From MSP to MIP: Ryan Walsh (Pax8) on AI, Strategy & How Small MSPs Stay Relevant

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ryan Walsh, Channel Chief and Chief Strategy Officer at Pax8, to talk about where small MSPs actually go next.

Ryan has spent years helping partners clean up messy stacks, scale through the marketplace, and rethink what "managed services" even means as AI changes client expectations. This conversation is built for owners running lean shops — under $3M and under 20 employees — who need a practical path, not a enterprise slide deck.

What You'll Learn:

Why Pax8 frames the shift from MSP to Managed Infrastructure Provider (MIP)

What AI actually changes for small MSPs (and what it doesn't)

How to clean up a messy vendor stack without blowing up delivery

Leadership and culture moves that help a small team adopt new

services

How marketplace, partnerships, and product expansion can drive growth without a huge sales org

Practical first steps for MSPs who feel behind on AI and strategy

👉 Resources & Links:

Pax8: https://www.pax8.com