Knowledge Fika 2.0: Knowledge in M365 with Copilot and Content AI

About this episode:

What happens when a Microsoft MVP decides email is a problem to be solved rather than a fact of life?

In this episode, Rebecka sits down with AI innovator and fellow MVP Mark Smith to explore a future where Copilot, AI agents, digital twins, and low-code development reshape how work gets done.

Mark reflects on his journey from CRM and Dynamics 365 into the world of AI, and why he believes we're only beginning tounderstand what intelligent systems can do. But this isn't another conversation about shiny AI features. It's a discussion about what happens when technology can reason across information, manage tasks on our behalf, and increasingly act as a digital extension of ourselves.

Some of it sounds futuristic. Some of it is already here. All of it raises interesting questions about work, knowledge, and the role humans will play when our AI colleagues become a lot more capable.

About Mark:

Mark Smith is a Microsoft MVP, futurist, and self-confessed AI tinkerer who spends his days experimenting with emerging technologies from his rural New Zealand home, 40 minutes from the nearest town and three hours from the nearest city.

Part apiarist, part horticulturist, part podcast veteran, and part master agent orchestrator, Mark has built a remarkably intelligent home assisted by his AI house elf, Dobby, who helps keep everything from automation to the garden running smoothly.

Known for combining deep technical expertise with curiosity, practicality, and good humour, Mark is always exploring what's next and rarely accepts "because that's how we'vealways done it" as a satisfactory answer.

Mark and Meg’s company: Cloverbase |Independent AI Counsel and Copilot Foundations

His podcast: The Intelligence Age Podcast

About this episode:

What happens when a learning and development professional accidentally discovers knowledge management and finds her calling?

In this episode, Rebecka sits down with Dr Rachel Teague to discuss community, knowledge sharing, AI, and the importance of creating spaces where people can learn from one another.

Rachel shares her journey into KM, the story behind the Empower KM conference, and lessons from helping build New Hampshire's first LGBTQIA+ community centre. A warm and thoughtful conversation about leadership, belonging, organisational knowledge, and why people remain at the heart of every successful knowledge strategy.

And I learned how easy it apparently is, to bake your own bagels! 😉

Empower KM 2027: February 16th-18th + 19th (1/2 day workshop), Charleston, SC, United States.

Manchester True Collaborative

About Rachel:

Dr. Rachel Teague is a knowledge management leader, community builder, speaker, podcaster, and lifelong advocate for helping people connect, learn, and share knowledge. With a background spanning learning, organisational development, consulting, and KM, she is passionate about creating communities where people can thrive.

Rachel is a co-founder of Empower KM Conference, a practitioner-driven event dedicated to amplifying new voices in knowledge management and serves on the founding board of Manchester True Collaborative, New Hampshire's first LGBTQIA+ community centre.

She is known for bringing warmth, curiosity, and a distinctly human-centred perspective to every conversation.

About the episode:

What happens when organisations move beyondCopilot and start managing an entire workforce of AI agents?

In this episode, Rebecka sits down with Microsoft Regional Director and dual Microsoft MVP Maarten Eekels to discuss AIadoption, governance, knowledge management, and why successful AI initiatives depend as much on content quality as technology.

A key focus is Agent 365 and the emerging challenge of governing AI agents at scale. As organisations deploy moreautonomous AI capabilities, how do you maintain visibility, control, and trust?

The conversation also explores responsible AI, why Copilot should complement rather than replace search, and how AI often amplifies the strengths and weaknesses already present in your organisation.

Maarten also shares insights from his role on the ESPC content selection core team, helping shape ESPC 2026, taking place in Amsterdam from 30 November to 3 December at the RAI Amsterdam.

Planning to attend ESPC 2026? Early Bird registration is now open: https://espc.tech/conference/espc-2026/tickets/

About Maarten:

Maarten Eekels is a Microsoft Regional Director, double Microsoft MVP (Microsoft Foundry and Microsoft 365 Copilot),international speaker, community leader, and advocate for responsible AI.

Based in the Netherlands, he has helped organisations implement Microsoft technologies since 2003, with a strong focus on AI, Microsoft 365, Copilot, governance, and the human side of technology adoption.

Alongside his work in technology, Maarten coachesstart-ups and advises founders and business leaders on innovation, growth, and leadership. He is a familiar face at conferences and community events worldwide, known for making complex technology topics accessible, practical,and thought-provoking.

Maarten is also the creator of one of the most respected blogs in the Microsoft community, where he writes about Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, governance, security, and ethical AI: https://www.eekels.net/

Away from technology, Maarten is a certified sommelier and enthusiastic wine lover. His passion for wine has inspired a separate project and web shop dedicated to wine-themed products and accessories: https://becauseilovewine.com/

And, in addition to being a wine geek (like me), he's a big Depeche Mode fan and coffee lover. Two more things we have in common! 😉

Whether discussing AI governance, Microsoft Copilot, leadership, or the perfect bottle of wine, Maarten brings curiosity, expertise, and a refreshingly human perspective to every conversation.

About this episode:

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, Rebecka Isaksson chats with Mike McLean about the future of Microsoft Viva Engage and how AI is transforming workplace communities. From smarter notifications and community management to Copilot, and the brand new Community Agent (!!!), Mike shares how Microsoft is helping organizations cut through the noise while keeping people connected.

They also explore dynamic community experiences, governance at scale, and why, despite all the shiny new tech, real human connections still matter most.

About Mike McLean:

Mike is a Principal Group Product Manager at Microsoft who's spent more than two decades building products used by millions around the world. His fingerprints are all over everything from Microsoft Teams and Viva to SharePoint, Planner, Power BI, and Microsoft 365 Groups.

These days, Mike is focused on making workplace communities smarter, more engaging, and a whole lot easier to navigate with AI. Equal parts product nerd and people champion, he's passionate about building technology that helps work feel a little more connected and a lot more human.

... And he happens to be a big fan of Swedish Fika - and the delightful "vacuum cleaner" cookie!

About this episode:

What does it take to become an AI-native organization?

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, I sit down with Regional Director and Microsoft MVP Vesa “Vesku” Nopanen, to discuss AI transformation beyond the technology. We explore what organizations are learning from Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption, why culture and change management matter as much as the tools themselves, and how to approach AI governance, cost management, and experimentation in a rapidly evolving landscape.

We also explore how different AI models can produce very different results—and costs—for the same task, making model selection an important consideration for organizations adopting Copilot. Vesku shares practical lessons from testing multiple models, understanding when to use which tool, and balancing value, performance, and consumption costs.

We also dive into the productivity paradox, lessons from SulavaMEA’s own AI journey, and practical advice for leaders looking to turn AI ambition into business value.

About Vesku:

Vesa "Vesku" Nopanen is a Microsoft Regional Director, Microsoft MVP in AI and Microsoft 365, and Principal Consultant for AI-Native Future Work at Sulava MEA. With nearly 30 years in enterprise IT, he helps organizations adopt AI, Copilot, and intelligent agents to create more effective ways of working.

A frequent speaker, blogger, and community leader, Vesku is known for turning emerging technologies into practical business outcomes. He is also one of the people behind the AI-Native Workplace Summit 2026, a free online event exploring how organizations can thrive in the age of AI.

Through his writing, speaking, and community work, he shares practical insights on AI adoption, governance, organizational change, and how people and AI can work better together.

Why prompts, psychology and sycophancy matter.

About this episode:

What happens when one of the world's leading technology writers turns his attention to AI?

In this episode, I sit down with journalist, author and broadcaster Jamie Bartlett to discuss his latest book, How to Talk to AI (And How Not To). We explore why the way we talk to AI matters, how prompting is as much about mindset as technique, and why understanding AI has become an essential skill.

Along the way, we unpack AI safety, governance and the concept of sycophancy—AI's tendency to tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear.

Whether you're already using tools like ChatGPT and Copilot or simply trying to make sense of the rapid pace of change, this conversation offers a thoughtful and refreshinglybalanced perspective on AI and its growing role in our lives and work.

About Jamie Bartlett:

Jamie is a journalist, author, broadcaster and one of the UK's leading writers on technology and society. He is the bestselling author of The Dark Net, Radicals, The People vs Tech and his latest book, How to Talk to AI (And HowNot To), which explores how AI is changing the way we think, work and create.

Jamie is also the creator and host of several acclaimed BBC and The Observer podcasts, including The Missing Cryptoqueen, the fascinating investigation into the OneCoin fraud, and End Game: Can We Leave with Artificial General Intelligence?.

Throughout his work, he examines the complex relationship between technology, power, democracy and human behaviour, helping audiences make sense of an increasingly digital world.

He is also teaching a masterclass, based on his latest book, How To Talk To AI, that will be delivered in London on September 24 and October 22, 2026.

About this episode

What does it take to build a knowledge team ready for an AI-driven future?

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, Rebecka Isaksson speaks with Charlene King from The Open University about Knowledge Management, AI, governance, and organisational change.

Together they explore how to balance innovation with responsible AI adoption, build the right skills, and culture, and demonstrate the value of modern knowledge practices.

The conversation highlights why successful AI transformation is ultimately a people and knowledge challenge, not just a technology challenge.

A practical discussion for KM practitioners, change leaders, and organisations preparing for an AI-enabled future.

About Charlene King

Charlene (or Charlie) is Associate Director of Knowledge & Information Management (KIM) at The Open University, the UK's largest university, and a global leader in distance learning. She is leading the development of the university's first formal KIM function while helping shape its approach to governance, knowledge sharing, and responsible AI adoption.

Her background spans library services, metadata, accessibility, digital transformation, and AI-enabled information discovery.

When launching the new KIM team, Charlene took a refreshingly human approach, using Peppa Pig as an unexpected conversation starter to capture attention, spark engagement, and open discussions about people's concrete knowledge and information challenges. The resulting conversations and staff feedback helped shape both the team's charter and its first 100-day strategy.

Outside work, Charlene is a history enthusiast with a particular interest in the people, places, and events of WWII. She also enjoys exploring historic sites, baking Victorian sponge cakes, boxing, and practising Muay Thai (!!).

Additional Resources

• Open University Official Website

• Jamie Bartlett - How to Talk to AI and How Not To

• CollabDays Bletchley Park

• Bletchley Park - Historic Site

About this episode

What changes when you stop delivering AI solutions—and start living with them every day?

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, I’m joined by Paul Hunt for a candid conversation on career shifts, Copilot realities, and the governance questions we can’t ignore as AI becomes everyday work.

Paul shares his move from being a Microsoft 365 consultant to in-house solutions designer—and what that reveals about long-term impact. We explore how Copilot shows up in daily work, why prompt discipline matters, and where things are still a bit messy.

We also dig into governance—what it really means to manage AI agents responsibly, and why controls and intentional design are critical as automation scales.

Along the way, Paul highlights something many don’t get to experience: working in an environment that genuinelyprioritises digital wellbeing—and how that shapes both how technology is used and how work gets done.

We also touch on community and culture, reflecting on CollabDays Bletchley Park, speaker diversity, and creating space for new voices. Paul shares honest perspectives on being selected for the right reasons, alongside practical encouragement for aspiring speakers.

A thoughtful, grounded episode for anyone navigating AI, community, and career—at the same time.

About Paul Hunt

Paul Hunt is one of those rare people who combines deep Microsoft 365 expertise with a genuine commitment to liftingothers up.

A multi-certified SharePoint expert and MVP since 2016, Paul has been shaping the space since the early days—working across both IT Pro and development stacks and staying close to the platform as it’s evolved. Today, he focuses on designing solutions that don’t just work technically but hold up in the real world.

He’s also a core part of the community: a regular, and highly appreciated speaker across the UK and Europe, co-organiser of user groups, and someone who actively backs new voices. Case in point—he coached and nominated me into the MVP Programme… so yes, I owe him one 😉

Outside of tech, Paul has a creative streak that’s frankly a bit unfair. Having trained as a Chef de Pâtissier, he still makes mind-blowingly beautiful cakes—and has recently added “hobby chocolatier” to the list.

Sharp, generous, and quietly influential, Paul is exactly the kind of person you want shaping both technology and the community around it.

About this episode:In this episode of Knowledge Fika, I’m joined by ⁠Amy Carlton⁠ (⁠Novartis⁠) — who I first met at the ⁠Knowledge Summit Dublin⁠ in 2025 — to talk about what it really takes to make KM stick.As a Microsoft powerhouse Novartis is deeply engrained in M365 and we talk about how her team uses AI and M365 as a foundation, while keeping things firmly human-centred. From content lifecycle to communities of practice, this is KM – without the fluff.We spoke a lot about how their KM team of 5 (!) have created their KM strategy through conversations with their business leaders. Thus, building it ground up, looking at knowledge flows and business value, as opposed to doing "KM forthe sake of KM". About Amy Carlton:Amy ⁠is a quietly formidable KM leader at Novartis, driving global work across L&D, Knowledge Management, and advisory services — supporting everything from drug development to research.

With a consulting background at EY and IBM, she brings a sharp, structured, no-nonsense approach to KM. Add an MSc in Strategy & Innovation and a full set of certifications(PMP, PRINCE2 Agile, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Scrum, PROSCI), and you get someone who delivers change properly.

Also: frequent flyer at a chic Irish Fika Coffee Shop chain, and (apparently) someone who voluntarily goes to IKEA — which might be the most unexpected credential of all to me!

🎙️About this episode

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, I sit down with fellow MVP Simon Hudson to talk about what’s actually changing in the world of AI, knowledge, and Microsoft 365.

We get into the rise of skills files and AI agents—and why they’re quickly becoming critical to how AI understands context and delivers value. Spoiler: it’s not magic… it’s still metadata doing the heavy lifting.

We also cut through the hype and get real about governance—because if we don’t get that right, we’re just scaling chaos faster. (And yes… garbage in, garbage amplified absolutely applies here.)

If you’re collaborating with Copilot, agents, or trying to make sense of where knowledge management fits next—this one’s for you.

☕️ Grab a coffee. Let’s fika.

👤 About Simon Hudson

Simon Hudson is what happens when deep healthcare expertise meets serious tech chops—and a long-standing habit of building things that matter.

He’s been an entrepreneur since 2008, founding and scaling multiple ventures (including one of the first “in‑the‑box” SharePoint intranet businesses), with a career spanning medical devices, BI, sustainability, and more acronyms than we have time for over a proper fika. He’s also a Microsoft MVP, M365 community contributor, and a regular voice on where AI, knowledge, and governance are heading.

These days, Simon runs Novia Works (where he also blogs!!) —but more importantly (for this episode), he’s a dear friend, classic car geek, canal boat owner (yes, still slightly obsessed), and avid world traveller… which explains both the stories and the perspective.

PS. “Talks too much and stays too long.” is what his conference bio says. Accurate?

That’s for you to decide...☕️