Innovation Heroes

How to Drive Microsoft Copilot Adoption & ROI: Our Experts Discuss

AI is here and IT leaders are under pressure to make it work—fast. But adoption doesn’t happen overnight, and organizations need a clear strategy to drive ROI from Microsoft Copilot.

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, host Ed McNamara sits down with three of SHI's Microsoft experts—Carrie Randolph (Public Sector Strategist), Michael Heath (Power Platform Solutions Engineer), and Dominick Raimato (Microsoft MVP & Sr. Solutions Architect).

They share practical, field-tested insights on how businesses, governments, and educators are integrating Copilot into their workflows.

They’ll also cover key challenges IT leaders face, from change management to governance, and break down proven strategies to accelerate adoption, improve security, and maximize impact.

Whether you’re in the early stages of deployment or looking to scale Copilot across your organization, this episode will help you move from exploration to execution.

* * *

This episode is sponsored by Microsoft Copilot.

Drawing on 35 years of experience supporting some of the most complex Microsoft environments in the industry, SHI can help you bring the full power of Microsoft Copilot to your organization.

Learn about our Microsoft Copilot Enablement Workshop: https://blog.shi.com/digital-workplace/take-full-advantage-of-microsoft-copilot-with-shis-m365-enablement-workshop/

 

From Startup to Global Leader: 35 Years of SHI

What if the company you worked for went bankrupt overnight—only for a bold new leader to step in and turn it into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse?  

That’s exactly what happened to SHI’s first employee, Melissa Graham.  

In this special episode of Innovation Heroes, we’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of SHI. Melissa, the company's very first employee, shares stories about co-founder and CEO, Thai Lee and dives into SHI’s incredible journey from scrappy upstart to global IT giant. 

Tune in to hear stories of resilience, innovation, and the pivotal moments that shaped SHI’s success. 

Featuring: Melissa Graham, SHI’s Senior Vice President of the Global Organization and company’s very first employee. 

DeepSeek: An AI triumph? Or a dicey security risk?

Last month, no one had heard of DeepSeek. But then it racked up a stunning 16 million downloads in just 18 days — nearly double ChatGPT’s initial adoption. 

  

The China-based AI model has certainly captured the attention of both investors and technologists. But while some see it as the future of AI, others are raising red flags over its origins and potential security risks. 

  

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore what makes DeepSeek unique, how it compares to existing AI models, and the startling data privacy concerns for businesses and governments worldwide. 

 

Should you dive in? Or swim in shallower waters? 

  

Featuring: 

• Jack Hogan, Vice President of Advanced Growth Technologies at SHI, leading initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. 

• Lee Ziliak, Field Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director of Architecture at SHI. 

• Jordan Mauriello, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Stratascale. 

Finding the competitive edge: how data and AI elevate your game

How are data and AI revolutionizing teams—whether on the field or in the boardroom?

 In this episode of Innovation Heroes, Casey Murphy, goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage and the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Founder and Director of Operations of AP2T, Mike Olim, dive into the cutting-edge tech reshaping elite sports.

 From wearables to AI-driven insights, discover how these tools optimize performance and help give you an edge over the competition.

Featuring: Casey Murphy, goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage and the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Mike Olim, Founder and Director of Operations of AP2T.

On-device AI: Revolutionizing efficiency, security, and personalization

What if the future of AI didn’t live in the cloud, but right in the palm of your hand?  

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, host Ed McNamara uncovers the revolution of on-device AI with Qualcomm's Mike Belcher, Director of North American Commercial Channels.  

Discover how this cutting-edge technology is reshaping industries, slashing costs, helping the environment and redefining what’s possible in personalization, efficiency, and security.  

Featuring: Mike Belcher, Qualcomm’s Director of North American Commercial Channels 

Happy Holidays from Innovation Heroes

It's been an incredible year of captivating stories and thought provoking discussions. We're taking a short break over the holidays to recharge, plan, and gear up for even more exciting episodes in the new year.

So mark your calendar, stay subscribed, and keep an ear out for our return.  Until then, take care, enjoy the holiday season, and thank you for making this year truly unforgettable.

From SHI and the Innovation Heroes team, keep innovating and we'll see you in 2025.

Elizabeth Bieniek’s unexpected journey building Webex Hologram

It’s good to identify a problem. But’s it’s even better to find a solution. 

We speak with Elizabeth Bieniek, an innovation consultant and a former Cisco strategist who spearheaded the creation of Webex Hologram – the first real-time, photorealistic holographic tool to transform business collaboration.  

Elizabeth shares her journey from a strategic partnerships role to leading the development of revolutionary technology. Learn how a seemingly simple disagreement transformed into a pivotal moment, igniting a quest to redefine remote collaboration.  

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Featuring: Elizabeth is the author of "Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation.” 

AI: Enhancing employee satisfaction at work

AI is stealing jobs. But that’s not the whole story. In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore the often-overlooked benefits of AI in the workplace.  

 

While AI is automating tasks and changing job roles, it's also empowering employees, boosting creativity, learning, and unlocking their untapped potential. We speak with Geoff Wright, Global Solutions Owner at Mondelēz International, a global snack food brand leveraging AI to improve their employee experience. 

 

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Featuring: Geoff Wright, Global Solutions Owner at Mondelēz International 

XDR; the brain of the cyber security nervous system

When bad actors get more sophisticated, cybersecurity professionals only have one choice: Innovation.  

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape with Brianna Farro, Cisco's Security Director of XDR Product Management. Briana explains why traditional siloed security approaches are insufficient in today's complex threat environment and how extended detection response, or XDR, provides a more comprehensive solution. 

We delve into the key capabilities of XDR, including its ability to correlate data from multiple sources, prioritize critical threats, and automate responses. Briana shares real-world examples of XDR's success and advocates for Cisco's open and hybrid XDR approach. Discover how XDR can help your organization improve its security posture and stay ahead of the curve. 

Featuring: Briana Farro, Cisco Security Director of XDR Product Management 

Smart cities in action: How Cary, NC is pioneering municipal innovation

What happens when a small town in North Carolina embraces cutting-edge technology to become a leader in smart city innovation? In this episode, host Ed McNamara is joined by SHI’s Senior Vice President of Public Sector Sales, Denise Collison, and special guest Dan Ault, Assistant Town Manager and Chief Innovation Officer for Cary, North Carolina.  

Together, they dive into the challenges and successes of digital transformation in local government. Ault shares insights on pioneering smart city initiatives, securing critical infrastructure, and improving citizen engagement, while Collison adds her expertise on navigating the unique complexities of public sector technology adoption. 

Through this conversation, listeners get a glimpse of how municipalities like Cary are leveraging technology to create more connected, efficient, and secure communities. From the use of sensors to mitigate stormwater risks to the implementation of a groundbreaking 311 system, Ault’s work exemplifies the future of digital government.  

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Featuring: Dan Ault, Assistant Town Manager and Chief Innovation Officer of the Town of Cary, North Carolina and Denise Collison, Senior Vice-President of Public Sector Sales at SHI