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👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/752

Jared Matfess shares his journey from aerospace to Microsoft MVP, navigating burnout, rediscovering purpose, and diving deep into Microsoft Copilot Studio. With a passion for simplifying complex tech, Jared explains how he helps professionals understand and apply AI tools in real-world enterprise settings.

🎙️ What you’ll learn

• How to simplify complex AI tools for business users
• Lessons from implementing SharePoint under strict compliance
• Strategies for recovering from professional burnout
• How to approach writing and publishing a tech book
• Practical use cases for Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio

✅ Highlights

• “I found myself having to become a pseudo data security expert really fast.”
• “Anybody can share their story.”
• “It felt so good helping other people that I kind of got like that little high.”
• “I hit the wall hard. I had a hard time getting out of bed.”
• “Copilot to me was actually a huge catalyst for that.”
• “They're literally attacking us with Copilots.”
• “How do you keep up with the Copilots?”
• “I like to say I’m a Jared of all trades.”
• “I wrote chapter 14 with having no Copilot Studio experience.”
• “Microsoft pushed an update, broke everything.”
• “It was a fun and stressful time being a solo author on an ever-changing book.”
• “The village kind of lifted me up, which was a pretty cool feeling.”

🧰 Mentioned

• Microsoft Copilot - https://copilot.microsoft.com/
• Microsoft Copilot Studio - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/microsoft-copilot-studio/
• M365 Copilot at Work (Book on Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-365-Copilot-At-Work/dp/1394258372
• Sharepoint 2010 - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/previous-versions/microsoft-sharepoint-2010
• Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7

✅ Keywords
microsoft copilot, copilot studio, sharepoint, ai skills, burnout recovery, enterprise tech, mvp program, data security, power automate, crm integration, tech storytelling, book writing

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/CopilotAdoption

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

👉Full Show notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/751

Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg Smith

Humans need sharper collaboration and delegation to work with AI agents as digital labour. The episode maps how to brief agents with clear goals, definition of done, checkpoints, and feedback loops, and when to keep humans in the loop by risk. Expect interfaces like Microsoft Teams surfacing agent actions while BPM and process mining reshape workflows. The hosts weigh responsibility, repeatability, and trust, noting variability in large language models and law such as the EU AI Act. Practical exercises and consumer examples show how to build these skills now.

Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz

🎙️ What you’ll learn

• Define goals, constraints, and a clear definition of done for agent tasks.
• Set feedback loops, checkpoints, and timeframes to prevent rework.
• Calibrate human-in-the-loop oversight by risk tier and impact.
• Use BPM and process mining to prepare and optimise workflows for agents.
• Practise explicit, testable instructions to improve delegation and collaboration.

✅Highlights

• “what are the human skills that we need to learn to work with AI better.”
• “software-based labor that partners with humans on specific processes.”
• “We can't be future-proofed anymore. The best we can hope for is future ready.”
• “delegation being an important skill for people who are going to be working with and instructing agents to do tasks.”
• “I think that the human to human collaboration is going to be such an important part.”
• “What does the definition of done look like?”
• “Parkinson's Law states that you will stretch out the completion of your task until they fill the time available to complete them.”
• “how should responsibility be managed when these agents make mistakes?”
• “communication happens at the listener's ear, not at the speaker's mouth.”

🧰 Mentioned

• Business Process Management (BPM) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_process_management
• Bon Appétit YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpMy0Fg74eXXkvxJrtEn3w
• Lisa Crosbie YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/lisacrosbie
• Parkinson's Law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law
• The Four Hour Work Week https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_4-Hour_Workweek

Connect with the hosts

Mark 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/megsmithnz

Subscribe, 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.

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/CopilotAdoption

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/750

Andrew Wingate shares practical insights on building applied AI capability, managing change, and leveraging the Microsoft Power Platform, especially Business Central, for scalable, efficient business solutions. From blogging and video editing to ISV ecosystems and AI agents, this episode is packed with real-world strategies for tech professionals.

🎙️ What you’ll learn

• Use AI to accelerate research, writing, and data analysis
• Build scalable content workflows with tools like Clipchamp and CapCut
• Evaluate and integrate ISV solutions for Business Central
• Apply change management strategies in tech projects
• Optimise cloud storage and backup for business continuity

✅ Highlights

• “I use AI every day to start, support, or finish tasks.”
• “Clipchamp lets me edit fast with templates and assets.”
• “CapCut created a polished video in 30 seconds.”
• “Business Central has nearly 7,000 apps on AppSource.”
• “Successful ISVs make partners look good.”
• “You’ve got to build trust—honesty is essential.”
• “I’ve Googled a problem and found my own blog post.”
• “AI helps me find market share data and visualise it.”
• “The real go-live should be boring—everything’s tested.”
• “If it’s not backed up in two places, it doesn’t exist.”
• “I use Audible on walks to recharge and learn.”
• “AI is starting to influence how I speak in real life.”

🧰 Mentioned

• Microsoft AppSource (Business Central apps): appsource.microsoft.com
• Clipchamp (Microsoft video editor): clipchamp.com
• CapCut (AI-powered video editor): capcut.com
• Synology NAS (cloud storage solutions): synology.com

✅ Keywords
ai productivity, business central, microsoft power platform, isv ecosystem, clipchamp, capcut, automation tools, copilot studio, appsource, change management, synology nas, oneDrive

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/CopilotAdoption

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith