'Look before you leap' is often the difference between success and failure when it comes to adopting a new technology.  

When it comes to Microsoft Generative AI, the importance of assessing your organizational readiness before you implement can’t be overstated.

On this episode of this miniseries on The Catalyst podcast, step into the 'Assess' phase of the Copilot Adoption Journey with Matt Vasil, Director of Emerging Technology at Softchoice. We get into the essential preparations for implementing Copilot for Microsoft 365, from measuring the potential licensing impacts to minding security gaps to answering the question, “Are our people truly ready?” 

Matt offers key insights into how to evaluate your environment to make sure your Copilot adoption stays on course and ultimately sticks the landing. 

Featuring: Matt Vasil, Director of Emerging Technology at Softchoice

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Businesses everywhere taking a good, hard look at Microsoft Generative AI are all wondering the same thing: is it really worth the hype? That's what we're here to find out.

On the inaugural episode of this brand-new miniseries courtesy of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Braeden Banks and guest Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at Softchoice, explore the crucial beginnings of building a Copilot business case for Microsoft 365. Discover the best practices and potential pitfalls in planning your strategy and learn how to effectively generate buy-in and set the stage for success. Tune in to start your journey with a solid plan and get inspired to transform your business's digital landscape.

Featuring: Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at Softchoice

See how we can help you unleash the potential of your people and technology with Copilot: softchoice.com/microsoft-copilot 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

What lessons from elite athletic coaching can empower today’s business leaders? With the summer Olympics just around the corner, we asked Pete Steinberg, leadership consultant and celebrated rugby coach, that very question.

He discusses how feedback is the fuel of high performance, in sports and business. Like a rugby coach leading from the stands, the further up the leadership ladder, the less control you have. That's why Steinberg provides strategies for empowering your employees to manage strategic decisions and conflict.

We also delve into his new book, Leadership Shock, which addresses navigating new and fundamentally different leadership challenges using his Authentic Leadership Model.

He discusses finding purpose as a leader, understanding self-identity, and building a culture of experimentation.

Featuring: Pete Steinberg, President of Innovative Thought and author of Leadership Shock. Find out more about Pete and his book here: Innovative Thought - Peter Steinberg Book

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

How will Adobe’s foray into Generative AI impact how your team creates and collaborates? That’s what we wanted to find out. 

On the latest episode of The Catalyst Podcast, co-host Heather Haskin sits down with Adobe’s Principal Product Marketing Manager, Lori DeFurio, to explore the transformative role of AI within Adobe's ecosystem to empower human productivity. DeFurio provides valuable insights on how business leaders can strategically adopt generative AI while upholding ethical standards and fostering an environment of innovation.  

Featuring: Lori DeFurio, Principal Product Marketing Manager at Adobe 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Season 6 of The Catalyst by Softchoice kicks off with an episode that questions conventional wisdom about IT leadership. Aaron Brooks sits down with Eric Champagne, CIO of La Vie en Rose, to hear how Eric is flipping the script. Eric’s story is all about bridging a longstanding gap between IT and end-users, with the goal of making technology a tool for empowerment and efficiency.

Gone are the days of tech gatekeeping. Eric champions a philosophy where technology aligns seamlessly with business goals and, more crucially, the people it serves. His approach? Ditching the tech jargon for a language of collaboration and understanding, making him a leader in creating a more inclusive, user-focused IT culture.

Featuring: Eric Champagne, CIO, La Vie En Rose

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

This season on The Catalyst, a podcast about unleashing the full potential in people and technology, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin explore the transformative power of tech, not just within businesses, but also through the personal journeys of those at the forefront of change. Every episode is packed with stories of triumph and the valuable lessons learned from the setbacks along the way. Tune in bi-weekly and discover why the most important conversations surrounding people in tech are happening right here.

Learn more: softchoice.com/podcast

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Imagine everyone with a great business idea could make it happen without a deep engineering bench or tens of millions of dollars in funding. 

How would that change competition in an already hypercompetitive marketplace? How do the principles of responsible AI show up when AI is accessible to everyone? What responsibility do enterprise firms have to help shape a world where this technology benefits all of us?

On this episode of The Catalyst, host Aaron Brooks meets with  Robert Daigle, Director of Global AI Business at Lenovo, to unpack these and other issues surrounding the fast-moving democratization of generative AI. 

Robert explains the 5 AI transformation imperatives that guide Lenovo’s responsible AI committee along with the need for enterprise leaders to work with governments to balance real innovation with responsible AI policy. 

Resources mentioned:

●      Responsible AI: From Managing Risk to Driving Business Value

●      Responsible AI will give you a competitive advantage


Featuring: Robert Daigle, Director, Global AI Business, Lenovo  

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

This episode is brought to you by Lenovo. From the pocket to the cloud, Lenovo is bringing AI to your business, so you can grow and innovate. Contact a Softchoice Sales Specialist or visit lenovo.com/ai to learn more.

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Robotic exoskeletons have gotten a whole lot better.

No longer just for rehabilitation, manufacturer German Bionic is applying active exoskeleton devices to support workers in a number of ways. These wearable robotic devices work in tandem with the user, allowing them to handle a wider range of physical tasks. The result: physically-demanding jobs are now open to a wider range of candidates.

Meghan Kennelly is Head of Global Marketing at German Bionic and our guest on The Catalyst. Their active exoskeletons use motors and battery power to help with lifting, supporting the lower back and giving walking assistance. Sensors collect data to track movements, lifts, posture, and more. German Bionic has seen traction in US manufacturing sector and recently launched a healthcare exoskeleton for lifting and moving patients. 

Kennelly outlines the perhaps surprising ROI on active exoskeletons, including in reduced sick days and injury claims, better insight into ergonomics and higher production output. These devices can also help address the ongoing labor shortage. 

Featuring: Meghan Kennelly, Head of Global Marketing, German Bionic

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Is a cybersecurity utopia – where no CISO lies awake at night worrying about threats known and unknown – even possible? If you believe “yes,” how do you get others to share that vision? 

That’s what we discussed with Lou Senko, Chief Availability Officer at global banking technology company Q2 on this episode of The Catalyst. First and foremost, Senko doesn’t believe in leading with the fear factor. Fear, he says, only frees up some of the wallet.  

He talks with host Cheryl Stookes about his strategies for improving security posture and justifying security budgets, whether you’re a small business or a major enterprise. He also outlines his personal approach to getting the most  value from security investments. And, with the security talent shortage showing no signs of abating, he shares his experience recruiting against giants Tesla, Oracle and Dell in the fast-growing tech hub of Austin, Texas.   

Cheryl also signs off as co-host of The Catalyst, as she takes on a new and opportunity outside Softchoice. Thank you, Cheryl. We wish you all the best with your latest chapter!  

Featuring: Lou Senko, Chief Availability Officer at Q2 

Resources: Read Lou Senko’s white paper Demystifying Zero Trust and learn about Q2’s community initiative Spark.  

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

As a CISO, how do you know when you’re getting through to the board and the C-suite?  One way is to look at the quality of the questions they ask you.  Are they learning?  

This is just one of the questions Kevin Magee fields a lot during “CISO therapy,” a discipline he finds himself practicing more often as Chief Security Officer at Microsoft Canada. Aside from the technology components, the thing his “clients” want to talk about most is how to build, sustain and grow those all-important executive relationships. 

To conclude National Cybersecurity Awareness Month on the Catalyst, host Cheryl Stookes chats with Kevin about how CISOs can break through with boards and leadership.  

He also dives into the cybersecurity skills shortage, which he names a symptom of too narrow an approach to finding candidates. Instead, he says, those seeking cybersecurity talent should look beyond the relatively small pool of technologists and consider backgrounds in psychology, criminology and law enforcement – that is, people who understand how cybercriminals think, behave and operate.  

Universities and other training institutions have a part to play here, too. He discusses “reverse mentoring relationships” with younger members on the team. After all, the security leader’s job is not to be the best technical problem-solver, but to define the problem and empower others to solve it.  

Featuring: Kevin Magee, Chief Security Officer, Microsoft Canada

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

This episode is brought to you by Microsoft's Workplace Security Solutions. See how Softchoice can help you get started with Zero Trust and fill every gap in your security infrastructure with Microsoft. Reach out to a Softchoice Solutions Specialist or visit softchoice.com/microsoft-zerotrust to learn about our custom workshops and services. 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.