The Microsoft Frontier Partners podcast brings you inside the transformation happening across the partner ecosystem as organizations evolve into the next generation of Frontier Firms. Each episode explores real stories of reinvention—how leaders are rethinking their operating models, reimagining customer value, and embracing AI to push beyond traditional boundaries.
Through candid conversations with innovators across the industry, we uncover the mindsets, capabilities, and breakthroughs shaping an AI‑first future. Whether it’s navigating new business architectures, experimenting with intelligent agents, or scaling modern go‑to‑market motions, this is where today’s frontier builders share how they’re redefining what’s possible.
If you’re ready to understand the forces reshaping the partner landscape—and hear firsthand from the people leading the way—this is your place to explore the edge of what comes next.
Join the conversation on our LinkedIn community at https://aka.ms/AmericasPartnerLinkedIn.
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The Microsoft Frontier Partners podcast brings you inside the transformation happening across the partner ecosystem as organizations evolve into the next generation of Frontier Firms. Each episode explores real stories of reinvention—how leaders are rethinking their operating models, reimagining customer value, and embracing AI to push beyond traditional boundaries.
Through candid conversations with innovators across the industry, we uncover the mindsets, capabilities, and breakthroughs shaping an AI‑first future. Whether it’s navigating new business architectures, experimenting with intelligent agents, or scaling modern go‑to‑market motions, this is where today’s frontier builders share how they’re redefining what’s possible.
If you’re ready to understand the forces reshaping the partner landscape—and hear firsthand from the people leading the way—this is your place to explore the edge of what comes next.
Join the conversation on our LinkedIn community at https://aka.ms/AmericasPartnerLinkedIn.
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This first episode of the rebranded Microsoft Frontier Partners Podcast dives into the biggest AI and Copilot announcements coming out of Ignite 2025, as host Fede Pacheco and guest Karin Skapski, Sr. Partner Solutions Architect, break down what matters most for partners. They explore the launch of Copilot for Business, the debut of Agent 365 for managing AI agents at scale, and WorkIQ, the intelligence layer that deepens Copilot’s contextual understanding. Throughout the episode, partners from across the Frontier Club share their thoughts and excitement on customer adoption, security, real-world AI use cases, and what it means to become a true Frontier firm.
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In this special edition of No Slides Attached, Fede Pacheco and Shivani Ranganathan bring you the voices, news, announcements, and excitement from IT Nation Secure 2025 in Orlando. This episode features exclusive interviews with leaders, industry experts, and partners from ConnectWise, discussing AI, Microsoft's powered security strategies, and the strength of the MSP community. Tune in to hear about the latest trends and insights from the cybersecurity world.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco revisit standout moments and insights from Season 2’s incredible lineup of guests, and dive into the critical role security plays in various industries, particularly in the context of AI and data protection. They explore how companies, from retail to healthcare, must integrate security into every phase of their processes to protect valuable customer data and maintain trust. Discussions highlight the importance of "security by design" and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity challenges, including compliance, bad actors, and privacy concerns. Experts from different sectors share their experiences and strategies for navigating the complex world of security, emphasizing the need for responsible innovation and collaboration in the face of emerging technologies.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco revisit standout moments and insights from Season 2’s incredible lineup of guests, showcasing how AI is transforming industries like healthcare, education, public safety, financial services, and retail. From leveraging DNA for personalized medical treatments to developing technologies that de-escalate police encounters, we explore bold innovations shaping the future. Experts share their visionary goals and the untapped potential of AI to solve complex challenges, from improving educational access to revolutionizing manufacturing. This episode highlights the limitless possibilities of AI and how close we are to realizing its full potential in 2025 and beyond.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco continue their industry series by diving into the intersection of AI innovation and state and local government. They’re joined by Bryan Wheeler, SVP of Product and GM of the Axon Productivity Suite, who shares insights into Axon’s mission to protect life through cutting-edge technology like body-worn cameras and AI-powered applications. Brian highlights the groundbreaking DraftOne solution, which uses AI to create first drafts of police reports, reducing the administrative burden on officers and allowing them to focus more on community safety. Later, Molly Pfister and David Leopold from Microsoft discuss AI’s transformative role in government innovation. They highlight Axon’s forward-thinking approach to leveraging AI for public safety, emphasizing the importance of staying ahead of trends, understanding customer needs, and aligning technology with mission goals.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Derek McCoy from Rescale, a leader in cloud manufacturing solutions and a partner in Microsoft’s manufacturing cloud. Derek shares insights on the shift toward digital testing in manufacturing, a trend that reduces costs and expands testing possibilities. He notes that as companies prioritize digital over physical testing, they need a robust technological infrastructure to ensure safety and reliability. Afterwards, Helane and Fede speak with Rochelle Fleming, a manufacturing expert from the go-to-market team with over 20 years of marketing experience. Rochelle highlights the need for manufacturers to focus on resilient supply chains and smart factories, addressing challenges like material shortages and labor issues through advanced technologies like AI and IoT.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by joined by Heiko Claussen, Co-Chief Technology Officer of AspenTech, to explore how their technology is tackling energy efficiency and sustainability in industries such as chemicals, electric grids, and subsurface engineering. Heiko highlights AspenTech’s focus on sustainability through process optimization to cut emissions and costs. Later Maureen Mascaro, who leads Go-To-Market for the Energy Industry, and George Corugedo, Dir Partner Technology Strategist, discuss Microsoft's collaboration with industry leaders like AspenTech on sustainable energy innovations. The conversation explores how AI, data, and industry expertise tackle key energy challenges, from achieving net-zero emissions to managing infrastructure and navigating the energy transition.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Rob Want from Avanade, our Retail Partner of the Year. Rob shares insights on the integration of AI to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations, plus the importance of data security to guarantee customer loyalty. Later Helane and Fede welcome Ricardo Belmar, a prominent retail influencer and host of the Retail Razor Show. They highlight the critical role of data in retail, focusing on its impact on shopper experiences, agile supply chains, and empowered workforces.
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Join the conversation on LinkedIn with #NoSlidesAttached
Microsoft Industry Clouds | Retail
Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative
Opportunities to optimize retail operations with AI
Envisioning Webinars: AI for Retail Listing Page
Retail sales bootcamp | On Demand
Retail Marketing Campaigns for partners
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Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners
The Microsoft Threat Intelligence
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Dan Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer at 3Cloud, who discusses the company’s award-winning data and AI practice and their focus on healthcare. Dan highlights the importance of scalable data platforms and secure by design strategies in enabling AI-driven healthcare advancements, such as personalized treatment plans and improved diagnostics, to improve people’s lives. Later in the episode, Helane and Fede chat with Agustin J. Nolte, a director of partner marketing focused on healthcare and life sciences. They discuss the significant advancements in technology within the healthcare industry and their potential to unlock a $1T opportunity.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Guillermo Elizondo, CEO and co-founder of Territorium, who shares an inspiring story about their application of AI to make education more accessible across the globe. Their solution has played a crucial role in digitizing and securing standardized tests in Costa Rica. Guillermo also sheds light on AI's potential to create more equitable admissions processes and enhance career guidance by mapping skills to job market needs. We are also joined by Microsoft leaders Rob Curtin and Brooke Daniel, . Brooke highlights the significance of student attendance as a predictor of success, while Rob emphasizes the potential to accelerate learning and validate educational achievements.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Chris Dickin, EVP of Global Partner Strategy at Zafin. The conversation explores the cutting-edge advancements in banking, focusing on Zafin’s innovative solution for core modernization, Zafin.io. Chris shares insights on how the platform modernizes banking product propositions and pricing, and the role that AI plays in these processes. Later in the episode we welcome Ryan Blakely, industry expert to discuss the inspiring conversation with Zafin, and emphasizing how technology can accelerate time-to-market and enhance customer engagement in the financial sector, beyond banking. He highlights opportunities in modernizing legacy systems and leveraging AI to boost productivity and innovation.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Dr. Henry Chesbrough, the pioneer behind the concept of Open Innovation. Dr. Chesbrough shares his insights on how organizations can (and should) leverage both internal and external ideas to drive technological advancements. The conversation dives into the rise of AI, comparing it to past technological leaps, and explores how businesses can adopt AI through a collaborative, user-friendly approach. The episode continues with the announcement of season 2 and its theme: industry. Pam Salzer, Senior Director for Microsoft's Industry Go-To-Market Team, emphasizes the importance of addressing industry-specific needs and how AI is being used to solve real-world problems across sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance. Pam elaborates on how AI is already making a significant impact already and her excitement for the future. She highlights that AI is not just a future technology but something that is actively transforming industries today.
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In this episode of No Slides Attached, hosts Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco celebrate their journey exploring AI innovations with Meital Winer, a Partner Marketing Lead focused on AI. They discuss Microsoft’s framework for building or extending Copilots, as well as the potential for partners. In the second part of the episode, we are joined by Jared Mermey, CEO of GIGXR, to discuss how their own copilot they have built, an holographic technology to train medical professionals. Jared shares his vision for the healthcare industry in the era of AI.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by John Turk, Sr. Partner Marketing Manager for Azure, to discuss Microsoft Fabric, the Copilot for data analytics. John talks about the challenges that organizations have to understand and use their data. In the second part of the episode, we are joined by Daniel Brown and Drew Cordell from Lantern share the story of their successful implementation of Microsoft Fabric for their customer, Avocados from Mexico. They share their experience as early users of the tool and how it has increased their customer pipeline.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Facundo Monteiro, Director for Security in Microsoft LATAM. Facundo delves into the value of having a Copilot for Security that responds to threads in minutes. In the second part of the episode we are joined by 2024 Security Partner of the Year for the US and Canada. Micah Heaton, Micah reflects on the experience of being in the Design Advisory Council for this Copilot, as well as the remarkable opportunity for AI applications in the space.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Sanju Nair, a Sr. Partner Marketing Manager for Business Applications. They discuss the integration of Copilot for Sales and Services and the impact that it is having for those roles in organizations. In the second part of the episode, Brian Blanchard, CTO of Cloud Strategy at EPAM, discusses the impact of Copilot for Sales on their growing business. He highlights how the rise in knowledge sharing is even more valuable than the time that they save with Copilot.
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On this episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by Marie Quigg, SMB Go-To-Market director, as she shares her perspective on success with Copilot for Microsoft 365. Marie explains effective prompt engineering—setting clear goals, providing context, specifying sources, and managing expectations. Then, Margaret Hahn from Valorem Reply explains how culture and the internal adoption have been crucial for their success with customer deployments.
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On the first episode of No Slides Attached, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco are joined by COO and Go-VP To-Market Heather Deggans to discuss the value of taking a step back and talking about the big picture when it comes to AI conversations. Heather walks us through a framework for enabling AI transformation, including the emphasis on trust and safeguard as we co-innovate with partners. In the second part of the episode, we hear from 2024 Partner of the Year for AI & Copilot Innovation, Insight Canada. Trish O'Keeffe and Mike Crampton tell the story of how their organization has become a thought leader in the space by striving to be early and heavy users of AI tools.
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Welcome No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners 🎙️✨ - a journey into the transformative world of AI and the Copilots helping us achieve more. We've designed this podcast for partners who are eager to gain insights, learnings, and inspiration from their peers. Seeking a breather from emails, meetings, and presentations? Our hosts from Microsoft's Partner Go-To-Market team, @Helane Cohen and @Fede Pacheco, look to connect with you on the go. Tune in to hear meaningful conversations that combine the expertise of Microsoft leaders and the inspiring stories of partners, as they showcase real-world examples of how they are thriving in the era of AI.
Join the conversation on our LinkedIn community at https://aka.ms/AmericasPartnerLinkedIn.
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