Celebrating 5 Years at Microsoft: Reflecting on a Journey of Innovation and Impact

Alexander Loth stands on stage at a Microsoft event, delivering a presentation. The backdrop features a quote from Satya Nadella, "We empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more." The audience is visible in the foreground, attentively watching the presentation. (photo by Microsoft Corp.)
Me presenting on stage at a Microsoft event with Satya Nadella’s quote, „We empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,“ displayed in the background.

Today marks a significant milestone in my career – 5 years at Microsoft. It’s been an incredible journey, filled with growth, innovation, and a sense of community that I deeply cherish.

As I look back, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned along the way:

1. A Remarkably Supportive and Collaborative Culture

From my very first day at Microsoft, I was welcomed into a culture that values collaboration and support. The camaraderie among the team members is truly special. Whether it’s working on challenging projects or brainstorming new ideas, there’s always a sense of unity and mutual respect. This supportive environment has been a cornerstone of my growth and success here.

2. AI: The Heartbeat of Our Work

At Microsoft, AI isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the heartbeat of our work. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how AI can drive transformative change across various industries. The innovative solutions we develop are not only cutting-edge but also have a profound impact on the world. It’s exhilarating to be part of a team that’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.

3. Commitment to Responsible AI

One of the aspects I admire most about Microsoft is our unwavering commitment to responsible AI. We are dedicated to creating technology with integrity and humility. Every team, project, and initiative reflects this dedication. The emphasis on ethical AI development ensures that we are building a future where technology serves humanity positively and equitably.

4. Tech for Social Impact: Shaping a Better Future

Working with Tech for Social Impact (TSI) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We are not just envisioning a better future; we are actively shaping it. Our ambitious vision for Copilot is just the beginning of a transformative journey. The work we do at TSI has the potential to create significant positive change, and I am proud to be part of this mission.

5. Continuous Learning and Innovation

Continuous learning and innovation are at the core of Microsoft’s success. The opportunities for growth are endless, from the exciting projects in the Microsoft Garage to the numerous volunteering initiatives. Staying curious and constantly seeking to learn new things is encouraged and celebrated. This culture of continuous improvement is a driving force behind our collective achievements.

A big thank you to the mentors, managers, and colleagues who have been incredibly supportive. I’m immensely proud of our collective achievements and can’t wait to see what the future holds! Here’s to many more years of innovation, impact, and a shared vision of creating technology that empowers everyone.


If you’d like to stay updated on my journey and insights on AI, digital transformation, and more, follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Malbuch erstellen mit KI: Kreative Ideen mit Microsoft Designer – Video-Tutorial

Screenshot der Microsoft Designer App, die verschiedene KI-Funktionen wie das Erstellen von Malbuchseiten zeigt, neben einer detaillierten Malbuchillustration von Fischen und Unterwasserpflanzen.
Malbuch erstellen mit KI: Screenshot der Microsoft Designer App, die verschiedene KI-Funktionen wie das Erstellen von Malbuchseiten zeigt, neben einer detaillierten Malbuchillustration von Fischen und Unterwasserpflanzen.

Heute möchte ich euch ein ganz besonderes Highlight vorstellen, das perfekt in die Sommerzeit passt: Mit der App Microsoft Designer könnt ihr blitzschnell kreative Malbuchseiten erstellen. Dies ist nicht nur eine tolle Beschäftigung für die ganze Familie, sondern auch ein spannender Einblick in die Welt der künstlichen Intelligenz. 🎨🖌️

Malbuch erstellen mit KI – So einfach geht’s

Mit Microsoft Designer ist das Erstellen von Malbuchseiten kinderleicht. Die App nutzt KI-Technologien, um aus einem einfachen Prompt wunderschöne Malbuchseiten zu generieren. Der Kreativität sind keine Grenzen gesetzt!

Gerade jetzt, wo die Sommerferien vor der Tür stehen, ist diese App eine wunderbare Möglichkeit, die Zeit mit der Familie kreativ zu gestalten. Egal, ob zu Hause im Garten oder unterwegs im Urlaub – Microsoft Designer bietet eine tolle Beschäftigung für Groß und Klein. Ein weiterer Vorteil: Die erstellten Malbuchseiten könnt ihr einfach ausdrucken oder digital auf dem Tablet verwenden.

Seht euch mein Beispiel in diesem kurzen Video an:

Mehr in meinem Buch „KI für Content Creation“

Für alle, die tiefer in die Thematik einsteigen möchten, empfehle ich mein Buch KI für Content Creation (Amazon). Darin erkläre ich, wie KI unsere Art, Inhalte zu erstellen, verändert. Das Beispiel mit Microsoft Designer zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie vielseitig die Einsatzmöglichkeiten von KI sind.

Ich freue mich, wenn ihr eure Erfahrungen mit Microsoft Designer und das Erstellen von Malbuchseiten mit mir teilt! Besucht meinen YouTube-Kanal für ein ausführliches Tutorial und Inspirationen. Auf Instagram könnt ihr eure eigenen Kreationen posten und euch mit anderen austauschen. Und auf LinkedIn lade ich euch ein, über die vielfältigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten von KI in der Content Creation zu diskutieren.

Ich wünsche euch viel Spaß beim Malbuch erstellen mit KI – und eine wunderbare Sommerzeit!

Handle Your Tasks with These M365 Copilot Prompts

An intricate, steampunk-style robot meticulously writing on paper, symbolizing the seamless integration of AI and human creativity in productivity tasks, perfect for enhancing efficiency with M365 Copilot prompts.
Steampunk robot writing with gears and cogs, representing AI-driven productivity in M365 Copilot prompts.

I’d like to share my favorite M365 Copilot prompts. These prompts help streamline tasks, prioritize work, and stay on top of leads and emails. They’re designed to be versatile for various roles, not just sales.

Task Management and Reporting Prompts

Daily Checklist and Time Management

  1. Create a daily checklist: Generate a daily checklist based on my upcoming meetings and emails, prioritize by impact, and allocate time blocks for focused work.
  2. Identify top tasks: From the daily checklist, identify the top three tasks requiring immediate attention. Suggest the most efficient sequence to tackle them and draft a brief update email summarizing the progress on these tasks.
  3. Task alignment and scheduling: Identify tasks aligned with my role as a [insert title or role description] and schedule them according to my energy levels throughout the day, ensuring high-impact tasks are placed in my peak productivity windows.

Lead Management Copilot Prompts

Open Leads and Actions

  1. Check for open leads: Review my emails and Teams for any open leads.
  2. Pending actions on leads: Examine my emails and Teams for any actions pending, specifically looking for open leads and opportunities with customers.
  3. Create a report on leads: Investigate my SharePoint, emails, and Teams to create a succinct report for the leadership team on my work, achievements, and progress in closing leads, including relevant impact numbers.

Email Management Copilot Prompt

Customer Email Summary

  • Summarize customer emails: Provide a table with any emails received from [time period] from [customer domain] and a summary of each email with any required action items.

These prompts can significantly improve productivity and ensure that you stay organized and proactive in managing your tasks and communications.


If you like these M365 Copilot prompts, check out my tutorial on how to use Copilot in Excel. If you’re interested in learning more about the impact of AI, check out my book Decisively Digital (Amazon). Stay tuned for more updates!

What are your favorite Copilot prompts? Share them on LinkedIn, Instagram or X (Twitter):

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How to Use Copilot in Excel: Mastering Excel with M365 Copilot – Data Analysis Tutorial

How to Use Copilot in Excel: A screenshot from an Excel Copilot demo showing various charts and graphs analyzing donor data. The interface includes a Copilot preview pane suggesting insights, and a video overlay of a presenter explaining the data. Graphs display information such as winter donations by date, donation amounts by last name, age distribution by gender and membership status, and occupation impact on donation behavior.
How to Use Copilot in Excel: Screenshot of the Excel Copilot video on Youtube analyzing donor data with graphs and insights.

Welcome to our deep dive into donor data with Excel Copilot! We will explore insights from our donor dataset to understand donor behavior, campaign effectiveness, and seasonal trends. Let’s learn how to use Copilot in Excel and dive into the data to see what stories it tells us.

How to Use Copilot in Excel with Copilot Prompts

To begin, look for the Copilot icon in the upper right corner. Copilot suggests actions such as „show data insights“, which we’ll select. Then select „+ Add to new sheet.“

Visual Enhancement

To make our data more engaging, let’s add a colorful icon next to donors whose donation amount exceeds $100. This visual cue will help us quickly identify high-value donors.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Add a colorful icon if Donation_Amount is more than 100.

Days Since Last Donation

Next, we’ll calculate the number of days since each donor’s last donation. This will help us identify recent donors versus those who haven’t donated in a while.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Calculate the number of days since each donor’s last donation and add this as a new column.
Action Step: Insert Column

Campaign Effectiveness

Let’s analyze how different communication methods, such as email and phone, impact donation amounts. We will identify which method is most effective for different donor segments.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Analyze the effectiveness of different communication methods (email, phone) on donation amounts. Identify which method is most effective for different donor segments.

Occupation Impact

Let’s examine the impact of donor occupations on their donation behavior. We’ll look at donation amounts and frequencies across various occupations to see which ones are associated with the highest donations.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Examine how a donor’s occupation affects their donation behavior, including donation amount and frequency. Identify which occupations are associated with the highest donations.

Lifetime Value (LTV)

Next, we will compute the lifetime value of each donor, which is the total amount donated over time. This will give us a sense of each donor’s value to our organization.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Compute the lifetime value (total donations over time) for each donor and add it as a new column.
Action Step: Insert Column

We’ll identify seasonal trends in donations by calculating the total donations for each donor during different seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. These insights will help us tailor our campaigns to seasonal patterns.

Excel Copilot Prompt: Identify seasonal trends by calculating the total donations for each donor during different seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) and add these as new columns.
Action Step: Insert Columns

Conclusion

By analyzing these aspects of our donor data, we gain valuable insights into donor behavior, campaign effectiveness, and seasonal trends. This information will empower us to make informed decisions and enhance our fundraising strategies. Thank you for joining me in this data exploration. Let’s open the floor for any questions or further discussion!

How to Use Copilot in Excel: Watch the Full Video

Watch the full Excel Copilot Tutorial on YouTube or on LinkedIn:

Download the Dataset

Get the dataset used in this Excel Copilot tutorial: Download Donors.xlsx Dataset

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful demos and data-driven strategies! If you’re interested in learning more about the impact of AI, check out my book Decisively Digital (Amazon).

Happy data exploring! Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to leave your questions or comments on LinkedIn:

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AI & Society: Charting the Unprecedented Growth of Artificial Intelligence with Decisively Digital

Alexander Loth presenting his book Decisively Digital
AI & Society: AI’s impact on society discussed in Decisively Digital: From Creating a Culture to Designing Strategy. John Wiley & Sons. (photo by Gerhard Müller)

Three years ago, while drafting my book Decisively Digital (Amazon), I believed that the peak popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) was nearing its zenith. Little did I realize then how profoundly and rapidly the landscape of AI would transform, much like the unexpected and remarkable discovery of the Higgs boson in particle physics. The current surge in AI interest, fueled by innovations like ChatGPT and Copilot, has catapulted AI into a realm of unprecedented growth and societal impact.

AI’s Journey: From Concept to Ubiquity

The journey of AI from a niche concept in the labs of computer scientists to a ubiquitous force in society mirrors the trajectory of many revolutionary technologies. In its infancy, AI was a subject of academic curiosity, often confined to theoretical discussions and small-scale applications.

However, as technology advanced, we witnessed the birth of practical AI applications. From rudimentary chatbots to sophisticated machine learning algorithms, AI began to find its footing in the real world. These applications, although impressive, were just the tip of the iceberg.

Today, AI is not just a tool but a companion in our digital journey. Platforms like ChatGPT have democratized AI, making it accessible to everyone. They’ve turned AI from a mere concept into a daily utility, reshaping how we interact with technology and each other.

AI’s Impact on Society

AI is redefining job roles and industries. It’s automating mundane tasks, enhancing productivity, and even creating new career paths. While there are concerns about AI displacing jobs, it’s also undeniable that AI is creating opportunities for more creative and strategic roles.

As AI becomes more ingrained in our lives, ethical and societal considerations come to the forefront. Issues like privacy, bias in AI algorithms, and the digital divide need urgent attention to ensure that AI benefits society as a whole.

From personalized recommendations on streaming services to AI-assisted medical diagnostics, AI’s presence in our daily lives is growing. It’s not just a corporate or academic tool; it’s becoming a personal assistant, a healthcare advisor, and much more.

The Future of AI and Society

The future of AI is not just about technological advancements but also about how we, as a society, adapt to these changes. It’s about ensuring that AI grows in a way that is ethical, equitable, and beneficial to all.

As AI continues to evolve, it’s essential for individuals and organizations to stay informed and adapt to these changes. Embracing AI doesn’t mean blind adoption; it means understanding its capabilities and limitations and using it to enhance our lives and work.

AI is a catalyst for innovation, driving advancements in various fields. Its potential to solve complex problems and create new opportunities is immense. We are just scratching the surface of what AI can achieve.

Conclusion

The growth of AI, much like the discovery of the Higgs boson, is a breakthrough moment in our history. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and a reminder of the rapid pace of technological change. As we stand at this crossroads, it’s crucial to ponder how AI will shape our society and how we, in turn, will shape AI. The journey of AI is not just about technological development; it’s about the evolution of our society as a whole.


Explore more about the interplay of AI and society in my book Decisively Digital.

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