A strange but true tale where Far East met Middle East & Africa in a fusion of ideas and best practices, led by a Western Sensai nurturing M365 Copilot ACM with employee engagement wisdom and empathy.
See LinkedIn for super nice comments.
I was invited, very last minute, to present at MCT SUMMIT JAPAN, Microsoft HQ Tokyo. I focused on a humane and responsible approach to M365 Copilot adoption, through the framework I use at Sulava MEA. Its designed to help customers empower champions, support Copilot launch communications, enable responsible usage guidance and create AI governance.
This represents just one part of Sulava MEA strategy as the first AI-native frontier firm in MEA defining the future of work with Copilot, Agents & AI Transformation. And, as I write this many colleagues are at GITEX Dubai, a huge tech event that attracts c. 200,000 business leaders!
I also shared some of the methods I have worked with under the theme “Teaching Tech with Zen Minimalism.” The aim is to help people navigate complex change without overwhelming them, using empathy, surprise and hands-on activities.
My approach to change and adoption draws on employee engagement experience and Japanese-influenced disciplines from Toyota: Design Thinking, Agile, Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma (I’m Green Belt certified). In the session, I used a few examples from past work – like the simple Origami Viva Fortune Teller to explore the Viva Suite complexity, and the simple Viva Wayfinder path for new hires.
I introduced Ikigai, an ancient Japanese concept that I turned into a reflective Copilot prompt activity. “Ask reflective questions about what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, what I can be paid for, and create my Ikigai image.
“Dreams of what you might become in the future”.
My own ikigai centres on making complexity simple and human, driving people-focused transformation, and providing guidance on AI digital change.
Sensai センスAI is the name I use for the path I am on – teaching AI with empathy, responsibility and wisdom. For me empathy supports real learning, responsibly not using open source AI for your professional work – unless you want to give your Intellectual Property (IP) away! And wisdom of how to nurture ACM across different customer cultures. My journey to Japan gave me the perfect opportunity to test the Sensai theme and it culturally landed with no negativity.
ありがとうございます Gratitude
I’m deeply appreciative of the kindness and humility I experienced in Japan and still catch myself nodding and bowing.
A LinkedIn post by MVP/MCT Amelia Hernández Osorio set everything in motion. THANK YOU! I connected with MVP/MCT Joshua Jones, organiser of MCT SUMMIT JAPAN and leader at VoltEdge Learning, a native English speaker and fluent in Japanese. From our first conversation to landing in Tokyo was just 21 days later – Japanese kismet! THANK YOU.
I’m also grateful to MCT Josh Bowers VoltEdge trainer, & Tim Kellogg (my training buddy). We both passed MCT Instructor Training. However. I will never be an MCT as must pass challenging Microsoft technical exams. I am an MVP ACM consultant not a techy. Satisfied to remain 50% MCT and share my new knowledge in Sulava as an ACM/Trainer of Copilot. Note: Copilot exams are not part of MCT Certification.
Also to Sulava MEA for supporting my digital nomad MVP set up enabling me to work for many MEA customers remotely.
Wonderful new connections from the event have grown into a WhatsApp Alejandro Araujo Rajzner | Haris Khurshid | Sheik Sa’ad | Sherif Alghali et al.
BIG LOVE to Steve Crook, my Copilot Navigator for joining me in this Far East adventure at such short notice. I find it easy to navigate virtual worlds but get lost in my own garden, and here he is buying our complex train tickets. Being Londoner’s both experienced busy stations but nothing compares to Tokyo complexity and mass of people. However, everywhere is absolutely spotless!
Footnote: I pursue a passion on raising awareness of real honey, and bees as essential pollinators. I discovered Shinto, the Japanese nature-based belief system centred on harmony with the world and respect for unseen forces. Every stunning red shrine paid homage to an animal. Rabbits are highly regarded!
Sensai~teacher of AI 
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