MVP Insights

MVP Insights: Geoff Ables on Change Management, AI Integrations, Summit NA Speaking Engagements

Episode Summary

In episode 31, John Siefert welcomes Geoff Ables, Managing Partner, C5 Insight, Microsoft MVP, to discuss Geoff's involvement with Microsoft business applications, his areas of expertise, how he became an MVP, and he shares details on his Community Summit NA speaking engagements, including the AI Copilot Preconference, two Academy classes, and two education sessions.

Episode Notes

Key Takeaways

• MVP overview: Geoff started C5 Insight nearly 25 years ago, enjoying public speaking and writing from a young age. As his company got closer to Microsoft and him to Dynamics Communities, he naturally engaged in speaking, training, and webinars. Becoming an MVP allowed him to do more of what he loves, and he advises others to pursue an MVP award for the same reason, not just for the title. Geoff emphasizes the importance of finding an avenue that aligns with one's passions and not forcing oneself into a role just for recognition.
• Areas of expertise: Geoff explains that he focuses on the "soft stuff" like change management and behavior change, believing that technology is not the hard part of projects, but rather understanding and driving people's behavior is. He has developed his expertise in these "timeless" aspects to deliver successful projects, emphasizing that the soft stuff is the hard stuff. Further, despite being a Copilot MVP and spending a lot of time with it, he adds that he still needs daily reminders to utilize this assistant effectively. Even for someone experienced in change management, it's challenging to fully tap into Copilot's potential, as many users, including himself, only use a fraction of its capabilities.
• AI Copilot Preconference: Geoff will be taking part in the "Microsoft MVP Panel: AI Copilot Quick and Early Wins," at the AI Copilot Preconference, taking place Sunday, October 13 ahead of Community Summit NA 2024. He notes that fellow panelists are also in the early stages, utilizing Copilot functionality like Teams recording, inquiries, and Outlook drafting and summary features. If you're a user wondering where to start, attend this panel as these MVPs are just a few steps ahead.
• Academy at Summit NA: On Sunday, October 13, Geoff will be leading an Academy class along with C5 Insight colleagues Tricia Desso-Cox, Jordan Loeffler, and Malcolm McAuley, "365 Leadership in a Day." This 1-day course will focus on timeless topics such as driving adoption, creating plans, designing sales processes, and envisioning Copilot's role in companies. Additionally, on Thursday, October 17, Geoff will be participating in another Academy class, "AI at Work: Real-World Applications of Copilot and Other Microsoft AI Offerings," by Jordan Loeffler and Emily Boiteau. In this session, the team will use a user case study format to explore practical examples of AI applications in HR, system administration, and management. They'll provide a vision and workshop ideas on how to leverage AI both within and outside of built-in features like Power Automate and Power Apps.
• Summit NA sessions: In addition to his involvement with the AI Copilot Preconference and his two Academy classes, Geoff will be leading two sessions at Community Summit NA 2024. On Wednesday, October 16, he will be presenting the session "Crafting Custom Copilots: The Strategic Overview." This session, he explains is largely about Copilot Studio, which offers a vision for why a user might choose it over out-of-the-box solutions or Azure, and provides practical steps for creating your first custom Copilot. Also on Wednesday, October 16, Geoff will be leading "The 3 C's: Copilot and CRM in the C-Suite." This session will focus on how to effectively involve the C-suite in using digital technologies as a leadership tool to become a digital-first company.