Pax8 Academy Live

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. So you can roll out ...

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. 🔑 Key Top...

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 helped him avo...

Pricing isn’t just about numbers — it’s about knowing your value. In this episode of Academy Live, we sit down with Jonathan Mack, Lead Executive Coach at Pax8, to dive deeper into his Beyond 2025 session: Did You Raise Your Rates? Jonathan unpacks why 99% of clients accept rate increases, the importance of knowing what level of provider you really are, and how to avoid the most common mistakes MSPs make when adjusting pricing. ...

In this episode of Academy Live, Pax8 welcomes Larry Cobrin, Founder and CEO of MSPCFO, to break down how MSPs can improve profitability by treating their client base like a portfolio. Larry explains the portfolio approach to identifying top and bottom performing clients, digging into why performance varies, and making data-driven changes that improve margins. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Treating clients as a portfolio to identify s...

In this episode of Academy Live, we pull back the curtain on how Pax8 Academy is integrating AI into our training programs while keeping human knowledge and experience at the core. Amanda Glidden shares real examples, including a Synthesia-powered demo, and explains the considerations every business should make before leaning too heavily on AI. We’ll also explore insights from the Pax8 Agentic Inflection Point Report, why this AI...

In this episode of Academy Live, we welcome Pax8 Strategic Consultants Sophie Dowsett Smith and Limara Thorne to celebrate the launch of their new podcast, Athena Rebels. Athena Rebels challenges the status quo. How? By exploring the real issues women face in tech, media and modern workplaces, with Sophie and Limara weaving humor, honesty, vulnerability and lived experience into conversations that challenge, connect and change. �...

What if you had a GPS for growing your MSP? That’s exactly what Pax8 Guided Growth delivers.

Welcome to Academy Live! In this episode, we’re breaking down how Data and AI Guided Growth helps you take control of your journey, so you can stop reacting and start leading. Whether you're just starting to explore AI or ready to bring a data-driven solution to market, we’ll show you how to build confidence, create momentum, and drive real...

Join us on this episode of Academy Live as we dive into the art of crafting a marketing strategy for MSPs that drives meaningful change and impact. Our guest, James LaVine, shares invaluable insights on how to identify the change you bring and translate it into a powerful marketing approach. 🔎 Key Topics Covered: ✅ The key components of developing a comprehensive marketing strategy ✅ Understanding the impact you aim to make in...

Ready to see the future of the Pax8 Marketplace? 🚀 We've got you covered... Welcome to Academy Live!

From public storefronts designed to attract new customers, to a roadmap packed with innovation, this episode gives you a glimpse at how partners can take real action today to grow faster, connect smarter, and evolve into next-gen providers.  🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Public storefronts: what they are and why they matter ✅ Pax8 Mar...

Welcome to Academy Live! In this episode, we invite Eliott Chandler and Christopher Kirby to dive into getting started with Microsoft Azure. Through this episode, viewers should walk away with an understanding of Azure's ecosystem and an understanding of how Azure can boost your business. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ What is Azure? ✅ What is the basic use of Azure? ✅ The value of building an Azure business ✅ Why are partners turn...

Join us for another episode of Academy Live as we dive into the complex world of taxes for managed service providers (MSPs), featuring esteemed guest Bradley Gross. Tax season is coming, so in this conversation we'll explore key considerations and practical tips to help MSPs navigate tax-related challenges and ensure compliance with regulations. 🔎 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Nuances of interstate taxation: Insights into determining w...

You’ve got questions — and we’ve got answers.

Welcome to Academy Live! In this episode, Rex Frank, Chris Kaiser, and Bessie Nolan tackle the questions they get asked all the time — from how to start your MSP, to building a winning stack, joining peer groups, getting security coaching, and where to find legit business mentorship.

🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ How to start and scale an MSP ✅ Pax8 Academy’s new security enablement offeri...

Welcome to Academy Live! In this episode, we invite Juan Fernandez, Channel Chief at SuperOps to deep dive into how MSPs should be leveraging AI. Join us for a journey into the future as we discuss how to prepare and evolve in this ever-changing landscape. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ The future of MSPs and AI ✅ AI Enabled Hardware ✅ How are we using AI in a meaningful way? ✅ How to use AI effectively? ✅ The importance of stayin...

In this episode of Academy Live, we’re joined by Jaime Gonzalez, CISM and Head of Client Partnerships at OttimoCyber.com, to break down how cyber liability works, common misconceptions about policy coverage, and how to approach the conversation with your clients—especially before a breach occurs. If you've ever heard a client say, “I’ve got cyber insurance,” and left it at that, this is a must-watch!

🔑 Key Topics Covered: ✅ What...