Introducing Storyals Microsoft 365 Empowerment Program

At Storyals, we’re deeply engaged in a wide range of digital upskilling initiatives - especially those centered around generative AI with the introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot. As we work closely with organizations across industries and countries, one thing becomes increasingly clear: there is a significant foundational digital skills gap holding teams back from realizing the full potential of these powerful tools. This realization has fueled the creation of the Storyals Microsoft 365 Empowerment Program - a structured, professional, and frictionless way for organizations to provide their employees with the digital skills they need to thrive in today’s workplace.

“Figure it out” – or structured upskilling?

Some leaders we speak with believe that structured upskilling in digital tools is a thing of the past. They argue that today’s users can simply “figure it out” by watching YouTube videos or asking colleagues for help. Others point to the rapid pace of software updates as a reason why structured learning is no longer feasible. At Storyals, we respectfully disagree. In fact, we believe this mindset contributes to the widening digital skills gap. For organizations to truly thrive in a modern, AI-powered workplace, professional digital upskilling is not optional—it’s essential. That’s why we’ve developed an “evergreen” approach to learning, combining always up-to-date e-learning, expert coaching, and real-world guidance to ensure employees stay confident and competent in their use of Microsoft 365.

This perspective is echoed in McKinsey’s recent article, “We’re all techies now”, which highlights that the most successful organizations are those that prioritize digital skill-building across all roles—not just in IT. Companies with strong digital and AI capabilities outperform their peers by two to six times in total shareholder returns. But reaching this level of performance requires more than hiring tech talent—it demands a digitally fluent workforce. McKinsey emphasizes the need for organizations to “re-wire” their operations by embedding technology into core processes and equipping all employees with the skills to thrive in a tech-driven world. This is exactly the kind of transformation Storyals’ Empowerment Program is designed to support.

Structure of the Empowerment Program

Storyals Microsoft 365 Empowerment Program is built on a proven framework that combines on-demand, self-paced learning with real-time coaching and measurable outcomes. Here’s how it works:

1. Planning and scheduling

We kick off the initiative with a planning meeting. Here is where we select the order and frequency of the live coaching sessions, what languages they should be delivered in, and the duration of the program (from 3 months to a year).

Here is also where we introduce the program “avatar”, a charming cartoon character that is used in the program to drive continuity and association. All live sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams and the on-demand courses are provisioned via an existing or provisioned Learning Management System (LMS), or via Microsoft SharePoint Online.

2. On-Demand Preparation

Prior to each live session, participants are asked to complete one of Storyals’ short, story-based courses to build foundational knowledge. This flipped-classroom approach ensures everyone arrives prepared and ready to engage, and the story-based format of the on-demand courses receive great feedback from attendees.

3. Live, interactive, hands-on coaching sessions

Led by Storyals’ expert Productivity Coaches, the group sessions, that are designed for up to 20 participants, are dynamic and “hands-on”. They include:

• Live demos of Microsoft 365 tools in real-world scenarios
• “Hands-on”, interactive exercises to reinforce learning
• Q&A sessions to address specific challenges

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with appoximaltey 90% rating the sessions as “very useful” across all components - including on-demand preparation, session content, hands-on exercises, and coaching. One participant shared, “I never knew if to use SharePoint or OneDrive... Now I am aware of the differences and when to use one or the other. Thank you!” Another noted, “This is what we are needing. I hope it is done again for other topics.”

4. Frictionless Delivery

Storyals’ experienced team of Customer Success Managers and Productivity Coaches, manages the entire delivery process - from scheduling and communications to follow-up - so you don’t have to. The program integrates seamlessly into your existing environment, making it easy to scale across departments and regions.

5. Measurable Impact

We provide clear metrics and feedback loops to help you track progress and demonstrate ROI. Many participants expressed a desire for even more sessions, with comments like “Very informative workshop, thank you!” and “Good content that should be mandatory for all.”

Empowering a culture of continuous learning

Digital upskilling isn’t a one-time event - it’s a continuous journey that should be sponsored by the top management, and executed in alignment across departments in charge of technology (IT/Tech) and people (HR/Learning/Communication). Many times, Learning & Development teams are boggled down with requests for various types of skilling initiatives. Storyals Empowerment Program “plugs in” to your existing environment, and our experienced team manage the delivery of the training program end to end, making it frictionless for your organization. Whether you're rolling out Microsoft 365 for the first time or looking to boost adoption of tools like Teams, OneDrive, or Loop, the Storyals Empowerment Program provides a proven path forward. Learn more about Storyals Microsoft 365 Empowerment Program.