Pax8 Academy Live

Are MSPs hiring less because of AI? In this episode of Academy Live, Adam Hannemann and Peter Kujawa join us to unpack one of the biggest trends emerging across the managed services industry: MSPs are slowing hiring while increasing investments in AI and automation tools. And the data suggests it's driving meaningful gains in efficiency and profitability.

🔑 Key Topics Covered ✅ The latest MSP hiring and staffing trends ✅ Why ...

AI is changing how businesses operate and Managed Service Providers have a choice: lead the transformation or watch someone else do it.

In this episode of Academy Live, we're joined by David Schafran, VP of Partner Enablement at Pax8, to unpack the newly available Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) Program and explain how MSPs can begin their journey into managed intelligence services.

🔑 Key Topics Covered ✅ What the MIP Program...

What does it really take to grow from an individual contributor to a leader and beyond?

In this episode of Academy Live, Jennifer Roy, CEO of Nucleus Networks, shares her journey from service manager to leading a $25 million MSP and what she wishes she had known earlier in her career.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

✅ Jennifer Roy’s journey from service manager to CEO ✅ How to move from individual contributor to leadership roles ✅ Th...

What happens to all the great ideas that never make it on stage? In this episode of Academy Live, we sit down with Tara Rummer, Director of Community at Immy.bot, and Dean Trempelas, Head of MSP Success at Empath, to explore two movements shaking up the MSP space: RejectionCon and Spicy Monday. 🔑 Key Topics Covered

✅ What RejectionCon is and how it started ✅ Why rejected talks can be the most valuable ideas ✅ Creating space for ...

A great strategy means nothing if it never turns into results.

In this episode of Academy Live, Scott Berns, SVP of Revenue & GTM Americas at Pax8, breaks down the fundamentals of building a business plan that actually drives outcomes.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

✅ Why many MSPs struggle to translate strategy into real results ✅ How prioritization helps businesses focus on what truly moves the needle ✅ Understanding market dynamics a...

In this special Women’s History Month episode of Academy Live, we’re joined by Sara Ehrich, Manager of Academy Instructor Led Training at Pax8, to explore what modern leadership really looks like and how to build inclusive teams that perform at a higher level.

Sara leads Pax8’s leadership curriculum, including programs for first-time leaders, new managers, and middle managers stepping into more strategic roles.

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Great sales isn't about pitching harder. It is about asking smarter questions that create curiosity and move buyers toward action. In this episode of Academy Live, Keith Marchiano, Senior Executive Coach and Program Manager for Sales Enablement at Pax8, breaks down how MSPs can use the Results Selling Framework to sell more, prospect more effectively, and strengthen their marketing message. Keith explains why most prospects alread...

In this episode of Academy Live, Amy Luby, Executive Coach with Pax8 Academy, joins the conversation to break down why so many MSPs struggle when they try to move beyond founder led sales.

Amy walks through the three most common mistakes MSPs and founders make when scaling sales, clarifies the difference between marketing and go to market, and explains why truly knowing your clients and verticals is more important than simply auto...

In this episode of Academy Live, Chris Wicks, Manager of Academy Coaching at Pax8, breaks down the power of dispatching and why it’s one of the smartest investments an MSP can make.

With 20 years in the industry, Chris shares how proper dispatching boosts operational efficiency, improves engineer satisfaction, and prevents client chaos. All while saving your MSP thousands of dollars per year.

🔑 Key Topics Covered ✅ Why di...

Technical skills may get you hired, but they are no longer enough to help you grow. In this episode of Academy Live, we explore how engineers and technical professionals can evolve their careers by building account management skills, stronger client relationships, and early leadership capabilities.

As MSP roles continue to change, clients expect more than reactive support. They want trusted advisors who understand their business, ...

What makes someone a great leader in 2025? It is not technical mastery or being the smartest person in the room. In the age of AI, the most impactful leaders are the ones who coach, communicate, and elevate the people around them.

In this episode of Academy Live, Tyler Vallario, Senior Learning Experience Facilitator and Advisor at Pax8, unpacks what leadership really requires today.

🔑 Key Topics Covered ✅ Why leadership skills...

AI is changing the game for engineers, but only if you feed it the right data. Are you an MSP and wondering how to implement this in your shop? We’ve got you covered… welcome to Academy Live! In this episode, Pax8 Senior Executive Coach Rob Hird breaks down his Beyond 2025 Breakout Session: AI and Engineers 101. We’ll explore the 5 Cs of AI adoption: Confidentiality, Compliance, Cost, Capacity, and Capability. S...

In this episode of Academy Live, Chance Weaver, VP of AI Adoption Americas at Pax8, joins the show to break down how Managed Service Providers can evolve into Managed Intelligence Providers (MIPs) and start selling AI today! This episode walks through the frameworks that turn AI from an intimidating buzzword into a revenue-generating reality. 🔑 Key Topics Covered ✅ What is the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) Playbook? ✅ Ho...

In this episode of Academy Live, we sit down with Dr. Jake Necessary, CISO at StaffDNA, to break down what it really takes to lead high-performing remote teams. Jake has spent decades thriving as a remote employee, long before remote work became mainstream. Through case study research, he uncovered a major gap in how organizations manage distributed teams. His findings reveal that traditional leadership strategies do not automatic...

AI can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. In this episode of Academy Live, Rex and Chris sit down with Dave Wiseman, Data and AI Program Manager at Pax8, to unpack what real AI success looks like and how to prepare if you haven’t started yet. Dave shares practical ways to measure AI outcomes, like efficiency gains, increased profitability, and reduced risk, while offering advice for leaders battling AI fatigue....

What does it really take to grow a successful MSP? In this episode of Academy Live, we chat with Jeff Wolverton, CEO of PivIT Strategy, to hear his story of transformation, perseverance, and growth. Jeff shares how joining Pax8’s Phoenix Peer Group gave him the foundation to strengthen his MSP across sales, service, and operations. We’ll hear his stories about how the lessons learned (and tough love) from his peers he...