Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease.

Summary

In this episode of Polaris, Mark Kashman and Chris McNulty explore the evolution of the Microsoft 365 community, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement. They discuss the role of internal advocates in technology adoption, the excitement surrounding new features, and the value of the TechCommunity. The conversation also touches on automation, collaboration, and the significance of events like the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, highlighting the joy of audience interaction during AMAs and the cultural insights gained through personal growth.

References Microsoft and the Community

• Community Days.org is the home to find or create on of the dozens of Microsoft community events held around the world every year.
• You can always join the Microsoft Tech Community here.

Mark Kashman

• LinkedIn
• X/Twitter
• The KashBox on Substack
• Mark is also an author of many children's books, also available on Amazon.

Pop Culture

• Mark Kashman is a fan of Frederik Backman, the prolific Swedish author perhaps best know for A man Called Ove, also made into the Tom Hanks film A Man Called Otto
• Smartless is the podcast voice of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, who have not yet been guests on Polaris.

Events

• Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (MGM Grand, Las Vegas)
• Microsoft Build | May 19-22 (Seattle Convention Center)
• European Collaboration Summit | May 26-28, 2025 (Düsseldorf, Germany)
• Mastering Your AI Rollout: Success Strategies | June 12, 2025 (TribalHub Online)
• Business Strategy Master Class | June 17, 2025 (Teams Online)
• TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 (Seattle Convention Center)

Production

Polaris is produced with the help of our friends at Riverside.fm. Our theme song, "Alternative Dream" is provided courtesy of Adobe. Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley.

Takeaways

• Mark Kashman has been with SharePoint for over a decade.
• Community engagement is crucial for technology adoption.
• Understanding when to use specific tools is essential.
• Internal advocates play a vital role in technology adoption.
• The TechCommunity provides a platform for engagement and feedback.

Sound Bites

• "If we can get a good ear to that evangelist who isn't just an MVP, but maybe is to hopefully scale through thousands or hundreds of people within their organization. That's where we really focus on."
• "Business should ensure that [advocates] have a seat at the table. They should know the direction of the business. What are we trying to accomplish? What tools do we have? They'll be able to provide guidance, they can be that internal trusted advisor."
• What makes a customer exec take notice of new technology? "A big one is around what can you do inside of Microsoft Teams?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mark Kashman

08:21 Mark's Role at Microsoft

11:27 Navigating Microsoft 365 Tools

17:16 Understanding Task Management Tools

20:35 Engaging with Microsoft Customers

23:45 Empowering Internal Advocates

25:31 Exciting Tools in Executive Briefings

29:59 Exploring the Tech Community

31:56 Practical Insights for Tech Users

36:05 Automation and Rules in Microsoft 365

38:41 Sports and Community Engagement

41:11 Microsoft 365 Community Conference Overview

47:24 The Joy of AMAs and Audience Engagement

51:13 Cultural Reflections and Book Recommendations

56:29 Upcoming Tech Events and Conferences

58:35 The Importance of Community in Technology

58:42 Reflections

01:00:53 Reflections and Closing Thoughts