Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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  • From Theatre to Tech: Building AI Mindsets That Stick
    Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM Tanja Wiehoff shares her journey from musical theatre to Microsoft 365 consulting, revealing how she helps organisations adopt Copilot and build an AI-first mindset. She outlines practical strategies for executive training, change management, and fostering AI fluency across teams. 👉 Full Show notes https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/759 🎙️ What you’ll learn How to guide organisations through Copilot adoption Ways to build an AI mindset across different roles Why executive buy-in is critical for AI success How to run effective Copilot workshops and labs What makes AI fun and engaging for everyday users  ✅ Highlights “You have to build up an AI mindset with all the employees.” “Executives have to be a role model when it comes to AI usage.” “It doesn’t make any sense to train them and then leave them alone.” “Copilot isn’t always faster—it’s better quality and more creative.” “We enable users before they even get a Copilot licence.” “It’s not always about ROI—sometimes it’s just better work.” “I use Copilot nearly every hour.” “You need ongoing training and a knowledge platform.” “Fun use cases matter—even if they don’t save money.” “There’s no blueprint—it depends on company culture.” “Executive sessions must be fast-paced and interactive.” “The service agent even suggests when to publish the survey.” 🧰 Mentioned     Microsoft 365: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365 Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot Viva Connections: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-viva/connections Viva Engage: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-viva/engage SharePoint Online: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration GPT-5 (OpenAI): https://openai.com/gpt-5 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7 ✅ Keywords copilot, ai mindset, microsoft 365, executive training, change management, viva engage, sharepoint online, gpt-5, intranet, service agent, adoption strategy, business transformationSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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  • Transparency First: Make AI Worthy of Trust
    👉 Full Show Notes https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/758Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg SmithEthical AI starts with transparency, accountability, and clear values. Mark and Meg unpack responsible AI principles, why non-deterministic systems still need reliability, and how ‘human in the loop’ and logging keep people accountable. They share a simple way to judge tools: trust, data use, terms that change, and clarity on training. You’ll see how to set personal and organisational boundaries, choose vendors, and schedule reviews as risks evolve. They also consider a public call to pause superintelligence, and argue for critical thinking over fear.Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz🎙️ What you’ll learn- Build an ethics checklist around transparency, fairness, reliability, privacy, inclusiveness, and accountability.- Evaluate tools for training stance, data use, privacy, and changing terms.- Design human-in-the-loop workflows with unique credentials, logging, and audit trails.- Set personal and organisational boundaries for acceptable AI use.- Plan a review cadence to reassess risks, mitigations, and vendor changes.✅Highlights“we're going to be squarely in the land of robotics very soon.”“the intelligence age is so much more than just AI it is the age of intelligence”“if you're an unethical individual, AI is probably going to amplify it.”“there is no ethical AI without transparency.”“people should be accountable for AI systems.”🧰MentionedMicrosoft Responsible AI principles https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/principles-and-approach#ai-principlesIBM AI course https://www.ibm.com/training/learning-pathsTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nz365guyRoomba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RoombaZoom TOS https://termly.io/resources/zoom-terms-of-service-controversy/Connect with the hostsMark Smith:  Blog https://www.nz365guy.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy Meg Smith:  Blog https://www.megsmith.nz LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnzSubscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group, and we may feature them in an upcoming episode.✅Keywords: responsible ai, ethical decision-making, transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy and security, non-deterministic, human in the loop, audit trail, intra id, superintelligence, terms Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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About Microsoft Innovation Podcast

If you want to get your ideas or questions featured on an episode, please leave us a voicemail: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/voicemail/Dive into the future of work with the "Microsoft Innovation Podcast," exploring the intersection of People, Business, Technology, and AI. Engage with expert guests—including thought leaders from Microsoft, industry innovators, and community specialists—who are redefining the world with advancements in AI, Cloud technologies, the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and beyond.Every episode delivers a blend of in-depth discussions, practical insights, and actionable strategies tailored for professionals driving enablement and innovation. Join us across our five shows:The Power Platform ShowThe MVP ShowThe Copilot ShowThe Ecosystems ShowThe AI Advantage (coming soon)
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