On today's episode of The Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners Podcast, Adam Burke and Mike Hartman are joined by Don Penland of Knox Capital to explore the private equity perspective on managed service providers (MSPs) and the Microsoft partner ecosystem. Don shares insights from two decades in IT consulting and managed services, explaining how operator-first investing, recurring revenue models, and strong go-to-market alignment with Microsoft drive valuation and long-term success. He discusses the evolving role of AI, from internal optimization to client-facing productization and how MSPs can adopt and monetize it effectively. Don also offers candid advice on preparing for private equity investment, building niche vertical expertise, and embracing programs like the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to fuel sustainable growth.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why an operator-first mindset gives Knox Capital a different approach to investing
• How aligning with Microsoft’s partner ecosystem accelerates business growth
• The growing role of AI in operations, sales, and customer offerings

Some questions we ask:

• What attracted you to focus on the Microsoft partner ecosystem as an investor?
• How are current market shifts impacting managed service providers?
• What advice do you have for MSPs starting their AI journey?

Resources:

View Don Penland on LinkedIn

View Adam Burke on LinkedIn

View Mike Hartman on LinkedIn

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En este episodio en español, Fede Pacheco e Isaac Arellano conversan con Lina Barrios, líder del negocio de Azure en Intcomex, uno de los distribuidores de tecnología más importantes de América Latina. Lina comparte cómo Intcomex ha transformado su modelo de negocio con iniciativas innovadoras basadas en inteligencia artificial, comunidades técnicas y un enfoque profundo en el desarrollo de sus socios. Desde el Club de los 14 hasta Techmasters y Mujeres Inspirando Cambios, este episodio está lleno de ideas prácticas y estrategias escalables para partners que buscan crecer en la nube híbrida.

En este episodio aprenderás:

• Cómo Intcomex utiliza IA para personalizar campañas, analizar datos y generar demanda.
• Qué es el Club de los 14 y cómo ayuda a escalar el negocio de los socios.
• La importancia de construir comunidades como Club Copilot y Mujeres Inspirando Cambios.

Algunas preguntas que hacemos:

• ¿Qué hace diferente a Intcomex en el desarrollo de partners en la nube híbrida?
• ¿Qué rol juega la diversidad en la estrategia de Intcomex?
• ¿Cómo están ayudando a los socios a prepararse para el futuro con IA?

Resources:

• Suscríbete a nuestro nuevo boletín en LinkedIn para recibir las últimas noticias, ideas clave y resúmenes de episodios.
• Conecta con nuestro equipo de DCO

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of The Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners Podcast, Adam Burke and Mike Hartman are joined by Fredrik Slaatten and Henrik Samdal from Intility, a Norway-based IT platform provider serving over 650 companies and 50,000 users worldwide. They discuss Intility’s unique industrialized approach to delivering end-to-end IT services, the evolution of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, and how their partnership with Microsoft drives innovation and modernization for customers. The conversation also explores how Intility is embedding AI across its operations and customer solutions, fostering a culture of continuous innovation while ensuring security, governance, and long-term value

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Ways Intility helps customers adopt hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge strategies
• How AI is being embedded across support, software development, and internal processes
• Why Intility views itself as a technology company rather than just an IT services provider

Some questions we ask:

• What makes Intility different in such a crowded IT market?
• How do you approach hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies?
• What does AI leadership look like for Intility in the next five years?

Resources:

View Henrik Samdal on LinkedIn

View Fredrik Slaatten on LinkedIn

View Adam Burke on LinkedIn

View Mike Hartman on LinkedIn

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.