Powering Productivity with AI: How Lumen is Transforming Work with Microsoft Copilot - 2026 Next Practices Weekly
Next Practices Weekly welcomed Tim Climo, Vice President of People Analytics & Technology at Lumen Technologies, for an inside look at how the company is leveraging generative AI to reshape productivity, collaboration, and innovation across its workforce. As one of the earliest organizations participating in Microsoft’s Early Access Program, Lumen placed Microsoft 365 Copilot at the center of its transformation from a traditional telecom provider into a technology-driven enterprise.
Climo shared how Copilot is enabling Lumen’s 24,000 employees from sales teams, to engineers, to accelerate research, automate repetitive work, and unlock real-time insights that enhance both employee productivity and customer experience. Cohosted by Judy Albers and Tom Stone, the conversation explored how people analytics, strategic partnerships, and thoughtful change management are helping the organization scale AI adoption while keeping employees at the center of the transformation.
Key Topics Discussed
- Scaling Generative AI for Enterprise Impact
Lumen embedded Microsoft 365 Copilot across the business to accelerate research, streamline content creation, and surface insights faster unlocking new levels of productivity across teams. - People Analytics Driving Smarter AI Adoption
Data and workforce insights guide where AI creates the most value, helping leaders prioritize high-impact use cases while measuring productivity and adoption across the organization. - AI-Augmented Productivity at Work
By automating routine tasks like meeting summaries, research, and reporting, Copilot frees employees to focus on strategic thinking, innovation, and customer value. - Strategic Tech Partnerships Accelerating Innovation
Lumen’s collaboration with Microsoft enabled early experimentation with Copilot, helping the organization scale generative AI faster and more effectively. - Human-Centered Change Management
Successful AI adoption requires more than technology. Leadership alignment, employee enablement, and clear communication ensure AI enhances work rather than disrupts it.
The session illustrated how HR, technology, and business leaders can collaborate to operationalize generative AI responsibly and effectively. For organizations exploring AI-powered productivity, Lumen’s experience offers a powerful roadmap for aligning innovation with workforce enablement. Watch the recording to hear how Lumen is translating AI ambition into measurable business impact.
Resources
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To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.
