Innovation Heroes

Unlocking Millions in ROI with Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Chat

Enterprises are spending thousands — sometimes millions — on AI productivity tools. But for many, the big question remains: Are we getting what we paid for?

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, SHI's Chief of Staff to the CIO, Brooke Pierantoni, shares how SHI turned Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Chat into a measurable win: $1.4M in monthly productivity savings and a fully secured enterprise rollout completed in just six months.

Brooke breaks down the decisions that mattered most, from locking down data governance, to building a platform-first adoption model that tripled usage in 30 days. She also explains the real risks of shadow AI, why Copilot only works when your data house is in order, and how SHI is preparing to push adoption beyond 70% in the next 12–18 months.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Microsoft Copilot Chat fails without strong data governance
• How SHI accelerated rollout from 12 months to just 6
• How SHI calculates $1.4M in monthly productivity gains
• The real risks of skipping data governance prep

Featuring: Brooke Pierantoni, Chief of Staff to the CIO, SHI International

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This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Microsoft and SHI.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward smarter, AI-powered productivity with Microsoft Copilot — including Copilot Chat — visit www.shi.com/microsoft  today.

From Bad Chatbots to Digital Ambassadors That Actually Work

Most chatbots fall short—slow responses, confusing menus, and frustrated users who abandon the experience. But what if you could replace that with a lifelike, multilingual Digital AI Ambassador — and prove it works in just six weeks?

In this episode, host Ed McNamara sits down with SHI’s Jack Hogan and HPE’s Robin Braun to break down how SHI and HPE built Digital Humans that are fast, secure, and genuinely engaging. They discuss why chatbots fail, how guardrails and ultra-low latency reshape customer interactions, and how SHI’s Imagine–Experiment–Adopt framework accelerates AI adoption.

Listeners will learn:

• Why human-like presence matters more than chatbot accuracy
• How “brain and body” architecture creates lifelike engagement
• Why HPE Private Cloud AI enables secure, scalable deployment
• How SHI delivers production-ready Digital AI Ambassadors in six weeks
• Real-world examples from civic services, retail, healthcare, and more
  
  

Featuring:
 • Jack Hogan, VP of Advanced Growth Technologies, SHI
 • Robin Braun, VP of AI Business Development, Hybrid Cloud, HPE

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This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by HPE. If you're in retail, healthcare, financial services, or public sector and you're under pressure to deploy AI that actually works, reach out. Our team can get you production-ready Digital Humans in six weeks, not eighteen months.

>>> Book your executive review: shi.com/digitalhuman 

We'll Never Move This Slow Again: Why Intel's Stacey Shulman Says AI is Underhyped

While everyone debates whether AI is overhyped, Intel's Stacey Shulman argues we're dramatically underhyping it—and our linear thinking is making us dangerously unprepared. AI capabilities are doubling every six months, four times faster than Moore's Law, yet most organizations are still trying to build "AI infrastructure" instead of resilient infrastructure that can evolve with technology moving faster than human imagination. Shulman breaks down why the Intel-Nvidia partnership represents a seismic shift, why we need HR systems for AI agents, and why Star Trek optimism—not Black Mirror dystopia—should guide our path forward.

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Learn more about SHI's AI solutions and how our AI & Cyber Lab can help you prototype and test before you commit at SHI.com/AI

Watch Innovation Heroes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SHICorporation

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Stacey Shulman is Vice President and General Manager of Health, Education, and Consumer Industries at Intel Corporation, where she leads the division responsible for transforming how AI impacts people-focused industries. With over three decades of technology and retail experience, Shulman has built a career on incubating emerging technologies and turning innovation into practical business value.

Before joining Intel in 2017 as Chief Innovation Officer for retail solutions, Shulman held executive roles at Levi Strauss & Co. and American Apparel, where she was named Innovative Industry CIO of the Year for her groundbreaking work in store-focused technology. This is her sixth appearance on Innovation Heroes.

How a Teacher Turned Gaming Into New Jersey's Newest Varsity Activity

What happens when IT leaders have to choose between safety and innovation? In New Jersey, one teacher proved that the biggest obstacles to transformation often come from inside our own departments. 

Chris Aviles started Garden State eSports during COVID with borrowed laptops and a spreadsheet. Today, it's the largest scholastic eSports league in the country, serving 12,000 students across 400+ schools—and it just became New Jersey's first new varsity activity in 20 years. 

In this episode, you'll discover: 

• How eSports went from basement hobby to legitimate varsity activity with scholarships and college recruiting 

• Why IT departments are now the biggest barrier to program launches (and how to overcome security concerns safely) 

• The student success stories that prove inclusive competition changes lives 

• How schools are turning gaming computers into dual-purpose STEM labs that drive attendance and grades 

Chris Aviles, Founder of Garden State eSports, joins host Ed McNamara along with SHI's Jeff Prudente to reveal how this movement is opening doors for students who never participated in school activities before—including 25% with IEPs or autism spectrum diagnoses. 

Guest: Chris Aviles, Founder & Executive Director, Garden State eSports 
Also Featuring: Jeff Prudente, Mobility Manager, SHI International 

Learn more: shi.com/esports

#eSports #EdTech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #STEMEducation #InclusiveEducation #SchoolTechnology #GamingForGood 

 

Show Notes & Resources 

Organizations & Programs: 

• Garden State eSports - New Jersey's official scholastic eSports league 

• SHI eSports Solutions - Equipment, infrastructure, and program support 

• Interstate Scholastic eSports Alliance - National network spanning 20+ states 
• Contact: esports@shi.com 

Resources for Schools: 

• Garden State eSports Varsity Certification Program 

• SHI eSports IT Infrastructure Guide 

• Equipment recommendations and setup best practices 

• Network security guidance for school IT departments 

Timeline: 

• 00:01:00 - Introduction to eSports growth and impact 

• 00:02:00 - Jeff Prudente on early days of NJ eSports partnership with SHI 

• 00:08:00 - Chris Aviles' origin story and COVID catalyst 

• 00:13:00 - How eSports became a varsity activity (not sport) 

• 00:16:00 - Biggest misconceptions: IT departments as unexpected barriers 

• 00:21:00 - What it's like to attend an eSports championship event 

• 00:26:00 - The critical role of teacher-coaches 

• 00:32:00 - Student success stories: Tyler Sims and Jack's journeys 

• 00:40:00 - How to launch a program in your school 

Guest Bios: Chris Aviles is a 17-year teaching veteran and founder of Garden State eSports, which has grown from 100 schools during COVID to become the largest scholastic eSports league in the United States. Under his leadership, New Jersey became the first state to recognize eSports as an official varsity activity. 

Jeff Prudente is SHI International's Mobility Manager for Intel and Windows devices. A lifelong gamer and former competitive Halo player, Jeff helped pioneer SHI's eSports education initiative and has been instrumental in bringing programs to school districts nationwide—from 5-computer setups to hundred-workstation arenas. 

The $25M Zoom Call: How Deepfakes Are Rewriting the Rules of Trust, Featuring KnowBe4's Erich Kron

A Hong Kong employee sits through what seems like a routine video call with colleagues and the CFO. Everything looks normal. Then comes the urgent wire transfer request. $25 million later, the horrifying truth emerges: every face on that call was fake, generated by AI.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, host Ed McNamara sits down with Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, to unpack one of the most sophisticated cyber heists in history. We'll explore how cybercriminals have industrialized deception, the psychology behind why we fall for these scams, and what organizations can do to fight back against the rise of "Cybercrime Inc."

Key Takeaways:

• How attackers used "scripted movie" techniques to pull off a $25M deepfake heist
• Why cybercrime now operates like big business—complete with HR departments and profit-sharing models
• The psychology of System 1 vs System 2 thinking and how emotions drive us into making mistakes
• AI-powered defense tools that are helping organizations stay ahead of deepfake threats

Guest: Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate, KnowBe4

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This episode is brought to you by KnowBe4. Ready to move beyond cybersecurity awareness to actually reducing human risk? Visit shi.com/partners/knowbe4 to learn how AI is transforming human risk management.

#Cybersecurity #Deepfakes #HumanRisk #AI #SocialEngineering #InnovationHeroes

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Show Notes & Resources

Learn More About Erich Kron

• Erich Kron on LinkedIn
• KnowBe4 Blog - Author Page for Erich Kron
• The Jericho Show (co-hosted with Javvad Malik) (YouTube)

$25 Million Deepfake Zoom Scam - News Coverage

• Ars Technica: $25 million stolen in deepfake Zoom scam
• World Economic Forum: What a $25M deepfake scam reveals about AI risks

Additional Context

• KnowBe4's work on Human Risk Management: shi.com/partners/knowbe4

Zero Day, Zero Warning: Inside the Discovery That Could Have Crippled the Internet

Twelve years. That's how long a vulnerability sat in sudo—the command powering every Linux system—waiting for the wrong hands. When Stratascale researchers Rich Mirch and Quentin Rhoads-Herrera discovered not one, but two zero-day vulnerabilities in sudo, millions of systems worldwide were at risk. 

Go behind the scenes of a discovery that could have changed everything—but didn't, thanks to ethical research and responsible disclosure. Learn how a 12-year-old vulnerability went undetected in one of the world's most scrutinized open-source projects, why human curiosity still outpaces automated security tools, and the methodology behind discovering critical flaws in mature, battle-tested software.

Guests: Rich Mirch, Principal Security Researcher, Stratascale; Quentin Rhoads-Herrera, VP of Security Services, Stratascale

Stratascale is a wholly owned subsidiary of SHI International, delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity research and managed security services.

Show Notes & Resources

Read our blog announcing the vulnerabilities: https://www.stratascale.com/vulnerability-alert-CVE-2025-32462-sudo-host

CVE Details: • CVE-2025-32462 - The 12-year sudo vulnerability • CVE-2025-32463 - The more severe chroot vulnerability

Key Timestamps: • [02:07] - Rich's discovery approach: assuming vulnerabilities exist • [08:03] - Quinton's validation process and initial disbelief • [13:31] - The "double take" moment of confirming the discovery • [21:21] - Dynamic vs. static testing methodology • [29:03] - Why offensive security research matters • [34:44] - Career advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals

Learn More: When you need expert guidance on cybersecurity solutions and frameworks, trust SHI's Field CISOs and security experts. We help identify critical gaps, consolidate security platforms, and integrate AI into your cybersecurity practices. Learn more at https://www.shi.com/solutions/cybersecurity

The Last Swimmer in the Pool: Deaflympian Brooke Thompson on Adaptive Tech

More than 80% of disabilities are invisible, yet too often technology and workplace systems overlook these needs. In this episode, Rutgers swimmer and Deaflympian Brooke Thompson shares her inspiring journey—from Michigan lakes to the global stage—powered by adaptive technology and relentless advocacy.

Through her story, we uncover the bigger message for IT and business leaders: accessibility is not a "nice to have" or a compliance checkbox. It's about proactively listening, asking, and equipping people with the tools they need to thrive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How adaptive technologies like cochlear implants, closed captioning, and visual strobes create equal playing fields
• Why up to 74% of workplace accommodation requests get denied—and how to fix it
• Practical "quick wins" IT leaders can implement for better accessibility
• The business case for inclusive technology beyond compliance
• How invisible disabilities impact millions of workers and students daily

Guest: Brooke Thompson is a Division I swimmer at Rutgers University, two-time Deaflympian, and SHI spokesperson. Born deaf, she competes at the highest level with the support of adaptive technologies and serves as an advocate for accessibility in sports, education, and the workplace.

Subscribe and Connect: Innovation Heroes is part of SHI Media. Find more episodes and IT leadership resources at blog.shi.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on YouTube @SHICorporation.

#Accessibility #InclusiveTechnology #WorkplaceInclusion #AdaptiveTech #ITLeadership #Deaflympics #SHI

Innovation Heroes – Season 7: Real Voices, Real Risks, Real Answers

SHI's Innovation Heroes is back. After hitting #1 on the Apple Technology charts, Season 7 brings twelve no-fluff episodes on the real risks and real answers facing IT leaders today—from cybercrime that runs like a Fortune 500 to the power of accessibility in tech.

It's a new season— with a clear mission: Bringing you conversations that cut through the noise and give IT leaders what they actually need: clarity, courage, and practical insight.

Season 7 dives into the stories behind today’s biggest technology challenges: cybercrime operating like Fortune 500 companies, AI vulnerabilities hiding in plain sight, and the transformative power of accessibility in IT. From deepfakes to Deaflympians, this season brings you voices from the frontlines—security experts, innovators, and unlikely pioneers—sharing what’s really at stake and how to navigate it.

Twelve episodes. Zero fluff. Just the kind of conversations that save you time, sharpen your thinking, and make you better at your job.

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Follow now, wherever you get your podcasts or at SHI.com/heroes

Watch full video episodes on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SHICorporation/podcasts

Brought to you by SHI: From seamless hardware and software procurement solutions to licensing advisory, data center configuration, ITAM, and AI services, SHI has all your IT needs covered.

The New Rules of Virtualization: Insights for Navigating Change

What should you really do about your VMware environment?

Since Broadcom’s acquisition, virtualization strategy has become a hot topic on the minds of CIOs and infrastructure leaders. In this episode, we sit down with Cody Hosterman, Senior Director of Product Management – Cloud at Pure Storage, who speaks with hundreds of IT execs every year through high-level briefings and customer strategy sessions.

Cody shares the pulse of the market—what he’s hearing, what’s changed, and what successful organizations are doing differently. From pricing shocks and new bundling models to internal confusion around hybrid roadmaps, many IT leaders are feeling pressure to act.

But Cody’s advice is clear: take a breath, assess what you have, and optimize before you overhaul. You’ll walk away with a smarter lens on what really matters right now—how to stay strategic, avoid costly missteps, and prepare your org for whatever’s next.

 

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This episode is brought to you Pure Storage.

Pure Storage’s hybrid cloud solutions seamlessly integrate on-premise and multi-cloud environments. With AI driven automation, security, and high performance, you can easily move, replicate, and protect your data. Learn more at shi.com/partners/pure-storage

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.

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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/