Everyone’s talking about AI. But how do you go from personal productivity wins to real, enterprise-scale impact?Ben Vollmer has spent 30+ years helping organizations answer that question—leading product teams at Microsoft, IFS, and now RSM, where he drives AI and Power Platform strategy for some of the largest businesses in the US.In this episode, Ben breaks down what’s actually working on the ground: from AI agents processing invoices and summarizing shift reports, to how edge AI and micro-vertical models are quietly reshaping operations. We also talk about the biggest blockers to adoption (hint: it’s not the tech), how to roll out AI without overwhelming your teams, and why most companies are still underestimating the power of data readiness.Whether you’re deploying Copilot, building with Power Platform, or trying to drive real change in your org—this conversation cuts through the noise.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro 02:28 – What’s working now: tech + organizational alignment 04:05 – Real-world AI agent examples: invoices, IT tickets, and internal copilots 06:39 – “AI is a lot of magic being sold” — grounding the hype 09:36 – Intelligent applications: the next evolution of forms and decision-making 11:04 – Broad vs. micro-vertical models: the real AI frontier 17:39 – Tangible ROI: shift reports, document handling, internal service automation 23:15 – The GPS metaphor: how AI adoption builds trust over time 39:06 – Ben’s productivity tip: the Louis Litt email rewriting agent 📌 Resources MentionedRSM Power Factory: https://rsmus.comBen Vollmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benvollmer/📬 Enjoyed this conversation?Subscribe to my newsletter Mastering AI for Productivity: https://samuelboulangerai.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelboulanger/Visit my website: https://samuelboulanger.com
Everyone’s talking about AI. But how do you actually get it working across a 100,000-person organization?Erin Chapple breaks down how Microsoft is doing exactly that—and what you can learn from it.In this episode, Erin shares what she’s learned from 30 years at Microsoft, first leading engineering teams for Windows Server and Azure, and now helping some of the world’s largest enterprises adopt AI at scale. She explains why Microsoft radically simplified its entire cloud portfolio, what it really means to become a “Frontier Firm,” and why governance isn’t a blocker, it’s your launchpad for innovation.Whether you’re building AI, selling AI, or trying to make sense of how it fits into your org structure, this conversation delivers real-world clarity from someone at the center of it all.
📌 Resources MentionedMicrosoft Cloud Adoption Framework for AI: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/Erin Chapple on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmchapple/
📬 Enjoyed this conversation?Subscribe to my newsletter Mastering AI for Productivity: https://samuelboulangerai.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelboulanger/Visit my website : Samuelboulanger.com
What if AI isn’t here to replace us, but to remove the boring parts of our work? In this episode, Scott Hanselman shares a deeply human perspective on AI, productivity, and the promises technology made but didn’t keep. If you’re a business leader wondering how to use AI without losing your team’s creativity, this conversation is a must-listen.
Resources Mentioned:
Scott Hanselman’s TEDx Talk (Portland) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVG8W-0p6vg&t=20s
Scott Hanselman’s Blog: https://www.hanselman.com/Scott Hanselman’s Podcast: https://www.hanselminutes.com/
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Subscribe to my newsletter Mastering AI for Productivity: https://samuelboulangerai.substack.com/
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About this Podcast & Channel:Mastering AI with the Experts is for leaders across all functions of the enterprise, from CIOs and VPs to HR, Finance, Legal, and Operations, who want conceptual clarity, actionable insights, and smart talking points on AI without the hype. This podcast is part of the Mastering AI for Productivity channel, where I share expert interviews, demos, and best practices for driving AI adoption in the enterprise.
Resources MentionedFâtih's website : https://fatihnayebi.com/Fâtih’s book: Foundation of Agents of AI for Retail :https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Agentic-Retail-Technologies-Architectures Scale AI (Canada’s AI supercluster) : https://www.scaleai.caAlpha Evolved by DeepMind : https://storage.googleapis.com/deepmind-media/DeepMind.com/Blog/alphaevolve-a-gemini-powered-coding-agent-for-designing-advanced-algorithms/AlphaEvolve.pdfEnjoyed this conversation?Subscribe to my newsletter Mastering AI for Productivity : https://samuelboulangerai.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelboulanger/About this Podcast & ChannelMastering AI with the Experts is for leaders across all functions of the enterprise — from CIOs and VPs to HR, Finance, Legal, and Operations, who want conceptual clarity, actionable insights, and smart talking points on AI without the hype.This podcast is part of the Mastering AI for Productivity channel, where I share expert interviews, demos, and best practices for driving AI adoption in the enterprise.
In this episode of Mastering AI with the Experts, I sit down with Dona Sarkar — Chief Troublemaker at Microsoft, global AI & accessibility leader, entrepreneur, author, and fashion designer — to explore why human connection is still the most valuable asset in the AI era. We talk about the limits of automation, why data quality can make or break AI projects, and how leaders can adopt AI without losing their unique voice. Dona shares candid stories from running offline businesses, busts common AI myths, and reveals how to experiment your way to success.Whether you’re a business leader, tech pro, or just AI-curious, this conversation will challenge how you think about the balance between AI power and the human touch.
In this episode, I sit down with Abram Jackson, Principal Product Manager Leadat Microsoft working on Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents, and extensibility. Abram has been leading the charge on agent-based experiences and joins me to talk about:• How agents fit into the future of productivity• The architecture behind grounding and context• Why good instructions matter• Real use cases for Copilot in organizations• The importance of opinionated agents• What’s next for AI in the enterpriseWhether you're building your first AI agent, wondering how to drive adoption, or just curious about what's coming next in Copilot and generative AI, this is a must-listen conversation.👇 Abram Jackson Ressources🔗 Blog – https://www.abramjackson.com🔗 Podcast (Return on Intelligence YouTube Playlist) – • Return on Intelligence 🔗 LinkedIn – / abramj 🔗Twitter/X – https://x.com/abrakjamson🔗 Newsletter (LinkedIn) – / 7273833068849709056 👇 Connect with me (Samuel Boulanger)🔗 LinkedIn – / samuelboulanger 🔗 Newsletter (Mastering AI for Productivity) – https://samuelboulangerai.substack.com/🔗 Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/samuelbo...🔗 Connect with me on X : x.com/itsSamuelAI
In this episode of Mastering AI with the Experts, I sit down with Cadie Kneip, Senior Readiness Business Program Manager at Microsoft, to uncover the secrets behind successful AI adoption in organizations. With her innovative Copilot Champs program, Cadie has created a movement that transformed how Microsoft employees embrace and share AI tools.What you'll learn in this video:
Whether you're an IT leader looking to improve AI tool adoption, a change manager planning a rollout, or anyone interested in building technology champions in your organization, this conversation provides a blueprint for turning AI potential into real-world results.
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In this episode of Mastering AI with the Expert, I sit down with Neha Sharma, Data & AI Specialist at Microsoft, to explore how organizations can assess their AI maturity and build a foundation for impactful AI solutions.
From data governance to scaling AI initiatives, Neha shares practical advice and real-world examples that highlight how businesses and public sector organizations can unlock the full potential of AI.
In this episode of Mastering AI with the Experts, I sit down with Marcus Schmidt, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, to explore how AI is revolutionizing customer service and contact centers. Whether you're new to AI or looking to optimize your current operations, this conversation is packed with insights on transforming customer experiences and empowering agents.
In this debut episode of our series, "Mastering AI with the Experts," we explore the revolutionary impact of AI on sales and business applications. Join us as we sit down with Matthew Mead, Global Black Belt Technical Specialist at Microsoft, to dive deep into how AI is transforming the way businesses operate, particularly through Microsoft's Copilot for Sales.
