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FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/675

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we explore the future of meetings in a hybrid world. Jeff Hardison shares insights from Calendly's research showing growing excitement about AI's role in making meetings more effective, while also noting the pendulum swing between asynchronous communication and the irreplaceable value of human connection. 
 
Scheduling software Calendly has evolved from a simple time-finding tool into a comprehensive platform for building meaningful business relationships with over 20 million users worldwide.

TAKEAWAYS
• Calendly was founded by Tope Awotona, who wanted to solve the problem of coordinating meetings across different schedules and time zones
• The platform has expanded beyond basic scheduling to offer team-based coordination, automated notifications, and integration with payment systems like Stripe
• Calendly positions itself as "neutral Switzerland" between different platforms, integrating with Microsoft, Google, Zoom, Teams, and various CRM systems
• 54% of people surveyed are excited about AI's potential role in making meetings more effective
• The future of meetings will balance asynchronous communication tools with synchronous human connection
• Video communication skills are increasingly essential as remote work and freelancing continue to grow
• Microsoft-specific integrations include Outlook, Teams, Dynamics CRM, and Power Automate

Check out the Calendly for Microsoft webinar and integration page to learn more about connecting your Microsoft ecosystem with Calendly's scheduling capabilities.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption

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Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith