Champion success story library

Best for: Building a scalable Champion community

Proof point: Nearly 10,000 Copilot Champs

Tags: Peer community · Train the trainer · Feedback loop · Role-based examples

The challenge: Microsoft needed to support Copilot adoption across a large, global workforce with different roles, needs, and levels of confidence. Employees needed guidance that was consistent throughout the organization but relevant to their everyday work.

The Champion approach: Microsoft used a hub-and-spoke model to connect central guidance with support across different parts of the business. A central change management team set the direction, adoption teams tailored the approach, and the Copilot Champs Community gave employees a place to exchange ideas and learn from their peers.

Train-the-trainer sessions, community calls, role-based demonstrations, and shared resources equipped Champs to support colleagues and bring feedback into the program.

ผลลัพธ์: The community grew to nearly 10,000 Champs, demonstrating how central coordination, tailored adoption support, and peer learning can work together at scale.

Try this: Create a shared space where Champions can exchange Copilot examples, questions, and feedback. Invite Champions from different teams to contribute one useful workflow or lesson learned, then make sharing a recurring activity.

Best for: Scaling adoption with leadership and peer reinforcement

Proof point: 98% Copilot adoption

Tags: Executive sponsorship · Champion network · Myth-busting · Peer sharing

The challenge: KOHLER needed to help employees across business functions understand how Copilot could support their work. That meant building confidence, addressing misconceptions, and making adoption relevant to different roles.

The Champion approach: KOHLER combined visible executive sponsorship with a network of more than 200 Champions. Leaders reinforced the importance of AI adoption, while Champions shared use cases, answered questions, and helped colleagues explore practical applications.

Viva Engage, virtual Champion meetings, role-based training, and Fact and Fiction sessions gave the network opportunities to share knowledge and address common concerns.

ผลลัพธ์: KOHLER reported 98% Copilot adoption ahead of its original plan, supported by a broader change management effort that connected leadership direction with peer learning.

Try this: Ask teammates what’s keeping them from using Copilot. Choose one common concern and address it through a short peer demonstration or myth-busting session.

Best for: Helping employees advance their AI skills

Proof point: 98% Microsoft Copilot adoption

Tags: Maturity path · Recognition · Viva Engage · Agents · Advanced training

The challenge: Black & Veatch needed to help its global workforce apply AI to complex knowledge work while strengthening confidence, addressing governance needs, and creating opportunities for employees to progress from using AI to building with it.

The Champion approach: Black & Veatch established three levels of AI proficiency: adopter, navigator, and builder. Champions and early adopters shared practical examples to help colleagues progress from everyday Copilot tasks to more advanced AI-enabled work.

Training cohorts, specialized workshops, and technology showcases supported that progression. Employee recognition encouraged experimentation, while a Viva Engage community of more than 8,000 members connected employees with their peers.

ผลลัพธ์: Black & Veatch reported 98% Copilot adoption, with more than 6,000 professionals using Copilot. Its structured learning model gave employees a path to keep developing their skills beyond initial adoption.

Try this: Build a simple learning path for your team. Start with one useful Copilot workflow, then invite an experienced colleague to demonstrate a more advanced scenario.

Best for: Building confidence through hands-on learning

Proof point: 1,300 employees trained through AI + Data Day

Tags: Employee-led learning · Workshops · Hackathons · Responsible AI · Copilot Studio

The challenge: Conagra Brands needed to introduce AI across a diverse workforce in a practical, responsible way. The goal was to turn employee curiosity into useful business applications while building confidence and trust.

The Champion approach: Conagra made employees active participants in AI learning through peer-led demonstrations, workshops, and prompt-engineering sessions. Active AI Champions pursued deeper training and brought new skills and ideas back into the business.

AI + Data Day events, hackathons, and learning paths gave employees opportunities to progress from introductory Copilot workflows to more advanced capabilities, including Copilot Studio.

ผลลัพธ์: Conagra reported training 1,300 employees through AI + Data Day, with 120 Active AI Champions participating in advanced training. The program helped employees develop practical skills through shared, hands-on experiences.

Try this: Host a short, peer-led session around a task your team performs regularly. Give everyone time to try Copilot, compare approaches, and share what they learned.