Nick Palomba ☁

Microsoft

“I protect brands that move billions. No fluff. No panic. Just strategy, action, and guts.”

As Managing Director for Cybersecurity and RCG Industry CISO within Microsoft’s Customer Success organization, I help Fortune 100 enterprises and global brands build cyber-resilient, AI-ready environments that scale trust—not just technology.

With over 29 years at Microsoft and deep expertise in cloud transformation, executive engagement, and incident response, my mission remains simple: Protect what matters. Empower leaders. Lead with clarity in chaos.

I currently lead cybersecurity strategy and trusted CISO engagement for Microsoft’s most critical Retail & CPG customers, helping them:

Design secure-by-default cloud and data architectures

Operationalize Zero Trust through Microsoft XDR and Sentinel platforms

Align cyber risk with business outcomes

Stay resilient against AI-powered threats and expanding attack surfaces

My leadership fuses DART-level readiness with deep integration of Microsoft CIR, ensuring digital trust at scale. From breach disruption and GenAI enablement to war-room planning with CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, and Boards, I translate threat into action and strategy into impact.

🚨 Security isn’t just a control—it’s culture.

🔹 Current Focus Areas

Retail, CPG & Financial Services: Industry-specific cyber risk strategy

Microsoft Copilot and AI Security Posture

Digital resilience and high-stakes incident response

Cybersecurity storytelling and executive enablement

General Manager & CSU CISO – Cybersecurity Strategy & Innovation, Microsoft RCG

Leader of the U.S. Enterprise Retail & CPG Cloud Security Architecture team, driving value for customers through secure cloud adoption. I oversee a team of Cloud Solutions Architects and Customer Engineers, collaborating with sales, partners, and Microsoft business groups.

Key responsibilities:

Cloud Security & Infrastructure: Lead adoption of a $1.8B Azure Infrastructure security stack and Microsoft 365 Security across 300+ enterprise accounts.

Security Domains: Oversee solutions for Identity & Access Management (Azure AD), Application Security (Key Vault, Bastion, DDoS, WAF), XDR (Sentinel), Cloud Network Security (Firewalls), Azure Data Security (SQL, Storage, Kubernetes), Microsoft Defender (Endpoints, Office 365), IoT Security, and Office 365 Copilot.

Modern Work & Microsoft 365: Lead a team of 200+ Modern Work Cloud Architects & Engineers driving adoption, change management, and customer success across Office 365, Copilot, Teams, Viva, and Modern Work solutions.

General Manager, Customer Success - Azure Infra, CoPilot, Modern Work & Security - Retail & CPG

Advise Federal & State Governments, DoD, Intelligence Agencies, and Education sectors on long-term IT investments, navigating complex technological and organizational challenges. As part of Microsoft’s Digital Advisor Services, I collaborate with top enterprise customers to maximize the value of their current and future technology investments.

Key responsibilities:

Develop and execute strategic IT initiatives aligned with business goals.

Translate business needs and insights into actionable IT strategies that drive measurable value.

Guide organizations through digital transformation, optimizing technology adoption and change management.

Deputy CTO Public Sector Digital Architect

Account Delivery Executive | IT & Cybersecurity | DoD, NSG, & Civilian Agencies

Lead IT and Cybersecurity delivery engagements across DoD, NSG, and Civilian agencies, ensuring exceptional customer experiences by aligning delivery services (Consulting & Premier) with customer needs.

Key responsibilities:

Oversee end-to-end delivery strategy, driving business growth and customer satisfaction.

Manage a virtual team of delivery resources, monitoring key performance indicators to ensure success.

Collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Resource Management to execute winning strategies.

Engage in executive conversations with senior stakeholders to optimize business outcomes.

Align Microsoft solutions and strategies with customer environments, developing tailored delivery plans for maximum value.

Principal Program Manager at Microsoft for Department of Defense

Responsible for customer focus, service orchestration, client business adoption, and technology integration of Microsoft Cloud Services including Office 365 (O365) and Azure Services. As a Service Delivery Executive, I am the Microsoft point of contact for all phases of service delivery with a strong focus on ensuring business continuity, rapid adoption, and transformation. 

Directly interacting with C-level Executives, General Officers and business leaders, I guide customers from on premises services to Microsoft Cloud Services Offerings, driving end-user adoption and helping to set long-term goals to help focus IT on the needs of the business, ensuring quick value realization.

Principal Cloud Delivery Executive - US Air Force Team

Escalation Manager – Exchange Server
Managed escalations for diverse customer environments by collaborating with Exchange Product Group. Facilitated Exchange escalation services worldwide by liaising with Europe-based global partners to create standard processes. Supervised 11 escalation engineers; mentored 2 EMS PSS Group managers. Served as Technical Support Operations – Windows NT/2000 Team Manager, leading 16 engineers in support activities for Fortune 100 customers. Ensured optimal 24/7 support.
•	Spearheaded resolution of SMTP Inetinfo bug, increasing volumes in CSS 100%+, by leading escalation team and collaborating with product groups to publicize solution.

Director - Escalation Manager

Forged and maintained relationships with 103 customers in the Florida Region to deliver high valued Premier Support. Manage 14 direct reports, managed hiring and training. Responsible for relationship management at CxO level, operations/project management as well as technical staffs. Propelled employee satisfaction from 88% to 95% in a complicated morale year.
•	Handpicked to develop US wide commitment on how Premier tracks the proactive vs. reactive usage of customers contracts.
•	Exceeded all stated goals and commitments including customer satisfaction and revenue
•	Microsoft Gold Star Award 2010 – Q4 of FY09:  Asked to create a Q4 SWAT Team to help any at risk renewals as well as setup a net new penetration team for small and medium business segment. Drove over 4 Million in unexpected revenue across region which pushed us to exceed go
o	Assembled team of Technical Account Managers to partner with Services Sales Team
o	Built low utilization process to show customers in current environment how Premier would reduce support costs
o	Created communications strategy for technical or executive conversations 
•	Microsoft Gold Star Award 2011 & US Manager of Quarter Q4 – Recognized for exceeded revenue results in my business and working with others to drive final push. Managed 3 businesses through time of transition including Customer Satisfaction commitments, Customer Revenue commitments and Employee Operational Health Commitments
•	Chosen to design and build agenda for new Corporate Vice Presidents introduction to her new staff. Developed intentional networking sessions for VP/Directors/General Managers as well as workshops to train employees on new governance and standard for our FY10 employee goals and objectives. 
•	Was responsible for driving customer engagements from 30% proactive engagements to 50% proactive engagements driving reactive issues down across customer base.

Director - Support Engagement 

Forged and maintained relationships with 19 critical retail customers to ensure fulfillment of Premier Support contracts. Pursued TOC and ROI by garnering new contracts and renewals. Directed budget, OHI levels, and sales activities. Supervised 10 direct reports, managed hiring and training, and oversaw New England District Premier Support Team.
•	Propelled customer satisfaction from 22% to 78%.
•	Secured 100% penetration into key accounts and 29% penetration into CAS accounts in FY02.
•	Achieved 89 overall OHI.

Support Practice Manager – Fortune 50 Practice
Established Fortune 50 Practice in the Southeast District that would allow us to deliver new value based services to these large customers in our district to replicate across the Americas. Handpick to start this practice in the comprised of Bank of America, Duke Energy, BB&T, Fidelity as starting points.
•	During transition managed 3 businesses – Florida, Mid Atlantic and Large Client Practice
•	Presently responsible for approximately 40 million dollars in direct Premier Support Revenue
•	Presently leader for the two largest Premier Customers World Wide in Commercial Business
	
Over the three years of managing this practice we have exceeded revenue and customer satisfaction results every year as well as built deep relationships with customers and employees that have made us become the desired team to join. 

•	Leadership in attracting talent as well as development of that talent has allowed my team to be leaders in internal strategy work. On the 5 pillars in our business my people are leading or co-leading in each Pillar area

Responsible for Division Wide philanthropic campaign to raise 4.5M for local charities and proud to have exceeded 4.83M

Director of Support Practice Manager - Fortune 50 Practice

Hand-picked to develop and implement Global Escalation Support Model across Europe, China, Japan, and India; established global strategy for supporting customers across markets and time zones. Spearhead escalation support activities to ensure outstanding worldwide performance of Exchange Messaging, Outlook, and SharePoint Portal Server. Manage support and product group processes, conduct trend analysis, and create reports for key stakeholders. Oversee 50 escalation engineers, supervise 6 escalation managers, and mentor global employees.
•	Delivered Global Escalation Support Model successfully by improving employee morale, introducing work flexibility, and enhancing work/life balance.
•	Strengthened employee ownership and satisfaction by developing Employee Council to foster employee-driven improvement plans and support.
•	Created and launched Exchange 2007 Readiness Plan, encompassing roll-out strategies for specialized training, hardware, and support.

Group Escalation Manager

In FY10 we formed a new practice called Large Client Practice. I was hand-pick to start this practice in our east region that would include the Largest Financial Intuitions and Energy Companies in the East Region. 

•	During transition managed 3 businesses – Florida, Mid Atlantic and Large Client Practice

Forged and maintained relationships with 103 customers in the Florida/Mississippi Region to deliver high valued Premier Support. Manage 14 direct reports, managed hiring and training. Responsible for relationship management at CxO level, operations/project management as well as technical staffs. Propelled employee satisfaction from (FY08) 72% to (FY09) 88% and (FY10) 93% in a complicated morale years. Also
•	Hand-picked to develop US wide commitment on consumption planning.
•	Exceeded all stated goals and commitments including customer satisfaction and revenue
•	Fostered cross group collaboration projects that lead to earning two elusive Gold Star Award which was the second and third of my career.
•	Chosen to design and build agenda for new CVP's introduction to her new staff. Developed intentional networking sessions for CVP/Directors/General Managers as well as workshops to train employees on new governance and standard for our FY10 commitments.

Support Practice Manager

Resolved complex customer issues by collaborating with virtual team to develop Incident Response Plan and serving on Critical Situation Team for hands-on problem-solving. 
•	Won Gold Circle Award for outstanding problem resolution for AT&T; enabled 80K users to receive email after 2-day outage by collaborating with DEV, CPR, QFE, and PSS team members to resolve situation and revise operations to eliminate future problems. Earned recognition at Microsoft Global Briefing.

Critical Situation Manager

Photronics

Oversaw systems in Vax and Sun environments to ensure optimal performance of Photomask Software. Managed rollout of Windows XP and Office to 8 international and domestic offices. Supervised 20 global staff in telecommunications and IT.
•	Garnered cost savings, accelerated data collection from customers, and optimized usage of lithography machines nationwide by developing comprehensive telecommunications and WAN strategy. Created Frame Relay Network plan, analyzed and resolved customer data losses, and expanded lithography capacity 4x.

Communications Manager

I help people lead with purpose, coach with clarity, and protect what matters most.

With over 30 years in IT and 29+ years at Microsoft, I’m a seasoned leader passionate about empowering teams, customers, and communities to thrive through change.

As the Managing Director of Customer Success for Ai , Cybersecurity, and Leadership in Microsoft’s Retail & CPG space, I lead a team of nearly 200 professionals who help our largest enterprise customers unlock the full value of their Microsoft investments. My focus areas include digital transformation, cybersecurity, change management, and customer experience—anchored in a leadership style that values clarity, empathy, and execution.

Outside of tech, I served as an elected official and Vice Mayor of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida—an experience that was both humbling and rewarding. During my term, I helped lead major city projects, enriched beach and wildlife preservation efforts, and maintained a balanced budget while keeping the lowest tax rate in the county. That work deepened my belief in service leadership, fiscal responsibility, and community-driven impact.

I believe the future of leadership is human. Technology evolves fast, but trust, empathy, and courage will always drive real transformation. My mission is to help others lead boldly and grow meaningfully in every season of their career. I lead with curiosity, coach with humility, and drive outcomes with intentionality. I also believe mental, physical, emotional, and financial health are critical to one’s success—both professionally and personally.

If you’re passionate about leadership, transformation, or building secure, high-performing teams—I’d love to connect.

Senior Director, Customer Success - Modern Work - Retail & CPG

There are days when life tests you…
Days when circumstances hit harder than expected…
Days when showing up feels heavier than staying back.

And yet — some people still show up.
Not because it’s easy, but because it’s important.

Here’s the truth we rarely admit:

👉 We all have moments when we want to avoid, cancel, or run from what matters.
👉 We all face situations where skipping feels justified — even logical.
👉 Excuses are always available. Discipline isn’t.

But life isn’t shaped by what we intended to do.
It’s shaped by what we actually show up for.

So ask yourself:
Do you prefer the comfort of excuses or the power of showing up?

#ShowUp #Character #Discipline #Mindset #NoExcuses #LifeLessons #GrowthMindset

Nick Palomba ☁🔒

Microsoft GM & RCG CISO | Securing Fortune 100 Brands in an AI-Powered Cyber World | 32K+ Tech Leaders Onboard | Strategy. Grit. Precision. I lead where threats rise—and resilience wins.

Upskill and Grow 😊

Follow the 8 skills that you need to learn and grow.

You’ll never reach real financial security if you don’t understand this — read carefully. 

Most people make one big mistake… 

They only negotiate their salary, not their career. 

And that mindset keeps them stuck for years. 

If you want long-term growth, higher earning power, and real security, you need to negotiate the things that raise your value, not just the number on your paycheck. 

1. Ask for Professional Development Negotiate company-paid certifications, courses, or training. Skills compound — and directly increase your future earning potential. 

2. Prioritize Role Clarity & Growth Path Ask about responsibilities, promotions, and advancement timelines. A clear path ensures every step moves you closer to where you want to be. 

3. Negotiate Flexibility & Tools Better systems, better tools, or flexible hours make you more productive — and more productivity increases your leverage. 

4. Seek Opportunities Beyond Your Role Cross-department projects or leadership chances build your value far more than a small raise ever could. 

Disclaimer: Salary matters — but if you focus ONLY on that, you limit your future.

Negotiate the things that shape you into someone who earns more for life.

Agents are no longer “the future.” They’re the new baseline.
But most people—smart, capable, experienced—still don’t know where to begin.

So here’s a simple, no-nonsense, 14-day playbook to go from:
 👉 “I’m curious about Microsoft Agents”
 to
 👉 “Here’s the working prototype I built.”

This is the same structured progression we encourage inside Microsoft with customers, partners, and technical teams. And if you follow it, you will be ahead of 90% of the market.

Here’s your roadmap 👇

🔹 Day 1 – Intro to Agents + Agent in a Day
 Set up your free Developer environment and complete Microsoft’s Agent in a Day workshop.

🔹 Day 2 – AI Fundamentals for Agents
 Understand how agents reason, ground, and follow responsible AI patterns.

🔹 Day 3 – What’s in the Microsoft Stack?
 Compare M365 agents, Copilot Studio, and Azure AI Foundry — know exactly when to use what.

🔹 Day 4 – Copilot Studio Foundations
 Learn topics, prompts, knowledge sources, and how to deliver trusted answers consistently.

🔹 Day 5 – Tools, Actions, & Connections
 Move beyond Q&A. Add Dataverse, APIs, and real system actions.

🔹 Day 6 – Orchestration & Multi-Turn Flows
 Design logic, variables, context, and the human-handoff experience.

🔹 Day 7 – Channels, Teams & Rich Experiences
 Publish to Microsoft Teams and build adaptive, interactive, high-value user experiences.

🔹 Day 8 – Microsoft Azure AI Search ❤️ The Copilot Studio
 Bring enterprise search to life — complete with Matthew Devaney’s walkthrough.

🔹 Day 9 – Security, Consent & Governance
 Design with real-world enterprise guardrails: least privilege, DLP, approvals.

🔹 Day 10 – Testing & Evaluation
 Golden prompts. Red-team tests. Analytics that actually guide improvement.

🔹 Day 11 – Performance & Cost
 Know your licensing, optimize your architecture, and keep costs predictable.

🔹 Day 12 – Azure AI Foundry Foundations
 Understand the platform behind enterprise-grade AI engineering.

🔹 Day 13 – Advanced Capabilities
 Work with the SDK, build RAG solutions, and push your agent beyond the basics.

🔹 Day 14 – Final Project & Next Steps
 Ship a working prototype. Publish. Share it. Get feedback. Iterate.
Because in this new AI era?

 Execution beats theory — every single time

P.S. This plan assumes full learning days — stretch it across weeks if needed. Just stay hands-on. That’s where the real learning happens.

#CopilotStudio #Microsoft365 #PowerPlatform #AI #Agents #MicrosoftCopilot #LearningJourney

Believe that...
Everything Happens on Time.

Just keep doing it. 
You will achieve it when your time comes.

li_at

JSESSIONID

Kapil Patel - The Happiness Spreader

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁?

Here’s a roadmap that actually makes sense.

Everyone’s talking about agents these days — colleagues, leaders, even people who haven’t written a single prompt in their life.

But the real challenge is this: How do you learn Agents the right way, step-by-step, in the Microsoft ecosystem?

Over the last few months, I’ve been deep in my own learning journey — Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Azure, Foundry, MCP, and now Agents. 

I’m someone who learns best visually, so 

I mapped out a clear certification and skills path for myself… and I’m sharing it because it truly helps bring structure to the chaos.

With Microsoft rolling out the new Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect (Exam AB-100 Beta), it’s the perfect time to reset your learning plan for 2026.

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:

1️⃣ This roadmap won’t make you an expert overnight.
But consistent practice + real scenarios + these certifications will take you there. Agents require doing, not just reading.

2️⃣ Start with Copilot Studio Academy.
April Dunnam and the Microsoft team have done a brilliant job here. Right now, the Recruit track is live. Once Operative and Commander launch, do all three before jumping into Applied Skills.

3️⃣ AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) isn’t mandatory, but it helps.
You’ll be touching Azure services constantly on your Agent journey, so a solid foundation makes your life easier.

4️⃣ Go at your own pace.
Agents are evolving, not disappearing. Don’t chase FOMO — chase clarity. The goal is to stay relevant, not burnt out.

I hope this version simplifies your learning path the way it did for me.
If you’re planning your 2026 upskilling roadmap, this is a great place to start.

We spend our lives chasing power — through titles, success, applause, or youth.
But the truth is, we never lost it.
It was always within us — waiting to be remembered.

In this video, a woman with grace, grit, and decades of wisdom shatters bricks and tables with her bare hands.
Not just breaking objects — breaking stereotypes.

Because power isn’t about muscle.
It’s about spirit.
It’s about the fire that refuses to fade, no matter the age.

She reminds us: strength isn’t something you find — it’s something you awaken.
The power you’re searching for?
It’s already within you.

#Motivation #Leadership #India #PowerWithin #Mindset #Strength #Inspiration

Microsoft GM & RCG CISO | Securing Fortune 100 Brands in an AI-Powered Cyber World | 30K+ Tech Leaders Onboard | Strategy. Grit. Precision. I lead where threats rise—and resilience wins.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

There comes a point in every journey — professional or personal — when you realize that confidence doesn’t come from applause, it comes from alignment.

When you start making decisions rooted in your values, not validation, something shifts.

You stop asking, “Will they approve?” and start asking, “Does this feel right to me?”

- That’s when growth begins.
- That’s when peace replaces pressure.

Whether it’s choosing a career path, launching a venture, or walking away from something that no longer fits — the strength to stand by your own decisions is what defines leadership.

Because true clarity is not when everyone agrees with you.
- It’s when you no longer need them to.

👉 What’s one decision you made that others questioned — but you knew in your heart was right?

#Leadership #SelfGrowth #DecisionMaking #Mindset #Authenticity

Sometimes, all you need…
is a little push from one person.

Not a crowd.
Not an entire support system.
Just one human who looks at you and says:

“You can do this.”
“I believe in you.”
“Try one more time.”

That one person can change everything.

A mentor who sees your potential before you do.
A friend who refuses to let you quit.
A leader who gives you an opportunity.
A parent who silently carries your fears with you.
A teacher who tells you your dreams aren’t too big. 

Sometimes, the difference between giving up
and rising again
is a single push filled with belief. 💛

In most cases, organisations realise they hired the wrong person only after the damage is already done. 

By then the culture has shifted, the speed has dropped, and the team is carrying the weight of a misfit. 

A wrong hire destroys the culture you spent years building. 

It slows execution because everyone now has to re-align and re-correct. 
And the worst impact is on team balance. 

Your best people lose energy because they end up compensating for someone who cannot keep up. 

It shows up in decision making. It shows up in missed deadlines. 

And eventually it shows up in hard numbers. 

The financial impact of a wrong hire is far more than the salary. 

It is the cost of lost momentum. 

The wise ones invest in hiring right. It is the most obvious key to long-term success.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗜.
And Microsoft just removed the biggest barrier — cost.

No subscriptions.
No hidden fees.
Just skills → certification → momentum.

Here are 9 free Microsoft AI courses worth your time — shuffled, prioritized by impact:

🔖 Save this. Your future self will thank you.

1. Using Azure OpenAI Service
 • LLMs, GPT, Copilots — explained clearly
 • Build better output with prompt engineering
 • Hands-on modules inside Azure
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gY59A52m

2. AI for Managers
 • Bring AI into coaching, reviews, decisions
 • Build practical GenAI habits for teams
 • Learn responsible AI practices
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gbgZmcGP

3. Build Apps with Azure & Power Virtual Agents
 • Build real AI apps end-to-end
 • Use Azure OpenAI models inside solutions
 • Create chatbots with Copilot Studio
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/g2QHn6Xa

4. Transform Your Business with Microsoft AI
 • A leader-first AI program
 • Turn AI ideas into scalable initiatives
 • Apply Microsoft’s responsible AI playbook
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gbzY-6GX

5. Artificial Intelligence for Beginners
 • 12-week foundation in AI concepts
 • NLP, deep learning, neural networks
 • Coding labs & guided exercises
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gbyGV3Ni

6. Career Essentials in Generative AI
 • How GenAI works in the real world
 • Ethics, risk & responsible usage
 • Understand how AI is rewriting careers
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gXAHuhFQ

7. Create Custom Machine Learning Models
 • Build ML models with your own datasets
 • Train, evaluate & deploy end-to-end
 • Learn through Microsoft’s ML ecosystem
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gdzut-iy

8. Adopting Copilot for Microsoft 365
 • Master Copilot’s daily productivity power
 • Summaries, content creation, automation
 • Build AI habits inside your workflow
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/gAjvhbiv

9. Generative AI Productivity Skills
 • Boost efficiency using AI tools
 • Write prompts that deliver
 • Use AI to analyze, organize & accelerate
 
Course: https://lnkd.in/g_aq_R2k

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:
AI isn’t coming. It’s already here.
These courses help you stay employable, promotable, and future-ready — without spending a rupee or a dollar.

You can’t succeed with the same strategy everyone is failing at. - Agree?

If your results look like everyone else’s, chances are—you’re thinking like everyone else.

The harsh truth?
Most people don’t fail because they lack effort.
They fail because they copy effort without context.

They follow trends, templates, and “best practices” that once worked for someone else—
forgetting that what worked then might not work now.

📌 Here’s the shift:
Stop chasing strategies.
Start studying why they failed.
Because the real advantage isn’t in doing more—
it’s in thinking deeper.

Ask yourself:

What’s my audience responding to?

What part of the system is outdated?

What can I test that others are too scared to try?


🚀 Winners don’t just work harder—they work differently.
They question, tweak, and rebuild until it fits their world.

So the next time you find yourself following the crowd…
pause and ask:
👉 “If this isn’t working for them, why would it work for me?”

#Strategy #MindsetShift #GrowthMindset #Innovation #Leadership #LinkedInGrowth #PersonalBranding

Benedito Caxala

He that respects himself is safe from others. The better part of happiness is to wish to be what you are.

We are what we repeatedly do. ...
Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.

Sometimes, we can’t succeed by acting alone. When we choose to help one another, challenges become easier to overcome. 

A small shift from “me” to “we” can change everything. True teamwork is when everyone supports each other — and everyone wins

👋 Hello LinkedIn Family — I’m Nick Palomba.

If we haven’t met yet, here’s a quick introduction.

For over three decades in IT — and nearly 29 of those years at Microsoft — I’ve had the privilege of leading through some of the most defining shifts in technology: 

From on-prem to cloud, 
From automation to AI, and now 
From cybersecurity to cyber resilience.

Today, as the Managing Director of Customer Success for AI, Cybersecurity, and Leadership within Microsoft’s Retail & CPG business, I lead a team of nearly 200 professionals who partner with Fortune 100 companies to help them secure, transform, and thrive in an AI-powered world.

My leadership philosophy is simple yet hard-earned:

> Lead with clarity.
> Coach with empathy.
> Execute with precision.

I’ve learned that success in tech isn’t just about systems — it’s about people. Technology changes every quarter; trust, courage, and curiosity never go out of style.

Beyond Microsoft, I’ve also had the honor of serving as Vice Mayor of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida — where I focused on preserving community, wildlife, and fiscal balance. That chapter reminded me that leadership, at its best, is service.

Whether it’s securing global enterprises or strengthening local communities, my purpose remains constant:
💡 To help people lead with purpose, grow with clarity, and protect what matters most.

If you’re passionate about AI, cybersecurity, leadership, or transformation, I’d love to connect, collaborate, and learn from you.

Here’s to leading boldly and building resilience — in business, technology, and life.

#Leadership #Microsoft #Cybersecurity #AI #DigitalTransformation #CustomerSuccess #Resilience #TechLeadership

Most people wait to feel brave before they take action.
But real courage doesn’t show up as confidence — it shows up as commitment.

You choose courage when you:

• Speak up even when your voice shakes.
• Take a step forward even when doubt feels louder.
• Try again even after life knocks you down.
• Stand for what’s right, not what’s easy.
• Believe in yourself even when no one else does.

Courage is not the absence of fear.
It’s deciding that something else matters more than fear.

Your dreams.
Your growth.
Your integrity.
Your future.

Every bold decision you make builds the life you’ve always wanted.

So today, don’t wait for courage to arrive.
Choose it. Act on it. Become it.

Because the world changes — not when brave people are born —
but when ordinary people choose courage over comfort. 💙

I’m not the hiring manager but wanted to share to those looking for roles

People & Business Leader, Ally, Advisor & Board Member - Positive transformational impact on our communities, teams, customers & partners thru empathy, inclusion, grit, positive energy & technology that empowers!

🆕👉🏻We are hiring!!! Exciting Opportunity at Microsoft!

We’re looking for a Business Manager to join our Global Small and Medium Business (GSMB) team. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves driving operational excellence, and is passionate about empowering SMBs worldwide.

As a Business Manager, you’ll:

✅ Partner with senior leadership to shape strategy and execution
✅ Drive business rhythms, planning, and operational processes
✅ Enable cross-functional collaboration to accelerate growth
✅ Influence decisions with data-driven insights
If you’re a strategic thinker with strong organizational skills and a passion for impact, this could be your next big move!

📌 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dJYNsvef


Let’s build the future of SMB together!

#MicrosoftCareers #BusinessManager #GSMB #Leadership #Growth

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The real question isn’t “Will AI replace me?”
It’s “Will I evolve fast enough to use it well?”

Here’s how you can start using AI for your growth, not fear:

🔹 1. Learn smarter, faster.
Use AI tools to summarize books, decode complex topics, and build quick learning notes. Your speed of understanding becomes your new superpower.

🔹 2. Write, create, and communicate better.
From emails to business plans to LinkedIn posts — AI helps you express ideas clearly and confidently. It’s your brainstorming partner, not your replacement.

🔹 3. Automate the repetitive.
Let AI handle the predictable so you can focus on the purposeful. Schedule, analyze, and organize — but keep your creativity and judgment human.

🔹 4. Build your personal brand.
Use AI to research trends, optimize your profile, and craft authentic content. When used right, AI doesn’t make you sound robotic — it makes you consistent and relevant.

🔹 5. Train your mind to think bigger.
Ask better prompts. Question assumptions. Use AI not to get quick answers, but to explore better questions.

Because in the end, AI won’t define your worth — your curiosity will.
Those who learn with AI will always outgrow those who learn without it.

🌍 Learn. Adapt. Lead.

#AI #GrowthMindset #Learning #Innovation #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation

We often get stuck in the loop of:
❓ Why did this happen?
❓ How could this go wrong?

Sometimes, the hardest battles aren’t fought outside — they’re fought inside our own minds.

Those questions drain energy instead of creating change.

True growth begins the moment we stop overanalyzing and start transforming. 🌱

When we accept a situation — not as defeat, but as data — we shift from reaction to response.
From blame to clarity.
From problem to possibility.

Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up.
It means gathering strength to move forward — with calm, focus, and purpose.

Because real progress happens when we stop asking “Why me?”
and start saying “What can I do next?” 💪

#Mindset #Leadership #Growth #Transformation #InnerStrength #Perspective #Resilience

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