From POCs to Production: Ship AI That Sticks

• Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM  👉 Full Show Notes https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/780 Discover how organisations can move beyond AI hype to real business value. In this episode, Jim Spignardo shares practical strategies for AI adoption, building digital literacy, and creating a culture where technology empowers every team. Learn how to start small, measure impact, and set up the right governance for sustainable, responsible AI transformation. 🎙️ What you’ll learn    • Identify business problems that AI can solve, not just technology for its own sake  • Build cross-functional teams and secure executive sponsorship for AI initiatives  • Develop practical use cases and measure real outcomes from AI adoption  • Establish effective governance, data risk analysis, and usage policies  • Foster digital and AI literacy across all levels of the organisation  • From POCs to Production: Ship AI That Sticks 👉 Chapters • 0:07 The Human Side of Tech: Food, Family, and Fun • 3:04 Becoming a Frontier Firm: The AI-First Transformation • 5:02 Redefining Digital Transformation: AI as the New Lens • 7:39 Overcoming Analysis Paralysis: Start Small, Iterate Fast • 10:44 Copilot Adoption: Building Literacy and Momentum • 13:03 Smart Start for AI Success: Governance, Policy, and Champions • 29:33 Raising AI Literacy: Community, Training, and Safe Experimentation 🔴 Find Jim Online: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spignardo/ • X(Twitter): https://x.com/jimspignardo ✅ Highlights  • “If you can't inventory those challenges and struggles, then all the AI and all the technology in the world is really not going to get you off the dime.”  • “Start with something small. Don’t try to boil the ocean.”  • “We have to have executive sponsorship and buy-in.”  • “It’s not an IT initiative. If all we're doing is talking to the folks in IT, we pretty much know that's going to most likely fail.”  • “We run them through a data risk analysis with their M365 data state.”  • “We build a centre of excellence in SharePoint and fill it up with all types of educational materials.”  • “We also work with them to develop a good AI usage policy.”  • “Train them on how to measure the impact and keep things moving, developing a champion programme.”  • “Shadow AI is real and we can't just pretend it doesn't exist.”  • “Experimentation is critically important in a safe environment where they can fail and be comfortable with it.”   🧰 Mentioned  • Microsoft 365 Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot   • ProArch: https://www.proarch.com/   • Microsoft Fabric: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-fabric   • SharePoint: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration  • M365 admin centre: https://admin.microsoft.com/AdminPortal/Home ✅Keywords  ai adoption, digital literacy, executive sponsorship, governance, data risk analysis, copilot, centre of excellence, use cases, champion programme, shadow ai, business transformation, responsible ai  Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption 🔴 Subscribe for all the latest AI Unfiltered Show News: https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy?sub_confirmation=1 🔴 Share this video with a Youtuber friend: https://youtu.be/z8jygROjV-U ✅ Recommended Playlist: Copilot Show. Hear the latest from Senior Microsoft Staff - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqyy0tYMOozNcXsEdVn4sqh ✅ All our Microsoft Innovation Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkoEIfkNYZ0dModTR5aLbRh3 ✅ Let’s Connect: Collaborate with me here – https://cloverbase.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy Website: http://www.nz365guy.com/subscribe LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy X – https://twitter.com/nz365guy Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nz365guy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nz365guy Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.nz/nz365guy I’m Mark Smith - nz365guy - Helping people reach their full potential I have been a Microsoft Business Applications MVP for over 13 years. I am passionate about helping people reach their full potential, through training, coaching and mentorship. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge (https://www.90daymc.com/) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nz365guy) If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy) . Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith