Join us as Jeff Teper and Karuana Gatimu discuss how to transform your future at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference (“M365CC”), highlighting key innovations and offering insights into what attendees can expect at this year's event.

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

References

Any time we speak with Jeff and Karuana, you can expect a fairly extensive reference and reading list.

News and Data

Live events are back.  According to Allied Market Research, after most events disappeared in 2020 and 2021, the events industry is expected to reach $1,552.9 billion by 2028, growing at more than 11% annually.

Learning how to apply AI correctly is crucial. McKinsey is projecting generative AI can add over $4.4 trillion in corporate profits, with significant boosts to productivity form AI and automations Source: McKinsey

Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2025

Visit the official website to learn more and get $150 off registration with the code SAVE150

Microsoft’s quick guide to the M365 Conference from Mark Kashman

History of the M365 Conference and SharePoint Conference

It’s Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, so we’re also looking back at key moments in the history of this conference and its predecessor. We’re building an oral history from its origins in 2008 as the SharePoint Conference through 2025.   You can share your story and we’ll compile the best for future podcasts on Polaris and from Microsoft.

Here are some highlights over the years.

• Bill Gates kicked off the very first SharePoint Conference (SPC) in March 2008 by announcing availability for SharePoint Online and Exchange Online
• Huey Lewis and the news were the entertainment highlights at SPC in October 2009
• SPC 2011 was held at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, and people literally danced to get in.
• It wasn’t “SPC” but Microsoft set the stage for a decade of cloud innovation at the “Future of SharePoint” event in San Francisco, May 4, 2016.
• Jeff also reflected on the return of SPC in 2018, and getting s to share the B-52s with everyone.

Microsoft Resources & Updates

• Microsoft Tech Community – home for discussions, resources and blogs across all Microsoft technologies.
• CommunityDays.org – Odds are good there’s ’a Microsoft community event happening near you soon – and this site can tell you where and when,
• SharePoint Hackathon Spring 2025 Details on GitHub, and award winners will be recognized in May 2025 at M365CC.
• January 2025 SharePoint Event – the latest updates on AI, agents and page designs for your intranet.
• Most recently, Microsoft released their new Researcher and Analyst agent to develop deep, rich answers to complex questions, as Jeff discussed on the show.

Culture References

Some of the games and TV shows covered include:

• The Pitt on HBO Max features Noah Wyle from ER in his return to medical television. Recommended by Jeff. 
• Hacks is also on HBO Max, and recommended by Karuana.
• Severance on Apple TV has been a brain teaser for many of us this year.  What exactly is “Macro Data Refinement”? And if you want to try moving numbers around on a screen for fun, Sudoku may be as close as you get. Until you try the Lumon MDR web site.

Events

• M365 Philly | April 26, 2025 (Microsoft Innovation Hub in Malvern PA)
• Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas)
• Microsoft Build | May 19-22, 2025 (Seattle Convention Center)
• TechCon 365 Seattle June 23-27, 2025 (Seattle Convention Center)

Summary

In this conversation, Chris McNulty speaks with Jeff Teper and Karuana Gatimu about the upcoming Microsoft 365 Community Conference. They discuss the innovations in Microsoft products, the importance of community engagement, and how technology impacts personal and professional growth. The conversation also touches on the future of AI and its applications in the workplace, emphasizing the significance of understanding the 'why' behind technology. The discussion concludes with excitement for the conference and the opportunities it presents for networking and learning.

Takeaways

• The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is the best place to connect with the best community in technology today.
• Community engagement is crucial for personal and professional growth.
• Understanding the 'why' behind technology enhances its value.
• Networking at conferences can significantly impact careers.
• Microsoft fosters a culture of support and opportunity.
• The conference will showcase new features and innovations.

Sound Bites

“We can't wait to see everyone there."

Jeff Teper

·       One thing that's great about this place is we can reflect and celebrate and be nostalgic, but don't feel like you need any of that shared history. Let's go invent the future together. And this will be the best place to do that too. Not just celebrate.

·       It is just unbelievable to work in a team on a product that has that kind of impact on people. I mean, you're supposed to leave the planet better than you found it. And it's not just about winning some technology race. It's about helping people have a sense of fulfillment and purpose that really, at the end of the day, gets me most motivated.

·       Sometimes I'm up there thinking, if there's one person, just one person in the room who has no idea why they showed up to this conference, their boss made them and they're sitting like, what is this thing? If we can inspire that one person to use technology, to have an impact on others so they can have an impact on themselves, that's kind of what we're trying to do.

Karuana Gatimu

We have a community lounge…and there we have a tremendous amount of meetups, a facilitated way that you can meet other IT professionals. We'll have community reporters throughout the event, doing interviews and recaps. We'll have some fantastic interviews with the product group folks.

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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Background on the Microsoft 365 Community Conference

01:12 Terms and Data Points

02:31 Welcoming Jeff Teper and Karuana Gatimu

04:54 The Evolution of Microsoft Collaboration Tools

06:50 Understanding the M365 Community Conference

09:41 AI and Innovation in Microsoft Products

12:33 Connecting with the Community

15:11 Maximizing Conference Experience

17:29 The Importance of Community Engagement

19:43 Inspiring Impact Through Technology

21:00 Leadership and Community at Microsoft

21:50 Empowerment and Opportunities in Tech

22:37 Building Partnerships and Community Engagement

24:11 The Future of AI and Its Applications

28:00 Memorable Moments from SharePoint Conferences and M365

30:43 The World of Pop Culture

34:34 Upcoming Conferences and Events

36:32 Contest

37:01 Remembrance of Conferences Past

40:30 Wrap-Up and Acknowledgments