The Intelligence Age

From Excel to AI: How to Stay Relevant in Tech


Listen Later

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

Frederick Anaafi shares his journey from Excel trainer to Microsoft MVP, highlighting how AI - especially Microsoft Copilot - is transforming productivity and career paths in Africa and beyond. He offers practical insights on building AI fluency, driving community-led tech adoption, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

👉 ️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/762

🎙️ What you’ll learn 

  • How to build a tech career starting with Excel and Power BI 
  • Why AI fluency is essential for modern professionals 
  • Practical ways to adopt Microsoft Copilot without a subscription 
  • How to lead community-driven tech initiatives 
  • What it takes to become a Microsoft MVP in emerging markets 

✅ Highlights 

  • “AI is the electricity of our era.” 
  • “If you don’t learn AI, then yes, you will be left out.” 
  • “Copilot helps you get results faster and be more efficient.” 
  • “Before entering the corporate world, you need to know Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.” 
  • “I failed the Excel Expert exam the first time, but I didn’t give up.” 
  • “We had close to 200 people attend the first DynamicsCon West Africa.” 
  • “AI engineering will be the ish—what people should really go into.” 
  • “Trust in Copilot comes from knowing it’s secure and responsible.” 
  • “We’re driving Copilot adoption through free virtual training.” 
  • “In Ghana, we have fewer than 15 MVPs, but we’re growing.” 
  • “The usefulness of Copilot is there—now we need to build trust.” 
  • “I see AI transforming every industry we work in.” 

🧰 Mentioned 

  • Microsoft Excel Expert Certification: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/mo-211 
  • Tableau: tableau.com 
  • Power BI: microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/products/power-bi 
  • Microsoft Copilot: copilot.microsoft.com 
  • DynamicsCon West Africa: eventbrite.com/e/dynamicscon-regional-west-africa-tickets-1249579418679 
  • MCT West Africa Summit: mctwestafrica.com 
  • Microsoft MVP YouTube Series: How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7 

✅Keywords 
ai fluency, microsoft copilot, power bi, excel expert, tableau, data analysis, mvp programme, tech community, ai adoption, microsoft 365, dynamics 365, west africa tech 

Support the show

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

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Intelligence AgeBy Mark Smith [nz365guy]

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

20 ratings


More shows like The Intelligence Age

View all
Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,470 Listeners

Decoder with Nilay Patel by The Verge

Decoder with Nilay Patel

3,149 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

152 Listeners

How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1,030 Listeners

NVIDIA AI Podcast by NVIDIA

NVIDIA AI Podcast

345 Listeners

DataFramed by DataCamp

DataFramed

266 Listeners

Hard Fork by The New York Times

Hard Fork

5,544 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

676 Listeners

Forward Deployed by Microsoft

Forward Deployed

5 Listeners

The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis by Nathaniel Whittemore

The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

689 Listeners

Everyday AI Podcast – An AI and ChatGPT Podcast by Everyday AI

Everyday AI Podcast – An AI and ChatGPT Podcast

111 Listeners

AI Hustle: Make Money with AI by Jaeden Schafer and Jamie McCauley

AI Hustle: Make Money with AI

89 Listeners

Power Platform Boost Podcast by Ulrikke Akerbæk and Nick Doelman

Power Platform Boost Podcast

1 Listeners

Leveraging AI by Isar Meitis

Leveraging AI

61 Listeners

Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders by Chris Daigle

Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

24 Listeners