After the incredibly positive feedback I received on my Medium article, How the M365 Community Saved My Life, I was invited to talk about my experiences at M365 Community Days NYC, which led me to the need to the need to record a promo video for the event.

And guess what? I had never done one of those before. Zero experience with promo videos, lighting setups, or any kind of video other than my occasional Instagram story. But since no new experience seems to scare me these days, and every awkward moment is a new learning opportunity, off I went to the sand. Because why record indoors with perfect lighting when I can make this even more challenging and do it right on Miami Beach, where I live?

But before I go much further, lets just watch the video, shall we?

How Copilot actually helped, for real!

Putting that video together reminded me that Copilot isn’t just some shiny add-on, it’s basically my unpaid intern who doesn’t sleep or whine about deadlines.

From brainstorming the rough concept to drafting a script that didn’t sound like a corporate zombie wrote it, Copilot shaved hours off my usual “stare at the screen and question my life choices” routine. It helped me time out my script so I wouldn’t ramble. It even suggested the exact time of day to go film (6:30 AM on a public beach — not fun) and gave me pointers on my posture and distance from the camera. Picking b-roll ideas (and no, I had no idea what that even was), trimming awkward filler, and tweaking captions? All faster. All with fewer headaches.

Want to see the actual prompt? Oh you bet I will share it with you!

The prompt I wrote went more or less like this:

I need to write a short promo video script (30–60 seconds) for my upcoming session at M365 Community Days NYC based on my [Medium Article]. The organizers gave me these guidelines:

• Introduce yourself (name, role, company — mention MVP, MCT, etc. if relevant)
• Clearly say your session title and share a short, exciting summary — who it’s for and what they’ll learn
• Share why you’re excited to speak at this event and why people should attend
• End with a clear call to action like: “Join me at M365 Community Days NYC on July 25 — register now at m365nyc.com!”

My style is warm, a little playful, and personal. I want to include a fun line about being a “karaoke DJ on the side,” a nod to my Miami vibe, and emphasize that my session is raw and unfiltered — about grief, resilience, and community in tech.

I’d also like to weave in that I’ll cover some AI/Copilot tips for the tech folks, so they know there’s practical value too.

Please keep it under 100 words, conversational, and break it into lines for easy reading aloud. Also, give me a quick read-through tip and a reminder for recording with natural light at the beach.

Finally, suggest a moment where I can naturally take off my glasses for a more personal connection. Highlight that line so I know exactly when to do it.

I ended up not following the part it suggested me to take off my glasses but I still instinctively did it anyway. Now, If you want to see how I refined it, here are some follow-ups I used:

• “Make it sound more heartfelt but still upbeat — not stiff or corporate.”
• “Add a self-deprecating nod where I shake my head and smile when I say: ‘I couldn’t think of a better place…’”
• “Include a final checklist for recording outdoors on the beach with my action camera, lapel mic, and tripod.”
• “Remind me where to do the glasses-off moment for maximum eye contact and impact.”
• “Rewrite the final read-through with all the tweaks in one single clean version, with the checklist and printable script on separate pages.”

Lessons learned

I still had to make the final calls and stand there getting weird looks from Miami Beach joggers and tourists alike, but Copilot kept me moving instead of stuck in the weeds. It did the grunt work so I could focus on the parts that actually needed me. Total game-changer. It didn’t replace me, it just made sure I didn’t burn out trying to do everything at once. In the end, the story was always mine, but using AI helped me find my words faster, say them more clearly, and stay true to my voice. That’s the real lesson: the best tech doesn’t take your humanity away. It gives you more space to show up as your whole, unscripted self.

If you want to see how the above ends up looking in person, the event is happening in less than two weeks. So if you are in the area come say hey! Microsoft 365 Community Days NYC will take place on July 25, 2025, at Microsoft Times Square in New York, NY.

And don’t forget to register at www.m365nyc.com