🎙 Knowledge Fika 2.0 is here! 🎙We’re kicking off a brand-new season with a fresh focus: Microsoft 365, Content AI, and Copilot readiness.

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Heather Cook to explore how communities drive adoption, foster belonging, and even boost retention. But Heather also shares her inspiring career journey - proof that success in tech doesn’t require a coding background! We also dive into why content governance and metadata matter more than ever for Copilot, and how Microsoft could up its game for a smoother user experience.

Plus, we sprinkle in some fika vibes (and Heather’s favourite festive treat 🍵) because social connections aren’t just nice—they’re essential for thriving workplaces.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Communities = the secret sauce for change management
• Metadata is the backbone of Copilot readiness
• Personal connections create lasting professional impact
• Fika culture reminds us: Relationships matter!

Ready to join the conversation? Hit play and let’s fika about knowledge!Links to a few resources referenced in this episode:

• Mondays at Microsoft | with Karuana Gatimu & Heather Cook
• Heather Cook on Substack: Hedda’s Mix Tape | Substack
• Link to the SharePoint 25th anniversary celebration live stream: SharePoint at 25: The Knowledge Platform for Copilot and Agents
• Adam & Helen Harmetz’sblog; Mind the Beet | Substack

About Heather Cook:Heather is all about bringing people together and making tech feel human. She’s the Principal Customer Experience Manager in Microsoft’s M365 Customer Advocacy Group, and if you’ve ever been part of a vibrant Microsoft community, chances are Heather had a hand in it.

Before that, she was a Microsoft MVP and now runs her own consultancy, Creative Maven, where she helps brands tell their stories and create unforgettable events. Fun fact? She’s also a published playwright and theatre pro - so when Heather talks about creativity and connection, she really means it.

Get ready for an episode packed with energy, insights, a great deal of humour - and a little bit of sass!

On popular demand - Knowledge Fika is back!

But with a much more practical focus on Knowledge Management, so we are calling it Knowledge Fika 2.0.

Here are a few words from host Rebecka Isaksson about what is changing with Knowledge Fika, now that Season 3 is kicking off, on January 12, 2026.

A new focus, with more Microsoft and MVP guests, and a much more practical approach to KM: Knowledge in M365 with Content AI & Copilot - focusing on:

✅ Knowledge in M365 – from SharePoint, to Engage, and beyond

✅ Microsoft Content AI & Copilot

✅ Practical stories & visionary insights from Microsoft leaders, MVPs and KM experts

And for our season premiere I sat down with Heather Cook, who is a Principal Customer Experience Manager at Microsoft and a true Community Connector, Leader & Advocate.

Here's a sneak peek from Season 3 - Episode 1. Enjoy!

With this extended (45 min long) episode, Rebecka Isaksson and Dawn Brushammar bid you farewell for now. We have decided to take a little break with this podcast for the time being - but we are likely to come back again in a not too distant (sci-fi) future... You will be the first to know!

We sat down with Stan Garfield and James Tyer to unpack the power of communities of practice in knowledge management. Thus closing the loop, as the very first episode of the show was on that same topic - and also how Rebecka started her KM adventure and career.

From voluntary participation to the role of leadership and trust, the conversation dives deep into what makes communities thrive. The guests share insights on fostering engagement, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and how technology—like Microsoft’s Engage platform—can support but not replace human connection. Stan also offers a sneak peek into his upcoming book, while the group reflects on the future of collaboration and community health in the age of AI and Copilot.

Our favourite quotes from this show:

💡 “You want communities to be voluntary.”💬 “Trust is essential for community engagement.”

About Stan Garfield: Stan is a seasoned knowledge management practitioner, author, and speaker with decades of experience leading communities of practice across industries. Passionate about collaboration, innovation, and leadership, Stan has championed knowledge sharing through enterprise social networks, intranets, and platforms like SharePoint. He’s known for his engaging presentations, insightful writing, and mentoring others in the KM space. Stan’s work spans consulting, systems integration, and professional services, with a strong focus on gamification, incentives, and recognition. A prolific blogger and tweeter, he continues to shape the conversation around community health and social business. His upcoming book promises fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of knowledge management.

About James Tyer: James is a Customer Experience Program Manager at Microsoft, helping leaders turn strategic decisions into real-world impact. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, organizational design, and customer success, James specializes in enterprise adoption, executive collaboration, and scalable change facilitation. His work bridges silos to ensure AI and collaboration tools like Copilot drive measurable outcomes. James supports complex sales, aligns technical value with business goals, and fosters feedback loops that inform product strategy. He’s also co-author of Social by Design, a playbook for building connected, collaborative organizations. Whether working with global brands or startups, James focuses on driving traction, usage, and lasting behavioural change.

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, hosts RebeckaIsaksson and Dawn Brushammar sit down with Daniel Cohen-Dumani, founder of Experio AI, to explore how artificialintelligence is transforming knowledge management in consulting. Daniel shares insights from his extensive career, highlighting the challenges of preserving organizational memory and the power of AI-driven curation. The conversation dives into skills discovery, workforce planning, and the role of technology in enhancing client relationships. Learn how Experio AI connects to diverse data sources to uncover hidden competencies and streamline proposal generation. Despite the rise of automation, Daniel emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human intuition and empathy. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on thefuture of consulting, and how AI can support—not replace—human expertise.

About Daniel Cohen-Dumani: Daniel Cohen-Dumani is a passionate technologist with over 30 years of experience driving digital transformation across industries. Formerly founder and CEO of Portal Solutions and Partner and Market Leader at Withum Digital, he has led groundbreaking initiatives in AI, machine learning, and cloud technologies.

Daniel specializes in knowledge management and custom AI solutions, including intelligent chatbots and predictive analytics. As a Board Member of the Maryland Tech Council, he actively supports tech innovation in the MD-DC-VA region. He’s currently building Experio AI, a venture aimed at redefining how businesses harness organizational knowledge in an AI-driven future.

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, hosts Rebecka Isaksson and Dawn Brushammar speak with AI experts Aki Antman and Hanna Radtke Bergström about the evolving role of generative AI in organizations. They explore leadership’s impact on AI adoption, the importance of democratizing AI knowledge, and how Copilot differ from other LLMs, like Chat GPT. The conversation also covers data privacy, natural language interfaces, and the future of AI in solving global challenges—ending with a warm reflection on Fika, and the real-life value of workplace connections, to build a greatcompany culture and trust.

About Aki Antman:

Aki is the founder and chairman of Sulava Oy and Sulava Gulf LLC, dedicated to empowering organizations through Microsoft Copilots and AI. Named Microsoft Influencer of the Year 2024, he is a Microsoft 365 Copilot MVP and author of the Amazon bestseller From Copilot to Commander.

Aki leads large-scale skilling initiatives for the AI era and advises governments and enterprises across the MEA region. With a legacy in internet technologies since the 1980s and a Microsoft Modern Work partnership since 1996, he has been a driving force in cloud and AI innovation since 2010—reshaping productivity and employee experience.

About Hanna Radtke Bergström:

Hanna helps leaders in regulated industries turn AI toolslike Microsoft 365 Copilot into real business value. With enterprise experience from Vattenfall and Stockholm Exergi, she specializes in guiding non-technical teams to use AI confidently—focusing on productivity, integration, and fastROI.

Hanna is the creator of the BRIDGE Model™, a practical framework for large and mid-sized organizations. Her structured training and inspiring keynotes are rooted in real-world workflows, making AI accessible, energizing, and profitable. Through clear, hands-on sessions, Hanna empowers teams to apply AI meaningfully and effectively in their daily work, through her new business venture AIBoost Academy Stockholm.

Join Rebecka Isaksson and Dawn Brushammar for a livelychat with Marko Wathen, founder of Aigui, a startup rethinking how we manage and visualize knowledge in the age of AI. From his roots in project management in banking to building tools that make AI conversations more human-friendly, Marko shares insights on how we learn—and why visuals often beat walls of text. We explore the evolution from mind maps to Kanban boards to AI-powered concept mapping. And of course, there’s Fika! Marko, a true Nordiccoffee enthusiast, is also crafting a high-end filter coffee machine—no plastic, just precision. It’s a conversation full of ideas, innovation, and a good dose of caffeine.
About Marko Wathen:
Marko is the founder of Aigui, a tool designed to make long AI conversations more intuitive, organized, and brain-like. With over a decade of experience as a freelance consultant in roles like project manager and product owner, he’s led tech and software projects across finance, media, and education.

Before freelancing, he spent 10 years in corporate and later ventured into entrepreneurship in IT and green tech. Marko is also building a luxury filter coffee machine on the side. When he’s not innovating, he’s running, sipping coffee, or enjoying time with his family, dog, and cats.

Join Rebecka Isaksson in this episode of KnowledgeFika as she chats with Simon Doy, Microsoft MVP and founder of iThink 365. They explore how Microsoft 365 Copilot is transforming productivity and Personal Knowledge Management (“PKM”), and dive into the evolving role of AI in health tech and business processes.

They also talk about SmartFlow, an agentic AI solution from iThink 365 and its impact on meetings and capturing Tacit Knowledge, plus the empathetic nature of modern AI agents. This conversation blends tech insights with personal touches—including coffee preferences and relationship-building in business. A must-listen for anyone curious about the future of AI in the workplace and beyond.

Please find the link to the AI in Healthcare podcast episode that was referenced in this chat, here.

 About Simon Doy: Simon is the Chief Technology Officer at iThink 365 and a Microsoft MVP, recognized for his leadership and expertise in the Microsoft ecosystem. With over 16 years of experience, he specializes in building scalable solutions using Microsoft 365 and Azure technologies.

Simon is passionate about helping organizations boost productivity and solve business challenges through cloud innovation. He also leads the M365 North User Group, sharing insights and best practices with the Microsoft community.

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, we sit down with Cindy Hubert, Knowledge Management Fellow at APQC, to explore the evolving landscape of KM through the lens of someone who’s been shaping it for decades. Cindy shares her KM journey, unpacks the ever-blurring line between AI and knowledge work, and reflects on the enduring importance of people in KM systems.

We also dive into knowledge maturity models, the crucial role of conversations in tacit knowledge transfer, and the real-world work of a KM Fellow (spoiler: it’s not just theory and white papers).

Whether you're steeped in KM or just curious about how organizations really learn and adapt, Cindy brings both warmth and wisdom to the fika table.

About Cindy Hubert: Cindy Hubert is the first-ever Knowledge Management Fellow at APQC, bringing nearly 30 years of experience advancing the field of KM. She’s led the development of key frameworks like APQC’s KM Maturity Model and the Interactive KM Framework, and has guided hundreds of organizations in building and measuring effective KM strategies. A frequent speaker, co-author of The New Edge in Knowledge, and longtime advocate for people-centered KM, Cindy blends deep expertise with a passion for practical, human-driven knowledge sharing.

About APQC: APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center) is a member-based nonprofit that helps organizations improve productivity and performance through benchmarking, best practices, process improvement, and knowledge management. Known globally for its thought leadership in KM, APQC provides research, tools, and advisory services to support smarter, more effective ways of working. Learn more at https://www.apqc.org

Join show hosts Rebecka Isaksson and Dawn Brushammar for a fika with Andrew Herd and Kristina Mirchuk as they dive into the KM Landscape 2025 project. Discover how this global initiative is reshaping knowledge management through co-creation, community, and inclusion. From personal KM to organizational KM and global collaboration, this episode explores the power of diverse voices in shaping the future of knowledge.

If you are interested in joining the KM Landscape 2025 project, please visit this site, for more information and details on how to sign up and get involved!About Andrew Herd:

Andrew is a senior knowledge management expert with 25 years in the space sector, including over a decade at the European Space Agency (ESA). He has led 50+ learninginitiatives and 200+ “Legacy” events to address knowledge loss and strengthen ESA’s Lessons Learned program. Andrew developed innovative KM tools using AI and knowledge graphs, and has authored 30+ publications, including academic papers and case studies.

He also produced a podcast mini-series and chaired international panels on lessons learned. Currently, he leads the global KM Landscape@2025 project, uniting 100+ co-creators to explore and represent the diversity of knowledge management today.

About Kristina Mirchuk:

Kristina is the founder and CEO of GEIST Consultancy, specializing in competence-based knowledge and talent management. With over 15 years of experience in organizational development across Germany and Spain, she is a multilingual leader and advocate for people-centric KM practices. Kristina has served on the board of the German KM Society (GfWM) and currently contributes globally as aboard member of the Knowledge Management Global Network.

She co-authored the international BLUE BOOK – State on Actual Knowledge Manager Profile 2023. Through her work, Kristina empowers organizations to grow throughshared expertise, inclusive practices, and strategic knowledge development.

In this episode of Knowledge Fika, host Rebecka Isaksson sits down with Steve Pucelik, Senior Product Manager for SharePoint Embedded at Microsoft. With a career spanning every version of SharePoint, Steve brings deep insights into how SharePoint Embedded is transforming document management and customer service through scalable architecture and AI integration.

From seamless co-authoring to secure tenant-based storage, Steve unpacks how this developer-friendly platform is reshaping collaboration for enterprises and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) alike. The conversation also highlights the upcoming SharePoint Embedded roadshow—featuring hands-on labs, expert talks, and yes, free lunch!

Learn more about the roadshow, places, times & dates, and 🎟️ GET YUOR TICKETS HERE: https://aka.ms/SPE-Events

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About Steve Pucelik: Steve Pucelik is a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft,leading strategy and adoption for SharePoint Embedded—an API-first platform for building secure, scalable, and intelligent document-centric apps. With deep expertise in enterprise content management, Steve helps organizations modernize document workflows using AI, Microsoft Graph, and Power Platform. He works closely with developers and ISVs to integrate SharePoint Embedded into custom solutions that enhance collaboration, compliance, and governance.