Day 2 of Build IT LIVE 2025 wasn’t about theory. It was about execution. After Day 1 shifted mindsets, Day 2 delivered the tools, tactics, and real strategies MSP leaders came for.
The energy at the Hyatt on the Hudson was different. Focused. Ready. This MSP Summit 2025 had already proven itself as one of the top MSP leadership conferences in the US, and Day 2 showed exactly why. From automation strategies that actually work to leadership development that scales, every session hit hard and hit practical.
For MSP leaders looking for actionable insights at this premier MSP conference, Day 2 delivered in every way that matters. Here’s what happened and what you need to know.
Stop being the roadblock. Start building the road.
Kyle Spooner opened Day 2 with brutal honesty: you’re the bottleneck. His session “Don’t Be the Bottleneck: Build Leaders, Not Checklists” delivered a simple truth that hit hard. Most MSPs create dependency, not capability.
Kyle’s point was sharp. Every time you build a process that requires you, you’re limiting your growth to your own capacity. The result? Businesses stall every time the founder hits their limit.
His solution was practical. Stop building checklists that make you indispensable. Start building leaders who make you unnecessary. Leadership isn’t about being needed. It’s about not being needed.
AI isn’t optional. Neither is getting it right.
Will Dowling delivered “AI-Powered MSP: Automate or Stagnate” with zero hype and maximum substance. This tech networking event needed practical AI strategies, and Will delivered exactly that.
His approach was surgical. He showed which processes to automate first, which tools integrate without breaking everything, and most importantly, which automation projects deliver ROI within 90 days. This wasn’t about replacing humans. It was about freeing them for the work that grows the business.
From fixing problems to driving outcomes.
Luis Giraldo shifted everything with “From IT Fixer to Strategic Partner: Operationalizing Customer Success in Your MSP.” This wasn’t about better service delivery. This was about becoming indispensable to client growth.
Luis broke down how the most successful MSPs transform from reactive problem-solvers into proactive business advisors. He shared real frameworks for measuring client outcomes, not just uptime. Strategies for positioning MSP services as business investments, not operational expenses.
The room was engaged because Luis wasn’t talking theory. He was sharing the exact playbook that turns MSPs into strategic partners clients can’t operate without.
People development that actually develops people.
Michael Timmes tackled talent with “Upskilling and Reskilling Strategies That Drive Growth, Retention, and Internal Mobility.” His approach was refreshingly direct: stop hoping good people stay. Start giving them reasons to grow.
Michael outlined clear pathways for moving technical talent into leadership roles, strategies for cross-training that reduces single points of failure, and retention approaches that create career momentum, not just job security. For MSP business owners struggling with talent challenges, this session provided the roadmap they needed.
Emotional intelligence isn’t soft. It’s strategic.
Beth Leonard and Sumeet Sabharwal delivered “Emotional Intelligence at Work: The Real Leadership Advantage.” In a room full of technical leaders, this could have felt out of place. Instead, it felt essential.
They didn’t offer corporate training platitudes. They showed how emotional intelligence directly impacts client retention, team performance, and business growth. Tools for reading client emotions during difficult conversations. Frameworks for managing team stress during high-pressure projects.
This wasn’t about being nicer. It was about being more effective. And at this executive leadership summit 2025, effectiveness is what matters.
From tech to team lead without breaking everything.
Ryan Bowman returned with “The Leadership Ladder: Turning Techs into Team Leads” and addressed one of the biggest pain points for growing MSPs: How do you promote your best technical people without losing your best technical people?
Ryan’s framework was practical and tested. He outlined the specific skills technical professionals need before moving into leadership, the support systems that prevent new managers from failing, and the transition strategies that maintain team productivity during leadership changes.
For MSP leaders attending this premier event, Ryan provided the missing piece: a systematic approach to leadership development that works.
Leading the business, not just working in it.
Adam Crandall, Christopher Caprio, and Vinod Paul tackled “The CEO Shift: Lead the Business, Not Just in It.” This was strategic leadership at its most practical.
The panel didn’t waste time on theory. They shared real examples of MSP leaders who successfully transitioned from doing the work to directing the work. They outlined the specific mindset shifts required, the operational changes that enable strategic thinking, and the delegation frameworks that free up CEO bandwidth for growth activities.
For attendees at this top MSP leadership conference in the world, the panel provided clarity on one of the hardest transitions in business: moving from operator to leader.
The complete MSP leadership lifecycle.
Brad Schow and Will Slappey closed Day 2 with “From Founder to Funded to Finished: The MSP Leader’s Lifecycle.” This wasn’t just about exit strategies. It was about understanding the complete journey of MSP leadership and planning for each stage.
They covered the founder stage, where vision and execution merge. The growth stage, where systems become critical. The scale stage, where leadership becomes distributed. And yes, the exit stage, where preparation meets opportunity.
The session provided a framework for MSP leaders to understand not just where they are, but where they’re going and what they need to build to get there successfully.
Day 2 delivered. Day 3 will amplify.
If Day 1 shifted thinking and Day 2 provided tools, Day 3 will accelerate. Advanced strategies for MSPs ready to dominate their markets. Deep dives into the technologies and partnerships that separate leaders from followers.
This MSP expo has already proven itself as the MSP leadership summit in the US that delivers results, not just insights. Day 3 promises to push those results even further.
The foundation is built. The tools are ready. Time to accelerate.
