Polaris Podcast

Strategic conversations with transformation leaders.

• David Pourquery - From Private Equity to Outthinking Google

  Episode 61

  Guest: David Pourquery

  GROAS founder David Pourquery joins Polaris to explain how AI now plans, builds, and runs Google Ads campaigns end to end — and what that means for agencies, marketers, and the judgment calls only people can make. Key Takeaways Google's automation arrives on a schedule, not on request. Starting September 1, Google begins upgrading eligible search campaigns to AI Max, migrating automatically created assets and campaign-level broad match — for many advertisers, whether they opted in or not. Automation is outrunning the evidence. Independent industry testing of AI Max has produced mixed results so far, with a majority of matched queries failing to convert. The single most important number is what a customer is worth. Before you spend a dollar, you need to know what you can afford to pay Google for each customer acquired. Most businesses cannot state that number. Know your words as well as your numbers. Unclear ideal customer profiles and vague value propositions sink campaigns before bidding ever becomes the problem. Messaging decides who you attract and who you repel. The agency model is under structural pressure. WPP, once the largest advertising group in the world, moved away from the holding company structure after a year of steep revenue declines and account losses. As David puts it, an agency has always been an arbitrage on human labor. The disruptor's best customers were the incumbents. GROAS set out to displace agencies; agencies are now its fastest-growing segment, because they get value from day one across an existing book of clients. Bootstrapping a software company got dramatically cheaper. AI-assisted development made a lean, venture-free build possible — David says deployment speed rose by 20x to 30x in nine months. What survives automation is judgment. Executing the plan is what is disappearing. Deciding what the plan is worth — and being willing to say no to something reasonable — is not. Guest Quotes David Pourquery, Founder & CEO, GROAS "An agency has always been an arbitrage on human labor. So if the value of human labor keeps going down because of AI, then agencies ultimately, unless they adapt pretty brutally, I think will get squeezed out." "I am of the firm belief that not everybody should run paid ads. It's like one of the most competitive things on earth. Because if you can get it right, it's effectively a free money printer. You put one dollar in, three dollars comes out." "A lot of those automations take away power and control from the advertiser. There are countless horror stories, you can go online, of people just going and applying all of Google's recommended settings and then just burning $3,000." "Ultimately the number is, what can you afford to pay Google for every customer? And you'd be surprised at the number of businesses who don't know what that is." "We were like, we're gonna displace the agencies. Now they're becoming a bigger part of our clients. What's ironic in all of this is that they are actually the best customers of GROAS, because they get value from it from day one." "AI will cause major, major margin compression on all forms of computer work, long term. This applies to lawyers, doctors, accountants, investment bankers." References Guest GROAS — groas.com. David Pourquery on LinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/davidpourquery. Industry Google Ads AI Max migration beginning September 1, covering automatically created assets and campaign-level broad match — Search Engine Roundtable: On Sep 1 Google Ads To Migrate ACA & Campaign-Level Broad Match To AI Max. Independent industry testing of AI Max for Search — PPC Land: Google's AI Max for Search campaigns deliver "meh" results, industry tests reveal and PPC Live: What the data actually shows in 2026. WPP's move away from the holding company model after steep revenue declines and account losses — WPP strategy update and 2025 preliminary results and Marketing Dive: WPP abandons holding company model. Culture Andon Market, the San Francisco shop managed by an AI agent named Luna, run by Andon Labs. New York Times reported on the results, with additional coverage of the same experiment — NBC News: AI is the boss at this retail store, Axios San Francisco, and Forbes. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, David's pop-culture pick — ynharari.com. Events TechCon365 Seattle | August 24-28 (Seattle, WA) techcon365.com/Seattle TribalNet 2026  | September 20-24 (Dallas, TX)  TribalNet Conference North American Collaboration Summit |  October 4-6 (Branson, MO) collabsummit.org CollabDays New England  | October 16 (Burlington, MA) collabdaysne.org Microsoft Ignite — November 17-20 (San Francisco, CA)  ignite.microsoft.com ESPC26 | November 30-December 3 ( Amsrterdam ) espc.tech/conference/espc-2026/ Full details — synozur.com/events. Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:01 Opening 01:48 News and Data Points 03:10 David's Journey from London to Los Angeles 04:48 Transition from Private Equity to E-commerce 07:21 The Birth of GROAS and Its Purpose 09:55 Navigating Google Ads and Automation Challenges 12:40 The Evolution of GROAS: From Services to Product 15:42 Agency Relationships and Client Success 18:36 The Changing Landscape of Marketing Agencies 21:32 Understanding Client Needs and Metrics 24:17 The Role of AI in Marketing and Future Predictions 27:27 Cultural Influences and Personal Growth 29:26 Future Plans for Grow As and Closing Thoughts 31:12 Pop Culture Moment 34:08 Upcoming Events 35:39 Reflection on AI in Retail 38:21 Next Time 38:37 Thanks and Closing

• Dr. Craig Kaplan - Superintelligence – Not Just p(Doom) and Gloom

  Episode 57

  Show Notes Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode, Dr. Craig Kaplan shares his insights on the evolution of AI, safety considerations, and the importance of democratic values in developing superintelligence. Discover how AI systems can be designed for safety and alignment with human values. Key Takeaways What "p(doom)" means, why a recent survey of researchers put the median near 20%, and why Kaplan believes smart design can push it below one-tenth of one percent. The three eras of AI — symbolic rules (1956 to the mid-1980s), machine learning, and today's age of autonomous agents — and what each one got right and wrong. Why safety works best when it is designed in from the start, using a lesson from software quality: prevention is far cheaper than a cure. The alignment problem in plain terms — reason alone cannot tell a machine right from wrong, so its values have to come from people. Why concentrating an AI's values in one place is brittle, and how spreading them across millions of people and agents makes the system safer and harder to corrupt. Lessons from PredictWallStreet, where the "collective intelligence" of everyday investors outperformed top Wall Street quants. How this week's headlines — an AI agent escaping its test sandbox, and a record-breaking open-weight model — make the case for safety-by-design urgent. Sound Bites - Dr. Craig Kaplan "P Doom is just the probability that AI kills us all." "I don't think it needs to be 20 or 10%. I think we can bring it way down to under 1%. And it's just a matter of designing things appropriately." "I actually don't think we need to slow down in order to be safer. We just need to be a little smarter about it." "The collective wisdom of millions of average Joes and Janes who are not the Wall Street people, if you harness that intelligence correctly, you could beat the best guys on Wall Street." "Do not underestimate your impact. Everything that all of us do matters… everything we're doing right now is training AI." References Guest: Dr. Craig A. Kaplan — SuperIntelligence.com · iQ Company  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/craigakaplan · Substack: read.superintelligence.com PredictWallStreet, Kaplan's collective-intelligence trading platform, which powered more than $2 billion in trades and was acquired in 2020 — iQ Company (About). News Kimi K3, the 2.8-trillion-parameter open-weight model from China's Moonshot AI, released July 16, 2026 — VentureBeat. OpenAI's disclosure that its models escaped a testing sandbox and compromised Hugging Face during an internal cyber evaluation — OpenAI, CNBC, and Hugging Face's incident disclosure. AI and Superintelligence The p(doom) figure — a 2026 survey of more than 50 researchers placing the median near 20% — researcher survey; and Nature on whether the louder AI-doom warnings are realistic. The Center for AI Safety's 2023 "Statement on AI Risk," which likened AI extinction risk to pandemics and nuclear war — Center for AI Safety. Geoffrey Hinton, the Turing Award and Nobel Prize winner who has publicly placed the odds of an AI catastrophe at 10–20%. Dr. Herbert A. Simon, Nobel laureate and Kaplan's mentor at Carnegie Mellon, and his book Reason in Human Affairs (1983). "Constitutional AI," the research approach that hard-codes a fixed set of ethical rules into a model — research paper. Pop Culture Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics; the ELIZA program (Joseph Weizenbaum, 1960s); and Alan Turing and the Turing test. Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), referenced as an example of how values once seen as normal are later revisited. Friedrich Nietzsche and the idea of the "Superman" (Übermensch). Microsoft's early "Sydney" chatbot and the widely reported 2023 New York Times exchange in which it went off the rails.   The 1998s New Yorker feature on Prediction Company and early black-box neural-net trading systems. Events TechCon365 Seattle | August 24-28 (Seattle, WA) techcon365.com/Seattle TribalNet 2026  | September 20-24 (Dallas, TX)  TribalNet Conference North American Collaboration Summit |  October 4-6 (Branson, MO) collabsummit.org CollabDays New England  | October 16 (Burlington, MA) collabdaysne.org Microsoft Ignite — November 17-20 (San Francisco, CA)  ignite.microsoft.com ESPC26 | November 30-December 3 ( Amsrterdam ) espc.tech/conference/espc-2026/ Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction 01:19 Craig Kaplan's background and early interests 02:14 Academic journey and work with Nobel laureates 03:00 Transition from academia to industry and AI applications 04:19 Predict Wall Street and collective intelligence in finance 05:24 Historical perspective on trust in AI and early neural networks 06:15 The phases of AI development: symbolic AI, machine learning, and agents 09:03 Current state of AI: autonomy and swarm systems 11:14 Rapid progress and the pace of AI change 12:35 AI safety challenges and the importance of design 15:45 Understanding P Doom and existential AI risks 17:11 Alignment and values in AI systems 19:57 The role of human values and morality in AI 21:23 The risk of concentration of power and values in AI 23:16 Insuring against black swan events and AI safety measures 26:26 Designing collective intelligence systems for safety and diversity of values 30:36 The importance of democratic rule-setting for AI 44:26 Balancing religious, philosophical, and democratic values in AI 46:22 The dynamic nature of morality and AI adaptation 47:08 Upcoming Events 48:13 Thanks and Closing Credits

• From the Closet to the C-Suite: The Case for Radical Honesty

  Episode 55

  Show Notes Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Mirror 360 founder Petar Kralev joins Polaris to explain why honest feedback is the most expensive thing companies fail to capture — and how a 20-second, anonymous weekly reflection finally surfaces the truth leaders need. Takeaways Bigger companies often get worse at honest feedback, not better. Formal reviews, large HR teams, and L&D budgets are built mostly to document and reduce legal risk — not to capture how people actually experience work. Three things have to come together to unlock the truth: safety, ease, and a return on investment. Anonymity must be beyond doubt, input has to take seconds, and people need to see that speaking up actually matters. One simple opening question carries most of the signal: "How is John working lately?" Mirror 360 then asks five standardized reflections — communicates well, solves problems, fits on the team, follows high standards, and takes initiative. Anonymity is engineered, not promised. Invitations go out on a randomized weekly cycle and reflections are delivered in batches, so no one can trace a single piece of feedback back to a difficult conversation. AI is the enabler, not the headline. It filters harmful or legally risky comments and turns raw input into a clean signal — but Mirror 360 frames itself as the infrastructure that makes AI useful for management, not "another AI company." Remote and distributed work broke the old water-cooler signal. A teammate who sits beside you often knows more about your work than a manager who sees you once a month; Mirror 360 rebuilds that insight digitally. The results are measurable. Roughly 90% participation at launch, about nine in ten underperformers stepping up once they see their "mirror image," and one team reaching ~92% top fulfillment after a toxic manager was replaced.   Sound bites (Petar Kralev) "We don't really easily reveal what we honestly think about each other or about what we see around us in the work context. And that is a crazy, crazy expensive problem." "If the system you have in place today does not provide complete anonymity beyond any doubt, you already have polluted the signal." "It's not like a survey about your coffee… But that coworker, you're gonna work again and again and again — you actually want to nudge them to drive the right behavior." "I'm very clear to not make Mirror 360 like another AI company. It's the infrastructure to make AI useful." "Never does the truth do damage. It may shock you, it may hurt your ego temporarily, but you will be better for knowing it. And the world will be better for knowing it." "It's the difference between turning on the lights or staying in the dark." "What story do you tell yourself that you take for the truth? Because these stories really are the ceiling we impose on ourselves — and we forget that we just made them up."   References Guest Notes Mirror 360 — company website: mirror360.org. Mirror 360 on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mirror-360. P Petar Kralev on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/petarkralev; Petar also publishes longer-form writing on the workplace visibility problem on Substack at https://substack.com/@petarkralev Industry Gallup, State of the Global Workplace: 2026 — global engagement at 20%, an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity, and most of the recent decline attributed to falling manager engagement: gallup.com. U.S. engagement figures (United States and Canada at 31%, the highest-ranked region) from the same Gallup report: Gallup global data summary. Culture Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth (the book Petar recommends; Tolle is also the author of The Power of Now): eckharttolle.com. Startup World Cup — the global startup competition whose Grand Finale takes place in San Francisco in November 2026, which Mirror 360 is advancing to after a Bulgaria regional win: startupworldcup.io. Events TechCon 365 Chicago — June 15–19, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL TechCon 365 Seattle — August 24–28 CollabDays New England — October 16, 2026 Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Petar Kralev and Mirror 360 01:48 The decline in employee engagement and its implications 02:45 The personal journey of Petar and the origin of Mirror 360 04:52 The iceberg of ignorance and feedback challenges 07:28 Barriers to honest feedback and how Mirror 360 addresses them 10:18 Questions to ask for effective feedback 13:11 The role of AI in filtering and analyzing feedback 15:18 Ensuring anonymity and trust in feedback systems 17:44 The impact of honest feedback on organizational performance 19:59 The future of management and AI integration 22:02 Remote work challenges and digital water cooler moments 23:48 Success stories and organizational transformations 26:50 Petar's personal story and authenticity in leadership 30:10 Book recommendation: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle 31:31 How to stay connected with Petar and upcoming initiatives

• Back in the (Intra) Zone - Mark Kashman

  Episode 54

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Former Intrazone co-hosts Chris McNulty and Mark Kashman reunite on Polaris to unpack the biggest news from the Microsoft 365 Community Conference—AI skills, Copilot's evolution, SharePoint's 25th anniversary—and reflect on the enduring power of community in the modern workplace.  Takeaways AI adoption vs. readiness gap. Chris cites industry research showing 91% of organizations now use at least one AI technology and an average of 5.4 hours saved per employee, drawn from a study of 443 million work hours across over 1,000 companies1. Yet at the recent AIIM Summit in Baltimore, Chris polled a room of roughly 50 professionals on daily AI use—and was the only hand up2. The ActivTrak "2026 State of the Workplace" report confirms that while 80% of employees now use AI tools (up from 53% two years ago), only 3% spend the optimal 7–10% of their work hours in AI, and 57% spend less than 1%3. Leaders should focus on practical readiness—not headline adoption numbers.  Content structure is critical for AI. Modern enterprise content management platforms now use AI for auto-classification, document summarization, and contextual Q&A4. But Mark stresses that the underlying metadata, lifecycle management, and information structure must be sound first: "If the form that nobody ever filled out gets filled out and is valid and truthful…you will have a system that works better"5. Organizations should prioritize content readiness before scaling AI.  SharePoint Skills — no-code AI instructions. Microsoft unveiled SharePoint Skills in public preview, allowing teams to encode best practices and process rules as Markdown (.md) files stored within SharePoint sites6. These skills give Copilot and AI in SharePoint persistent context—tone guidelines, product terminology, workflow steps—so results are on-brand and site-specific without any coding7. According to the buckleyPLANET conference recap, Skills are included in existing Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Copilot licensing with no additional procurement step8.  Copilot CoWork and Skills convergence. Chris explains that Copilot CoWork, based on Anthropic technology, lets individual users build personal AI skills stored as Markdown files in OneDrive9. Meanwhile, SharePoint Skills operate at the site/group level10. The expectation is that these two streams will converge, allowing a skill perfected by one person to be shared organization-wide11.  Agent 365 & governance at scale. Microsoft's Agent 365 gives organizations a single pane of glass to manage AI agents—whether built in Copilot Studio, SharePoint, Visual Studio Code, or Foundry—across the entire tenant12. Mark describes agents as "kind of being a little bit more like people…an entity that you can assign things to"13. The buckleyPLANET recap notes Agent 365 went GA on May 1 at $15 per user per month, and that Microsoft internally manages over 500,000 agents across roughly 228,000 employees14.  Purview's evolving AI oversight. Purview is consolidating classic DSPM and DSPM for AI into a unified engine that monitors how people interact with content and AI15. Chris gives a practical example: Purview can now block queries like "tell me the top 10 salaries" from reaching Copilot, even if the underlying content is unprotected16. For leaders, this signals that security, compliance, and AI governance are converging into a single policy surface.  Community as a leadership accelerator. As SharePoint marks its 25th anniversary, both hosts reflect on the enduring importance of the Microsoft 365 community. Mark notes the product "really is stronger and more connected than ever"17, while Chris sees the community as "an opportunity to meet and reconnect with people from all over the world"18. Getting your team engaged in industry communities—whether global conferences or local CollabDays—keeps them educated, connected, and ahead of the curve Sound Bites Mark Kashman "Has SharePoint died? Twenty-five years later, it's stronger and more connected than ever. "Technology at scale, especially in the enterprise, still takes a while. You've got to clean house and organize before AI can really deliver." "Does it always need another brand name to tell you what it is? A lot of people would argue no." "SharePoint Skills are a 'very particular set of skills' - the next level of how you make AI more usable for what you're trying to do."   References Spotlight Mark Kashman — Sympraxis Consulting (Principal Microsoft 365 Consultant, ex-Microsoft). https://www.sympraxisconsulting.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkashman/ | https://kashbox.substack.com/  Microsoft 365 Community Conference (Apr 21–23, 2026, Orlando, FL) — The premier community-driven Microsoft 365 event, with keynotes from Jeff Teper and Ryan Cunningham and over 200 sessions on Copilot, SharePoint, Teams, security, and agentic AI. Approximately 3,000 attendees gathered at the Loews Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific Resorts. https://m365conf.com/ | https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft_365blog/your-guide-to-the-microsoft-365-community-conference/4505384  AIIM AI+IM Global Summit 2026 (Apr 28–30, 2026, Baltimore, MD) — Information management conference hosted by AIIM (the Association for Intelligent Information Management), focusing on AI readiness, content governance, and digital transformation. Chris attended as a cohort team lead and shared observations about the gap between AI hype and real-world adoption. https://www.aiim.org/aiim-global-summit-2026  People Jeff Teper — President, Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps & Platforms, who delivered the opening conference keynote on AI skills, Copilot, and the intelligent intranet. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffteper/  Zach Rosenfield — Microsoft engineer known for SharePoint and OneDrive back-end systems, now building a growing YouTube channel with demos of SharePoint AI features including Skills. Mark notes, "His demos are not only really good, but they're in numbers and growing." https://www.youtube.com/@zrosenfield  Vlad Catrinescu — "How to Build SharePoint Skills" (Vlad Talks Tech) — Microsoft MVP Vlad Catrinescu published a comprehensive 60-minute walkthrough on SharePoint Skills, covering skill file structure, best practices, Anthropic's guidance, and live demos. Both Chris and Mark recommend it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_86-7kkpzwWatch on YouTube | https://vladtalkstech.com  Paul Thurrott — Technology journalist known for Windows commentary. Mark references Thurrott's stance on Notepad: "He always says, I just want Notepad to be dumb." Mentioned in the context of Markdown support expanding in Notepad. https://www.thurrott.com/  Joanne Klein — Microsoft governance and Purview expert. Mark credits Klein as a key source for Purview insights: "I only kind of get what I know about Purview from our friend Joanne Klein."  Media The Intrazone Podcast — A Microsoft 365 intelligent intranet podcast (2017–2025) co-hosted by Mark Kashman and Chris McNulty during their Microsoft careers, featuring expert interviews and product news across over 220 episodes. All episodes remain available. https://intrazone.libsyn.com  "More Than Code" — SharePoint 25th Anniversary Short Film — Released April 2026, this short film celebrates 25 years of SharePoint through community voices including Mark Kashman. Available at aka.ms/SPat25/MoreThanCode. https://adoption.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/birthday/ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWEddU_x0zI  News and Data Points ActivTrak "2026 State of the Workplace" Report — ActivTrak's 5th annual study analyzing behavioral data from 443 million work hours across 1,111 companies and 163,638 employees. Key findings: 80% AI tool adoption (up from 53% two years prior), 92% monthly usage retention, and a "sweet spot" of 7–10% AI time yielding the highest productivity (95%), though only 3% of employees fall in that range. https://www.activtrak.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-workplace/  AI Workplace Adoption Statistics (91%, 75%) — Chris referenced a figure of 91% of organizations using at least one AI technology. Industry compilations such as Azumo's "AI in the Workplace Statistics 2026" cite this statistic, attributing it to broad survey data. The same compilation references the World Economic Forum projection that approximately 75% of companies globally will adopt AI by 2027.  Technology Microsoft Viva Connections → SharePoint Rebrand — Microsoft announced that Viva Connections is being rebranded as the "SharePoint" app in Teams, fully leveraging SharePoint Home Sites. Viva Amplify is also returning under the SharePoint brand. https://buckleyplanet.com/2026/05/m365-community-conference-highlights-and-copilot-updates/Conference Highlights (buckleyPLANET)  Agent 365 — Microsoft centralized agent management tool (GA May 1, 2026; $15/user/month standalone or included in M365 E7). Provides governance, registration, and policy enforcement for AI agents across first-party and third-party platforms. https://buckleyplanet.com/2026/05/m365-community-conference-highlights-and-copilot-updates/  Microsoft Purview — Microsoft's unified data governance and compliance platform. Recent updates merge classic DSPM and DSPM for AI into one engine, adding AI interaction safeguards such as blocking sensitive queries and monitoring data flows through Copilot. Roberto Yglesias delivered the Purview session at the conference.  SharePoint 25th Anniversary — SharePoint was first released in 2001. Microsoft celebrated the milestone with a live event on March 2, 2026, announcing new features and community initiatives. Chris notes, "If you go back to SharePoint 2001…you have a browser where someone can upload a document for collaboration—that's an enduring pattern." https://adoption.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/birthday/  Pop Culture "Taken" (2008 film) — Action thriller starring Liam Neeson, famous for the "I have a very particular set of skills" monologue. Referenced by Mark when introducing SharePoint Skills: "To put the joke in there that everybody hopefully is already thinking about, these are a very particular set of skills." https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/  "Project Hail Mary" — 2021 sci-fi novel by Andy Weir and 2026 film adaptation (released March 20, 2026) starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The film has grossed $641.4 million worldwide. Mark recommends both the book and the film: "Book was great. Movie was great." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hail_Mary_(film)  "Catterslug" and Other Children's Books — Mark Kashman is a recognized children's book author. Chris introduces this during the episode: "Mark is a recognized children's book author, creating works like Catterslug and many others."  "The Wizard of Oz" Reference — Mark closes the episode with a playful allusion: "Click your heels three times and say SharePoint, SharePoint, SharePoint, and I'll be there."  Events European Collaboration Summit (ECS 2026) — May 5–7, 2026 at Confex Cologne, Germany. Europe's largest Microsoft partner event, with approximately 3,000 attendees, three keynotes, and hundreds of speakers. Mark notes he is "literally days away from hopping on a plane." https://collabsummit.eu TechCon 365 Chicago 2026 — June 15–19, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. Microsoft 365, Power Platform & AI conference with 130+ sessions. Synozur, Sympraxis, and Microsoft will attend. https://techcon365.com/  TechCon 365 Seattle 2026 — August 24–28, 2026 at the Seattle Convention Center. Co-located with PWRCON & DATACON, covering Microsoft 365, Power Platform, data, and AI topics. https://www.techcon365.com/seattle  CollabDays New England 2026 — October 16, 2026 at the Microsoft Technology Center, Burlington, MA. Community-run M365 event organized by Sympraxis Consulting, offering free sessions and networking during peak New England foliage season. https://newengland.collabdays.org/    Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 02:38 Reflections on the Intrazone Podcast 05:53 The Rise of AI in Enterprise Content Management 08:01 AI Workplace Adoption and Its Implications 11:57 Insights from the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 18:17 Skills and AI Integration in SharePoint 21:05 Integrating Copilot and Co-work 25:02 The Evolution of SharePoint Branding 28:37 Understanding Agent 365 and Its Implications 31:26 The Role of Purview in AI Governance 35:01 Celebrating 25 Years of SharePoint and Community Engagement 38:40 Mark's Pop Culture Moment 42:08 Next on Polaris 42:35 Thanks and Closing

• Andrew Connell - Good (AI Coding) Vibrations

  Episode 50

  Guest: Andrew Connell

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Chris McNulty and Microsoft MVP Andrew Connell explore the explosive rise of "vibe coding" — AI-assisted development from natural-language prompts — and debate the real-world risks, rewards, and strategic implications for today's business and technology leaders. Takeaways Vibe Coding Has Gone Mainstream. AI-assisted coding is no longer experimental. A GitHub survey found 92% of U.S. developers use AI coding tools at work, and Gartner projected that 60% of new code would be AI-generated by 2026. The global market for AI code-generation platforms has reached $4.7 billion, with projections of $12.3 billion by 2027. Collins English Dictionary cemented the trend by naming "vibe coding" its 2025 Word of the Year. [secondtalent.com] [strayspark.studio] [ndtv.com] Speed Gains Come with a Comprehension Tax. A January 2026 Anthropic randomized controlled trial of 52 junior engineers found that developers using AI code assistants scored 17% lower on comprehension tests than those coding manually — averaging 50% versus 67% on quizzes — with the largest gap appearing in debugging questions. Productivity gains did not reach statistical significance. This confirms what Andrew warns: rapid output without understanding creates fragile systems. [infoq.com] Microsoft's Copilot Strategy Is Fragmented. Andrew contends that Microsoft is "flailing" and "shipping the org chart," with multiple disconnected Copilot products that confuse customers. A Recon Analytics study of more than 150,000 respondents (July 2025–January 2026) found Microsoft Copilot's share as paid users' primary AI tool fell from 18.8% to 11.5% — a 39% contraction — while Google Gemini climbed from 12.8% to 15.7% and ChatGPT held roughly 55.2%. When all three platforms were available, only 8% of workers chose Copilot versus 70% for ChatGPT and 18% for Gemini.[reconanalytics.com] "Agentic Engineering" Is the Mature Alternative to Naive Vibe Coding. Andrew initially "hated" the term vibe coding but came to distinguish between undisciplined prompt-and-ship and a professional practice he calls agentic engineering, a term he credits to technologist Simon Willison. In agentic engineering, the developer still reviews AI output, plans architectures, and catches errors — using AI as a force-multiplier for experienced judgment, not a replacement for it. Developers Are Becoming AI Orchestrators. Chris and Andrew agree that the most effective AI-era developers act like development managers: delegating tasks to specialized AI agents (ideation, UX, debugging, documentation) and then integrating and verifying results. Andrew recommends organizations build an internal Center of Excellence — a handful of people who deeply understand AI tooling and can guide the broader team. Entry-Level Talent Still Matters — IBM Proved It. Despite predictions that AI would replace junior roles, IBM announced in February 2026 that it is tripling its entry-level hiring, including for software developers. IBM CHRO Nickle LaMoreaux stated: "We are tripling our entry-level hiring, and yes, that is for software developers and all these jobs we're being told AI can do". IBM's rationale: cutting junior talent creates future shortages of mid-level managers and senior experts, and outside hires cost more and adapt more slowly. [finance.yahoo.com] Quality and Security Demand "Vibe Checks." A December 2025 CodeRabbit analysis found AI co-authored code contained approximately 1.7× more bugs and issues and 1.4× more critical issues than human-written code. Meanwhile, a Fastly survey of 791 professional developers found that nearly 30% of senior developers report that editing and auditing AI output offsets most of their initial time savings. Code review must become a continuous, front-of-cycle discipline, not a final checkbox. [coderabbit.ai] Quick Quotes Andrew Connell — Founder, Voitanos "I think Microsoft is flailing a good bit… They seem to be reacting to what other people are doing, and there's no real cohesive story across all of their M365 Copilot story." "The one fear that I have with this is what is it going to do to the entry-level jobs? I have a very significant concern." "I don't disagree too much with the statements coming out of the senior people at Anthropic that the title 'software engineer' could be gone by the end of 2026, probably by 2027. As much as I'm using it, I can see that." "Right now the [Microsoft] plan just feels very reactionary. And that's frustrating to me." Chris McNulty — Polaris Host "Client after client we run into — they have a negative impression of Copilot because their belief is that the entirety of Copilot is the free little thing in the corner of the Edge browser." "What you get is still proportional to the attention you put into it." — Chris McNulty, on AI-generated prototypes versus production-ready software "Being successful with vibe coding or agentic AI software engineering… helps even more if you've come from a development manager background — I personally use different AI agents for different things." References ·       Andrej Karpathy's "Vibe Coding" Coinage (February 2025) — OpenAI co-founder and former head of AI at Tesla, Andrej Karpathy, tweeted about "a new way of programming where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists." This sparked a global conversation about AI-driven development. Covered in depth by https://www.coderabbit.ai/blog/a-semantic-history-how-the-term-vibe-coding-went-from-a-tweet-to-prodCodeRabbit: "A Semantic History of Vibe Coding". ·       Reid Hoffman's LinkedIn Clone Experiment (April 2025) — LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman asked Replit's AI agent to "clone LinkedIn" using a single prompt. The result was a surprisingly functional prototype. Hoffman wrote: "It's a powerful reminder: with the right framing, today's AI tools can turn a single idea into working software." Reported by https://www.ndtv.com/feature/linkedin-co-founder-asked-ai-to-clone-his-company-the-result-surprised-him-8105339NDTV. ·       Collins English Dictionary — "Vibe Coding" Named 2025 Word of the Year — In November 2025, Collins crowned "vibe coding" as its Word of the Year, beating "clanker," "biohacking," and "aura farming." Managing Director Alex Beecroft said the term "perfectly captures how language is evolving alongside technology." Reported by https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/collins-dictionary-picks-vibe-coding-as-word-of-the-year-2025-9585221 and https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/vibe-coding-clanker-word-of-the-year-collins-5HjdGQy_2/. ·       GitHub Developer Survey — 92% of U.S. Developers Using AI Tools — A GitHub survey of 500 U.S.-based developers at companies with 1,000+ employees found 92% were using AI-powered coding tools at work. Reported by https://venturebeat.com/programming-development/92-of-us-based-developers-already-using-ai-powered-coding-tools-at-work-github/VentureBeat and aggregated in https://www.secondtalent.com/resources/vibe-coding-statistics/Second Talent's Vibe Coding Statistics 2026. ·       Gartner Forecast — 60% of New Code AI-Generated by 2026 — Gartner predicted that 60% of newly created code would be AI-generated by 2026, a figure now largely confirmed through adoption data. Referenced in https://www.strayspark.studio/blog/60-percent-ai-generated-code-2026-game-development-quality. ·       $4.7 Billion Vibe Coding Market — The global market for vibe coding platforms reached $4.7 billion, projected to hit $12.3 billion by 2027. 87% of Fortune 500 companies have adopted at least one vibe coding platform, and 21% of Y Combinator Winter 2025 startups had codebases that were 91% AI-generated. Source: https://www.secondtalent.com/resources/vibe-coding-statistics/. ·       Anthropic Randomized Controlled Trial — AI Coding and Skill Formation (January 2026) — Anthropic published a peer-reviewed study of 52 junior engineers showing developers using AI code assistants scored 17% lower on comprehension tests (averaging 50% vs. 67% for manual coders). The AI group finished tasks approximately two minutes faster, but the difference was not statistically significant. Developers who used AI only for conceptual questions scored 65%+, while those who delegated code generation scored below 40%. Published January 29, 2026. Source: https://www.anthropic.comAnthropic; reported by https://www.infoq.com/news/2026/02/ai-coding-skill-formation/. ·       Recon Analytics / Wall Street Journal — Copilot vs. ChatGPT vs. Gemini Study (February 2026) — A Recon Analytics study of more than 150,000 U.S. paid AI subscribers (July 2025–January 2026) found Copilot's primary-platform share fell from 18.8% to 11.5% while Gemini rose from 12.8% to 15.7% and ChatGPT held at ~55.2%. Among workers with access to all three, only 8% chose Copilot. Covered by Wall Street Journal reporter Sebastian Herrera. Source: https://www.reconanalytics.com/ai-choice-2026-why-licenses-dont-equal-adoption/. ·       IBM Triples Entry-Level Hiring (February 2026) — IBM announced it is tripling entry-level hiring in the U.S., including for software developers. CHRO Nickle LaMoreaux stated companies that "doubled down on entry-level hiring in this environment" will be the most successful in three to five years. IBM plans approximately 12,000 new entry-level positions over 12 months. Originally reported by Fortune; available via https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-tripling-number-gen-z-164332214.html. ·       CodeRabbit Analysis — AI vs. Human Code Quality (December 2025) — An analysis of 470 open-source GitHub pull requests found AI co-authored code contained approximately 1.7× more bugs and issues and 1.4× more critical issues than human-written code. A separate Fastly survey of 791 professional developers found nearly 30% of senior devs report editing AI output offsets most of their time savings. Source: https://www.coderabbit.ai/blog/a-semantic-history-how-the-term-vibe-coding-went-from-a-tweet-to-prodCodeRabbit Blog. ·       Simon Willison and "Agentic Engineering" — British technologist Simon Willison articulated the distinction between naive vibe coding and agentic engineering, defining the latter as prompt-driven development with full human oversight, review, and testing. Referenced by Andrew Connell in the episode. ·       NASA Artemis II Mission (April 2026) — NASA's Artemis II crew launched April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center and splashed down April 10, 2026, completing a nearly 10-day lunar flyby — the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years. The crew traveled 694,481 miles total. Andrew discussed the mission's cultural impact and the 4K Earthrise imagery that resulted. Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-welcomes-record-setting-artemis-ii-moonfarers-back-to-earth/. ·       Guest Links: https://www.voitanos.io | https://www.andrewconnell.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewconnell ·       Podcast: Andrew co-hosts the Code. Deploy. Go Live. podcast with fellow Microsoft MVP Julie Turner.   Events M365 Community Conference | April 21-23 at the Loews Saphire Falls in Orlando Florida AI+IM Summit | April 28-30 Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD TechCon 365 Chicago | June 15-19 McCormack Place I Chicago IL   keywords AI, vibe coding, software development, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, enterprise AI, AI tools, developer productivity, future of AI Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Andrew Connell 05:06 Andrew's Journey into SharePoint Development 06:44 Evolution of SharePoint and Microsoft Ecosystem 09:46 Microsoft's AI Challenges and Copilot Insights 19:08 Understanding Vibe Coding and Its Implications 27:00 The Importance of SEO in Content Creation 30:17 Leveraging AI for Content Optimization 35:00 Vibe Coding vs. Agentic Engineering 37:04 The Impact of AI on Software Development 41:40 Cultural Reflections and Personal Insights 44:57 Upcoming Events in 2026 45:45 Innovations in AI-Assisted Software Development

• Inside Microsoft 365 E7, Or, How Four Equals Seven

  Episode 53

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, we explore Microsoft's game-changing March 2026 announcements – including the Microsoft 365 E7 "Frontier Suite," Agent 365 for AI governance, and the new Copilot Cowork capability – and unpack what these innovations mean for business and technology leaders navigating the AI-powered future. Key Takeaways Microsoft 365 E7 ("Frontier Suite"): Microsoft introduced Microsoft 365 E7, the first new top-tier enterprise plan since 2015. Branded the Frontier Suite, E7 bundles all of E5 with Microsoft 365 Copilot, the new Agent 365 platform, the full Entra ID identity suite, and advanced security (Defender, Intune, Purview). This $99/user/month plan (GA May 1, 2026) signals that AI capabilities and enterprise trust are now inseparable – AI and security/governance come as one package. Agent 365 – Tackling "Agent Sprawl": Agent 365 is Microsoft's response to uncontrolled AI "agent sprawl," the proliferation of chatbots and Copilots across organizations. It provides a single control plane for all AI agents (including third-party bots), giving each agent a unique Entra ID and allowing IT to observe, govern, permission, audit, and if needed, shut down agents. CIOs and CISOs get the ability to say "yes" to AI innovation without losing control, as Agent 365 ensures compliance with security and data policies for every bot. Agent 365 goes generally available May 1, priced at $15/user (and is included in E7). Copilot "Cowork" – The Next Evolution of AI at Work: Microsoft announced Copilot Cowork, a new capability transforming Copilot from a one-off Q&A assistant into a persistent digital coworker that can engage in long-running, multi-step collaboration across documents, apps, and time. Instead of just answering a single prompt, Copilot with Cowork can carry context over multiple interactions and proactively check in as tasks progress. Copilot Cowork is in private preview (via Microsoft's Frontier program) – not broadly available yet – but it offers a glimpse into how AI will work alongside people continuously, not just reactively. Microsoft also disclosed that Copilot is now model-diverse, dynamically choosing between OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude models depending on the task, giving organizations greater resilience and flexibility. "Intelligence + Trust" – Microsoft's Strategy Shift: A core theme is that AI at scale demands equal investment in security, identity, and compliance. Microsoft is bundling AI innovations with governance tools by design. For example, E7's introduction pairs M365 Copilot and Agent 365 together, and new governance features are rolling out: Purview Data Loss Prevention now covers Copilot prompts and outputs, sensitivity labels apply to content generated in tools like Viva Engage, and upcoming AI security posture enhancements are in preview. Microsoft's clear message: "Security is not a luxury when it comes to AI" – future enterprise AI solutions must bake in compliance and trust from the ground up. Practical Updates and "Frontier" Readiness: Alongside the big announcements, Microsoft delivered smaller but significant updates to improve day-to-day productivity and readiness for this AI-driven era. Microsoft Teams Copilot's Intelligent Recap can now summarize themes across multiple meetings – threading decisions over time, not just per meeting. Copilot can also condense long Teams chat threads into tables or key insights, a boon for catching up on busy channels. Viva Engage (Yammer) received a revamped, more engaging article publishing experience, ensuring employee communications remain accessible and visually rich. On the content management side, SharePoint's 25th anniversary came with the introduction of "SharePoint skills" – essentially custom instructions or templates (written in Markdown) that organizations can use to guide Copilot on preferred styles or procedures for common tasks. This lets companies tailor AI outputs to their standards without coding. All these updates underscore the trend that AI is becoming a first-class enterprise workload, integrated deeply into how work gets done – and organizations should prepare both their tech stacks and their people for that reality. Promotional Quotes (Chris McNulty): "AI capability and enterprise trust are no longer separable." – Chris emphasizes that advanced AI features must go hand-in-hand with security and governance. "Agent 365 gives CIOs and CISOs the ability to say yes to AI innovation without losing control." – Highlighting Microsoft's solution for managing the new "Wild West" of proliferating AI agents in the enterprise. "Security is not a luxury when it comes to AI." – A pointed reminder that robust security and compliance are prerequisites (not optional add-ons) to any AI deployment at scale. "AI is now a first-class enterprise workload." – Signaling that AI isn't experimental anymore – it's becoming as mission-critical as email or databases in modern business. References OpenAI's GPT – OpenAI's groundbreaking series of large language models that sparked the generative AI revolution (e.g., https://openai.comopenai.com). ChatGPT – OpenAI's widely-used conversational AI assistant, which popularized AI chat for everyday tasks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT). Google "Gems" (AI Workspace assistants) – Google's Gemini Gems, customizable AI experts introduced into Google Workspace in 2025 (https://mashable.com/article/google-workspace-gems-ai) Salesforce "Agentforce" & Super Bowl Ad – Salesforce's digital agent platform Agentforce was promoted in a whimsical Super Bowl 2025 campaign featuring actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson (https://dailycommercials.com/salesforces-super-bowl-lix-2025-ad-mcconaughey-and-harrelson/DailyCommercials, Feb 10 2025). "Shadow IT" – Term for unauthorized or un-managed IT systems and apps used inside organizations. Agent sprawl is described as the AI equivalent of shadow IT ( IDC AI Agent Forecast – Industry analyst IDC predicts 1.3 billion AI agents will be in circulation by 2028, reflecting the explosive growth of autonomous agents (https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/03/09/introducing-the-first-frontier-suite-built-on-intelligence-trust/ Official Blog, Mar 9 2026). Microsoft 365 E7 Announcement – "Frontier Suite" top-tier M365 plan announced Mar 9 2026, bundling E5 + Copilot + Agent 365 + Entra + advanced security (https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/03/09/introducing-the-first-frontier-suite-built-on-intelligence-trust/ Blog by Judson Althoff). Microsoft Agent 365 – New AI agent management and governance platform (announced Mar 2026, GA May 1 2026) that addresses AI oversight Microsoft "Copilot Cowork" Preview – The next evolution of Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling long-running collaborative AI assistance (revealed Mar 2026 as part of "Wave 3" Copilot updates) SharePoint's 25th Anniversary & AI Skills – In March 2026, Microsoft celebrated 25 years of SharePoint and introduced custom "SharePoint AI skills" (markdown-based prompts to guide Copilot's behavior for org-specific tasks) (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2026/03/02/sharepoint-at-25-how-microsoft-is-putting-knowledge-to-work-in-the-ai-era/ 365 Blog by Jeff Teper). "Frontier Firm" Concept – A term from Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index, describing organizations that fully embrace AI and hybrid human–agent teams. These early Frontier Firms demonstrate significantly higher productivity and optimism. March Madness & Spring Training – Pop culture references to the NCAA basketball tournament and MLB baseball preseason, respectively, which were humorously noted but not the focus of this March 2026 tech episode M365 Community Conference 2026 – A major Microsoft 365 community event (April 21–23, 2026, Orlando, FL) mentioned during the episode's events roundup ( AI+IM (AI & Information Management) Summit 2026 – Industry conference by AIIM (Association for Intelligent Information Management), April 28–30, 2026 in Baltimore, MD TechCon 365 Chicago 2026 – Microsoft 365 and Power Platform conference scheduled for June 15–19, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Polaris is produced with help from 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 0:00 Introduction to Microsoft AI Innovations 1:37 News and Data Points 3:29 Microsoft 365 E7 11:51 Events 12:38 Personal Reflection 14:23 Next On Polaris 14:54 Closing

• AI in 2026: A Trillion Dollars Is Coming. Who's Going to Win It?

  Episode 51

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. The Synozur 2026 AI Report lands with a clear verdict: the global AI market is on a path to $944 billion by 2030 — but most organizations are stuck in the middle, scoring just 260 out of 500 on AI maturity, while a small group of leaders pull decisively ahead. Takeaways The AI market is enormous — and the range of estimates tells you everything. Global AI spend in 2026 is projected anywhere from $244 billion to $2 trillion, depending on what you count. Synozur's weighted average: $453 billion this year, growing to $944 billion by 2030. Most organizations are stuck in the middle. Across 125+ companies assessed using Synozur's AI Maturity Model, the average score is 260 out of 500 — beyond experimentation, but far from scaled. The gap between leaders and laggards spans more than 250 points. Small firms and professional services are winning. Agile, knowledge-centric organizations score in the 300–330 range. Mid-market companies (50–999 employees) trail at 171–225 — a "squeezed middle" that represents the biggest opportunity for intervention. Culture and use-case integration are the weakest links. These are the two dimensions most critical to scaling AI beyond a pilot — and they consistently score the lowest across every region and sector assessed. The pilot-to-production gap is real and costly. Per Deloitte's 2026 State of AI in the Enterprise (released at Davos), only 25% of companies have moved 40% or more of their AI pilots into production. AI maturity isn't a technology problem — it's a culture and execution problem. Three predictions for 2026: Microsoft launches its own first-party LLM by June; a new "Agent Boss" platform category emerges to help business users manage multiple AI agents in one place; and professional associations — not governments — set the first meaningful AI standards in the U.S. AI maturity is now a financial differentiator. Research from the Quantum Institute analyzed 847 publicly traded companies and found AI-mature organizations now achieve operating margins 47% higher than early-stage peers — up from 21% just 18 months ago. Sound Bites: "The AI market is tremendous. The gap between leaders and everyone else? Even bigger." "A trillion dollars is coming. The question is: who's going to capture it?" "On average, organizations score 260 out of 500. They've moved beyond experimentation — but they're nowhere near scaled. The spread is the real story." "If 2025 was about experimentation, 2026 will be about consolidation and governance. Knowledge is power." "Most agent management today is cut and paste. If you're jumping between Copilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Replit, and NotebookLM — that's a messy process. Something has to change." "Professional associations need to fill the regulatory gap. We expect legal, accounting, and healthcare associations to lead well before Washington does." References Research & Reports Deloitte AI Institute, State of AI in the Enterprise 2026: The Untapped Edge — released at Davos, January 21, 2026. Key finding: only 25% of companies have moved 40% or more of AI pilots into production; 34% report using AI to "deeply transform" their business. Read the report McKinsey & Company, The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation — finds nearly 88% of organizations use AI, but most remain in early scaling stages. Read the report The Quantum Institute, The AI Maturity Gap: Why Enterprise Transformation Is Accelerating in 2026 — analysis of 847 publicly traded companies shows AI-mature organizations achieve operating margins 47% higher than peers; revenue growth 2.3x faster. Published March 17, 2026. Read the research Synozur, 2026 AI Report: The Market Is Big, the Gap Is Bigger — the full report referenced in this episode. Synozur Insights blog Download your copy at https://aka.synozur.com/AI26 Companies & Platforms Referenced ClearPeople — Synozur submitted AI market predictions to ClearPeople CEO Katya Linossi, a recurring Polaris collaborator, for the 2025 Knowledge & AI Market predictions project. Orion by Synozur — AI-powered digital maturity assessment platform; hosts the free AI Maturity Model. Take the free assessment at https://aka.synozur.com/aimm Frameworks & Protocols MCP (Model Control Protocol) — A unified protocol for connecting content and data sources to AI agents, cited as a 2025 Synozur prediction that came true. A2A (Agent-to-Agent Protocol) — A protocol enabling AI agents to communicate with each other; foundation for the predicted "OmniAgent" platform category. CMMI Framework — Capability Maturity Model Integration; the structural basis for Synozur's 100–500 point AI Maturity Model. Events M365 Community Conference | April 21-23 at the Loews Sapphire Falls in Orlando Florida AI+IM Summit | April 28-30 Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD TechCon 365 Chicago | June 15-19 McCormack Place I Chicago IL Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 The State of AI in 2026 02:19 News and Data Points 04:18 2026 AI Market 05:24 AI Maturity Research 07:03 2026 AI Predictions 12:06 Events 13:15 Next On Polaris 13:52 Closing

• Never Sit in the Lobby: Glenn Poulos on Sales, Startups, and Survival

  Episode 33

  Guest: Glenn Poulos

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Glenn Poulos, co-founder of Gap Wireless and author of Never Sit in the Lobby, shares how he built and sold multiple businesses across three decades, reveals why face-to-face relationships still matter in the AI age, and explains how mid-market companies can leverage technology without losing their human touch. Takeaways Fear of poverty drives action more than fear of failure – Glenn's entrepreneurial journey started when his government boss told him he'd be better in sales, and he took the leap despite uncertainty. Every good business starts with business you didn't deserve to get – The foundation of a startup often comes from an unexpected opportunity that becomes the kernel for growth. Timing matters, but so does preparation – Gap Wireless sold in early 2022 just before the telecom market crashed in 2023, demonstrating that "luck is the residue of design." Small daily improvements compound over time – Showing up consistently and making incremental progress is more valuable than searching for a magic bullet. Process comes before people in organizational structure – Define what your business needs first, then find the right people to fill those roles rather than creating roles around existing team members. AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement for human connection – While AI can speed up proposal generation, contract evaluation, and competitive analysis, major deals still require face-to-face sales calls. Strategy must be linked to metrics and visible accountability – Weekly check-ins with clear dashboards help teams stay aligned and make strategy actionable rather than an annual exercise. Sound Bites On Entrepreneurship and Risk: "I'm more motivated by a fear of being poor than I am by a fear of failure." On Starting a Business: "Every good business starts with a piece of business that you didn't deserve to get. It would be the kernel of something to build upon." On Daily Discipline: "What really moves the needle is when you show up every day...making incremental, minute little improvements in the business, they add up over time." On AI and Authenticity: "When SAP wins a project, their integrators were on site. They did not do it virtually...anything beyond that, trust me, they're making a sales call." References Glenn Poulos Personal Website: https://glennpoulos.com/ LinkedIn: Connect with Glenn Poulos on https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennpoulos Book: Never Sit in the Lobby: 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow a Business and Build a Career Selling available on Amazon Companies Mentioned NWS Canada (formerly Gap Wireless) – VP and General Manager Gap Wireless Inc. – Co-founded in 2007, acquired by Network Wireless Solutions in February 2022 SAP – Referenced as example of in-person sales strategy Netsuite – Referenced for remote sales approach Frameworks and Systems EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) – Older business management framework implemented at Gap Wireless in 2019 Company Operating System (COS) – Improved management framework introduced 2023 by Synozur Data Points 65% of organizations now use Gen AI in at least one critical business function, more than double from a year prior 98% of people have a cell phone globally Four out of five people in the world own a mobile phone Music and Cultural References Supertramp – 1970s British progressive rock band The Police – Late 1970s rock band Balu Brigada– New Zealand alt-pop duo, song "Backseat" from debut album Portal (2025) Journey – Referenced as example of generational music preferences Events The New AI Frontier: Market Shifts, Maturity Gaps, and How to Lead with Copilot | March 17 (Teams Webinar) AI‑Driven GTM: How to Assess, Rebuild, and Accelerate Your 2026 Plans  | March 23 (Teams Webinar) M365 Community Conference | April 21-23 at the Loews Saphire Falls in Orlando Florida AI+IM Summit | April 28-30 Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Glenn Poulos 01:24 News and Data Points 02:24 Glenn Poulos Interview 03:04 From Government to Entrepreneurship 07:55 Navigating Business Growth and Exits 12:34 The Launch of 'Never Sit in the Lobby' 16:55 AI as a Force Multiplier in Business 21:21 Lessons from Recent Ventures 25:28 Leadership Attributes and the EOS System 30:56 Navigating Board Dynamics 31:59 The Impact of AI on Employment 34:10 Personal Passions: DJing and Dogs 37:23 Upcoming Events in 2026 38:20 AI Insights and Predictions 38:32 Next on Polaris 38:47 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments

• Copilot, Culture & the Cloud: 2025 at Synozur

  Episode 44

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Four Synozur leaders - Michelle Boyd, Michelle Caldwell, Joshua Christensen & Shari Oswald – join Chris McNulty on a special holiday edition of Polaris to reflect on 2025's seismic shifts in AI, the gap between technology and organizational maturity, and why 2026 will separate those who merely adopted tools from those who fundamentally transformed how work gets done.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Agentic AI arrived in force in 2025 – Microsoft Copilot evolved from a helpful assistant into an embedded constellation of specialized agents across M365 applications, fundamentally changing how teams operate daily.  The maturity gap is widening – Technology advancement is dramatically outpacing organizational readiness, with leadership capability now becoming the real constraint rather than the technology itself.  End-user training is no longer optional – Organizations are finally realizing that responsible AI adoption requires structured learning programs, not just tool deployment—people need guidance on how to have conversations with AI, not just search for keywords.  AI shifted from tech talk to leadership discussion – The conversation evolved from "what can AI do?" to "how do we govern it responsibly?" with leaders focused on accountability, trust, and cultural impact rather than just features.  Authenticity beats perfection – From pop culture to business strategy, 2025 rewarded genuine human connection, long-form conversation, and immersive shared experiences over polished soundbites and surface-level engagement.  Strategy without execution discipline won't cut it in 2026 – Organizations that invest in people, governance, and AI fluency alongside their technology will significantly outperform competitors who only focus on tools.  Decision support is the new frontier – The most sophisticated organizations are operationalizing AI as a decision-making backbone, using it to surface insights, test scenarios, and challenge assumptions in ways that augment human judgment.  Sound Bites Michelle Boyd (Head of Delivery Excellence, Synozur)  "We're not just talking about AI anymore—we're living it. We leverage that agentic embedded experience across the M365 environment every single day, and it's become a game changer for how we operate and how we help our customers."  "AI can surface insights I probably wouldn't have connected on my own. There's the gut check—sometimes we see results and think 'that's not exactly right for me'—but other times AI connects dots I would have missed."  "Organizations on the tip of the spear in AI adoption are going to start using it as an operational backbone—leveraging it for decision-making possibilities, setting up scenarios, and getting recommendations that inform strategy."  Michelle Caldwell (CEO, Synozur)  "AI stopped being just a technology conversation and became a leadership discussion. The real questions shifted to accountability, trust, and how leaders make decisions in an AI-augmented world."  "Technology maturity is outpacing organizational maturity. We're not looking at a technology problem—we're looking at an organizational and leadership maturity challenge."  "In 2026, we'll see two types of organizations: those that adopted AI tools and those that fundamentally redesigned how work gets done. The gap between them will be significant. AI fluency becomes table stakes for leadership."  Joshua Christensen (Head of Future of Work and Product Strategy, Synozur)  "We're going to find more clients who invested in AI over the last year but haven't seen returns. You can't just cast a wide net and pray something good comes out. You've got to narrow your focus and dive deep."  "This is not a button you just turn on and everything's automatically great. It takes thought, initiative, planning, and some hard truths about your organization—not just how it's run, but how your technology stacks were built."  "People that aren't in technology are finally clinging to what generative AI actually is—understanding it's a completely different breed from what they thought AI was, and realizing the true implications."  Shari Oswald (Learning Experience Officer, Microsoft MVP, Synozur)  "I'm so happy to see a refocus back on the end users this year. With the rise of AI, people are realizing their teams need to be trained. Companies are refocusing on learning, and this is probably one of my best years ever."  "When you search, you get content. When you use AI, you get context—but you also have to provide context. It's like coaching a teenage child to do chores. You can't just say 'take out the trash'—you need to give them all the parameters."  "I had 310 people in my Ignite session on prompting 101. People are not comfortable. They don't know where to start. You can't just expect them to pick it up—it's intimidating."  References Center for Humane Technology - "The AI Dilemma"  Presentation by Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin discussing ethical and societal impacts of AI  https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/the-ai-dilemma  Netflix Acquires Warner Bros. Discovery  Major entertainment industry consolidation announced December 2025  https://about.netflix.com  Figma Slides  Professional presentation design tool launched in 2024/2025  The Wizard of Oz at Sphere Las Vegas  Immersive AI-enhanced theatrical experience opened August 2025  Vibe Coding Tools Referenced:  Replit:  Claude Code (Anthropic):  Lovable:  TV Shows Mentioned:  Severance (Apple TV+)  The Paper (NBC Peacock)  Fallout (Amazon Prime Video)  Stranger Things (Netflix)  South Park (Comedy Central)  Synozur Platforms Mentioned:  Orion - AI maturity model platform  Vega - OKR and strategic planning platform for the Company Operating System™ Constellation/SCDP - Time tracking and project management  Nebula - Digital envisioning platform  GUEST INFORMATION & PROFILES  Michelle Caldwell  CEO, Synozur Alliance  LinkedIn: Michelle Caldwell | LinkedIn Michelle Boyd  Head of Delivery Excellence, Synozur Alliance  LinkedIn: Michelle Boyd, MBA PMP SIDL | LinkedIn Joshua Christensen  Future of Work and Product Strategy Leader, Synozur Alliance  LinkedIn: Joshua Christensen | LinkedIn Shari L. Oswald  Chief Learning Officer, Synozur Alliance | Microsoft MVP & Certified Trainer  LinkedIn: Shari L. Oswald, MVP, MCT, MSOM | LinkedIn Events Strategy - Now With AI | January 6, 2026 (Online)  M365 Community Days DC 2026  January 29-30 at Microsoft Innovation Hub in Arlington VA Partner Vibe | January 28-30 at the Marriot Courtyard in South Padre Island Texas M365 Community Conference | April 21-23 at the Loews Saphire Falls in Orlando Florida AI+IM Summit | April 28-30 Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD Production Polaris is produced with help from Riverside.fm. Our holiday theme song, "A Snowflake's Tale" is provided courtesy of Epidemic Sound.  Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Reflections on 2025 02:50 AI and Technology Trends in 2025 08:35 Achievements and Highlights at Synozur 12:40 Pop Culture in 2025 19:47 Looking Ahead to 2026 30:21 Looking Ahead: Events and AI Strategy 31:41 Reflecting on 2025: Highlights and Milestones 33:40 The Rise of AI: Transformations and Innovations 35:21 Thanks and Happy New Year

• Larry Namer: The Kid from Coney Island Who Invented Modern TV

  Episode 37

  Guest: Larry Namer

  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 Larry Namer, co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, shares his remarkable journey with Chris McNulty on Polaris - from working underground installing cables in Manhattan to building a multi-billion-dollar global media empire that transformed celebrity culture, pioneered red carpet coverage, and expanded entertainment across 140 countries—plus his insights on AI, thinking globally, and why passion alone isn't always the answer.  Takeaways Technology Creates Opportunities for the Bold: Larry started E! with just $2.5 million and 31 interns when competitors needed $60-100 million, proving that constraints can drive innovation and focus when you understand the technology landscape.  Think Globally from Day One: E! expanded to 14 countries in its first year by recognizing that the world loves Hollywood content—a lesson that applies to any business in today's interconnected marketplace.  Embrace AI as a Creative Amplifier, Not a Replacement: Larry uses AI tools like Perplexity to reduce business plan creation from five days to one hour of editing, freeing time for higher-value creative work and strategic thinking.  The Medium Shapes the Message: From broadcast to cable to streaming, each technological shift doesn't just change distribution—it fundamentally transforms what content can be and how audiences engage with it.  Follow Competence, Not Just Passion: Larry's advice challenges conventional wisdom: most people confuse passion with hobbies. Instead, find something you're good at, work until you're great, and that mastery will become your passion while funding your hobbies.  Know When to Pivot: Assess your projects regularly. Time is your most valuable asset, and successful entrepreneurs recognize when market conditions, technology, or regulations have changed enough to warrant a new direction.  Low-Cost Innovation Beats High-Budget Imitation: E! succeeded by getting premium content (movie trailers, celebrity footage) for free and surrounding it with low-cost production, following MTV's model but applied to entertainment instead of music.  Sound bites - Larry Namer On Entrepreneurship and Rejection:  "We were rejected over 100 times. In one meeting with a VC, the guy literally took the business plan and threw it at my head and said, 'How dare you insult me with such a piece of garbage?'"  On AI and the Future:  "Anybody who's not learning AI and how to bring AI into their equation is going to get left behind. It's an unbelievable creative tool. It used to take me five days to research and create a business plan. Now it takes me 30 seconds with AI, then an hour to edit it."  On Global Thinking:  "Stop thinking of just the US as being the only market. You got to think globally. If you think of what the foreign markets are, you could create things that may resonate for the whole world."  On Passion vs. Mastery:  "Most people confuse their passion with their hobby. Find something that you're good at, work your butt off until you become great at it, and then that'll become your passion, which will then give you enough financial resources to enjoy your hobbies."    References Larry Namer's Company & Social Media  LJN Media (Larry Namer's company): https://www.ljnmedia.com  Larry Namer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-namer  Larry Namer on IMDb: Larry Namer - IMDb Larry Namer on Wikipedia: Larry Namer - Wikipedia Larry Namer's Book  "Offscript: Recipes for Success" by Larry J. Namer: https://www.amazon.com/Offscript-Recipes-Success-Larry-Namer/dp/B0DVNY8KH6 [Amazon] Larry Namer's Upcoming Projects  The Immigrant Podcast (launching on YouTube and Spotify) Pamela Anchang, Will Launch A Lifestyle Show with Heart, "The Immigrant Podcast" in January with Larry Namer, Founder of E! Entertainment - Formidable Woman US Stall Talk (women's empowerment podcast)  Stall Talk Podcast (@stalltalkbabes) • Instagram photos and videos Cultural References & Locations  Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York: Visitor Information | Coney Island Fun Guide | New York Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs: Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs & Restaurants | Nathan's Famous Star Trek: The Next Generation Syndication | Memory Alpha | Fandom The Kardashians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kardashians Companies & Networks Mentioned  E! Entertainment Television:  HBO (Home Box Office):  CNN:  TBS (Turner Broadcasting System):  MTV (Music Television):  Netflix:  YouTube:  TikTok:  Spotify:  Fox Broadcasting:  Personalities & Shows Mentioned  Jon Stewart (The Daily Show, Talk Soup alumnus)  Jon Stewart - Wikipedia Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!)  Greg Kinnear (Talk Soup host)  Craig Kilborn (Talk Soup host)  Howard Stern (The Howard Stern Show)  Tom Cruise (actor)  Arnold Schwarzenegger (actor)  Madonna (musician)  Muhammad Ali (boxer)  Joe Frazier (boxer)  George Foreman (boxer)  Tom Brady (NFL quarterback)  Media Executives & Visionaries Mentioned  Chuck Dolan (founder of Cablevision, HBO)  Jerry Levin (former CEO of Time Warner, architect of HBO)  Ted Turner (founder of CNN, TBS)  Barry Diller (media executive)  Alan Mruvka (E! co-founder with Larry Namer) Alan Mruvka - Wikipedia Vladimir Putin (former Vice Mayor of St. Petersburg, current Russian President)  Rupert Murdoch (founder of Fox)  Concepts & Statistics Referenced  Marshall McLuhan's "The medium is the message" concept  The medium is the message - Wikipedia Streaming viewership statistics:  via Nielsen's The Gauge report  Streaming Reaches Historic TV Milestone, Eclipses Combined Broadcast and Cable Viewing For First Time | Nielsen [May 2025] Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000-hour rule for mastery Outliers (book) - Wikipedia Historical References  Bruce Springsteen's "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)":  57 Channels (And Nothin' On) - Wikipedia The Beatles' White Album The Beatles (album) - Wikipedia The Onion (satirical news): www.theonion.com Events Strategy - Now With AI | January 6, 2026 (Onlin M365 Community Days DC 2026  January 29-30 at Microsoft Innovation Hub in Arlington VA Partner Vibe | January 28-30 at the Marriott Courtyard in South Padre Island Texas M365 Community Conference | April 21-23 at the Loews Saphire Falls in Orlando Florida AI+IM Summit | April 28-30 Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Terms and Data Points 05:06 The Wild West of Early Cable Television 07:31 The Birth of Home Box Office and Content Creation 10:16 Innovating in Cable: The Rise of E! Entertainment 13:18 The Challenges of Starting a New Network 16:17 The Impact of E! Entertainment on Pop Culture 18:53 Redefining Entertainment: The Talk Soup Phenomenon 21:36 Reflections on Success and Global Influence 24:23 International Expansion and Media Ventures 29:55 The Evolution of Technology in Media 34:00 AI's Impact on Creativity and Business 39:16 Cultural Reflections and Personal Passions 41:27 Upcoming Events and AI Strategy for 2026 43:06 The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen 44:26 Next on Polaris 45:00 Conclusion

• Humanity as a Strategy - Ed DeAngelis

  Episode 39

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty interviews Ed DeAngelis, CEO of EDA Contractors, who shares his journey of transforming a roofing company into a leader in the construction industry through a focus on servant leadership and a people-first approach. Ed discusses the challenges faced in the construction sector, the importance of creating a win-win culture, and how humanity plays a crucial role in business success. He emphasizes the need for vulnerability in leadership and the impact of AI on the future of the industry. Takeaways Humanity as a Strategy Treating employees as human beings first—before focusing on transactions—unlocks greater loyalty, performance, and organizational success. Win-Win Beats Zero-Sum Moving away from "I win, you lose" thinking to collaborative partnerships creates sustainable success with employees, vendors, and customers alike. Leadership Evolution Takes Time Shifting from command-and-control to servant leadership requires patience—not everyone will come along, and that's okay. Vulnerability Is a Superpower The best leaders know what they don't know. Humility and vulnerability build trust far more effectively than projecting invincibility. Accountability and Care Coexist Being people-first doesn't mean avoiding accountability—you can hold people to high standards while still treating them humanely. The Human Brain Outpaces AI While AI will automate mundane tasks, human emotion, creativity, and the ability to dream remain irreplaceable competitive advantages. Culture Attracts Talent In an industry facing a shortage of 439,000 workers, creating a best-in-class environment makes your organization the top choice for skilled talent. Sound bites Ed DeAngelis Quotes "Humanity as a strategy. Be strategic on how you want to treat your people as humans first. Secondarily, you will then treat them where there's a transaction in there—but first treat them as a human." "Vulnerability is one of the greatest assets of a great leader. The best leaders I've ever dealt with are so humble to the point that they know what they don't know." "I'm not afraid of artificial intelligence, but I'm also not afraid of the value of humanity of humans. The human brain is a thousand times more powerful than an artificial intelligent brain." "A robot can only do what the robot can do. A human being with the right focus on their emotion, their drive—they are way more powerful." References Guest Information: Ed DeAngelis [ LinkedIn] – CEO, Servant Leader, Believer in "Humanity as a Strategy" EDA Contractors – Specializing in exterior envelope solutions for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings Titan 100 – Ed DeAngelis was named one of Philadelphia's top 100 CEOs in 2025 Business Companies and Organizations Mentioned: Zappos – Known for customer-centric and people-first culture Starbucks – Pioneer in employee-focused corporate culture Google – Recognized for innovative workplace culture Southwest Airlines – Famous for servant leadership approach Vanguard – Founded by John Bogle, known for client-first philosophy Statistics and Data Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Source: approximately 49.9% of businesses fail within five years Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) – Source: The construction industry needs 439,000 new workers in 2025 Pop Culture Sports Reference: Philadelphia Eagles – Super Bowl LIX Champions (February 2025), defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. Jalen Hurts named Super Bowl MVP. Events ESPC 25 (European SharePoint Conference) – December 1-4, 2025, Dublin, Ireland Strategy, Now With AI – January 6. 2026 (Teams Webinar) M365 Community Days DC – January 29-30, 2026 (Arlington, Virginia) Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:45 Introducing Ed DeAngelis 01:34 News and Data Points 03:10 Welcoming Ed to Polaris 05:27 Career Journey and Entrepreneurial Spirit 07:55 Current Business Climate and Challenges 10:18 Leadership Evolution and Style 12:33 Creating a People-First Culture 14:48 Implementing Change and Overcoming Resistance 19:08 Navigating Different Paths in Business Relationships 19:41 The Power of Humanity in the Workplace 22:45 Leadership Beyond Transactions 25:41 The Strength of Vulnerability in Leadership 27:00 The Future of the Construction Industry 30:17 The Impact of Pop Culture on Leadership Philosophy 34:28 Upcoming Events and Community Engagement 35:44 Gratitude and Reflection During Thanksgiving 36:37 Future Conversations and Insights on Technology 37:09 Closing Credits

• Microsoft Ignite 2025 - Day One News on Copilot and M365

  Episode 54

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty discusses the latest innovations announced at Microsoft's Ignite conference, focusing on AI advancements in Microsoft 365. Key topics include the introduction of Work IQ, the centralized management platform Agent 365, new features in Office apps, enhancements in Outlook for AI powered scheduling, and the role of SharePoint in AI-driven collaboration. The episode also highlights the Knowledge Agent for automating metadata management. Takeaways        Work IQ is Microsoft's new data layer that lets Copilot and agents understand roles, responsibilities, and collaboration patterns—turning generic prompts into context‑aware guidance. Agent 365 centralizes agent governance (registry, Entra agent IDs, conditional access, Purview/Defender signals) inside the Microsoft 365 admin center—so IT can inventory, permission, and quarantine agents. Office Agents & Agent Mode arrive for commercial Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, enabling document, analysis, and deck creation directly from chat—with transparent steps and model choice where enabled. Outlook updates: voice triage, context‑aware one‑tap prompts, and a "Schedule with Copilot" flow that auto‑builds invites and agendas from email context. Video: Sora 2 integration enters Microsoft 365 via a Frontier early adopter path for Copilot licensees—enterprise controls, watermarking, and audio. SharePoint is the "CMS for AI": Copilot now reasons over metadata, pages, images, sensitivity‑labeled content—raising answer precision; Knowledge Agent helps auto‑suggest and tag columns and is included with M365 Copilot licenses starting in January (site‑level opt‑in). What to do next: name and explain Work IQ internally, stand up Agent 365 guardrails, pilot Office Agents with clear KPIs, prep for Sora 2, and amplify SharePoint news via Viva Amplify. Key Quotes - Chris McNulty "If LLMs are the CPUs of the AI cloud, Copilot just became the operating system for work." "Work IQ is the difference between canned answers and advice that fits how your team actually gets work done." "Agent 365 finally moves us from shadow bots to managed, measurable automation." "Metadata is the secret sauce—it's why Copilot can do things you still can't do in generic chat tools." References Microsoft Official Copilot News: https://aka.synozur.com/msftcp25 Microsoft Official SharePoint News https://aka.synozur.com/msftsp25 Synozur Blog on Copilot News https://aka.synozur.com/copilot-ignite25 Synozur Blog on SharePoint News https://aka.synozur.com/sharepoint-ignite25 Synozur Blog https://www.synozur.com/insights Events Microsoft Ignite 2025 overview and registration — https://ignite.microsoft.com/en-US/homeignite.microsoft.com ESPC25 (Dec 1–4, 2025, Dublin) — https://www.sharepointeurope.com/sharepointeurope.com Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2026 (Orlando) — https://m365conf.com/m365conf.com TechCon 365 Conference Series — https://www.techcon365.com/portal/techcon365.com AI+IM Global Summit 2026 (AIIM) — https://www.aiim.org/aiim-global-summit-2026aiim.org Fintech Meetup 2026 (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas) — https://www.fintechmeetup.com/homefintechmeetup.com Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Intro to Microsoft Ignite 2025 01:14 Copilot News 08:02 SharePoint News 11:42 What does it all mean? 14:15 Upcoming Events 15:33 Next on Polaris 15:55 Thanks and Credits

• On Point with SharePoint - Adam Harmetz

  Episode 32

  Guest: Adam Harmetz

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Adam Harmetz, Corporate Vice President for SharePoint at Microsoft. They discuss Adam's career journey, and the significant role of AI in knowledge management. The conversation delves into how SharePoint is evolving as a knowledge engine for AI, the importance of community feedback in product development, and the future of information management. Adam shares insights on balancing customer needs with product focus and reflects on the pride he feels in the SharePoint community as it approaches its 25th anniversary. Takeaways Data volume is exploding: Our world generates around 2.5 million terabytes of data every day and 90 percent of existing data was created in the last two years. Harnessing this data tsunami requires AI-powered tools that curate and surface the right information at the right time. AI adoption is mainstream: Studies show over 77 percent of companies are either using or exploring AI to drive productivity, and about 65 percent of organizations are already using generative AI to improve operations. Searching wastes time: Research suggests that knowledge workers spend nearly 19 percent of their workweek searching for and gathering information. AI-driven knowledge agents present a huge opportunity to reduce that overhead and focus teams on higher-value tasks. SharePoint's massive scale: SharePoint now serves over a billion users worldwide and processes more than two billion pieces of content every day. It has evolved from a portal into the collaboration and knowledge backbone of Microsoft 365. Intelligent content curation: Microsoft's new Knowledge Agent enriches documents with metadata, analyzes pages to fix broken links, retires outdated pages and creates new pages from simple prompts. Enriched metadata enables Copilot and agents to deliver deterministic, context-aware answers. Preparing for multiple futures: Adam Harmetz argues that work will likely involve a blend of chat-centric AI experiences and rich, branded intranets. Organizations should ensure their content is AI-ready and prioritize clear governance and metadata so they can pivot as technology evolves. The human element: SharePoint's passionate community underscores the importance of trust and empathy. Adam stresses nurturing, informing and listening to people who place their careers on a platform. Synozur's people-first philosophy aligns with that ethos, emphasizing partnerships and tailored, business-focused outcomes. Sound bites Adam Harmetz, CVP for SharePoint, Microsoft "When AI is looking for answers, SharePoint often becomes the primary citation source—almost double the next source". "Semi-structured data in SharePoint is the sweet spot for enterprise AI: structured enough to apply more structure, yet collaborative enough to capture everyone's voice". "The future won't be a clean break; it will be a split world where humans and agents co-evolve and reason over shared data stores". "In these paradigm shifts, it's better to ask why and how than to dwell on why not — great product making happens when we respect our customers' trust and solve real pain points." References Industry Data growth statistics: Our discussion referenced IFLScience's report noting that the world produces roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes (≈2.5 million terabytes) of new data each day, and 90 percent of existing data has been created in the last two years. ChatGPT adoption: We noted that ChatGPT amassed 100 million monthly active users within two months of launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer app in history. AI adoption statistics: According to AI Statistics, 77 percent of companies are using or exploring artificial intelligence in their operations. The CloudFactory blog cites McKinsey research indicating that about 65 percent of organizations were actively using generative AI by late 2025. Knowledge worker productivity: A Forbes column summarizes an IDC/McKinsey study showing that knowledge workers spend roughly 19 percent of their time searching for and gathering information. SharePoint usage: Microsoft reveals in its SharePoint blog that customers add over two billion pieces of content every day. At the 2025 M365 Community Conference, Jeff Teper announced that SharePoint has surpassed one billion users and runs two billion Power Automate flows each week. Knowledge Agent: Microsoft's official blog post "Introducing Knowledge Agent in SharePoint" outlines how the agent enriches and organizes content, suggests metadata columns, fixes broken links and helps build AI-friendly pages. Metadata & deterministic AI: Another SharePoint showcase explains how metadata understanding yields more precise, context-aware answers from Copilot and agents. AI models: Google's generative image model Nano Banana can combine and edit images based on natural language prompts, while OpenAI's Sora 2.0 video generator offers realistic, multi-shot video creation from text and images. Historical context: We mentioned the Library of Alexandria, the ancient repository that sought to collect every book in the world. Guest Links Book reference: Adam recommended the Dungeon Crawler Carl LitRPG series by Matt Dinniman.            Guest links: Connect with Adam Harmetz on LinkedIn              Personal Blog (with Helen Harmetz): Mind the Beet Events Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland). Copilot and the Company OS | January 4, 2026 (Webinar) Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Adam Harmetz and Career Journey 05:25 The Impact of AI on Knowledge Management 08:09 SharePoint as the Knowledge Engine for Co-Pilot 10:47 The Future of SharePoint and AI Integration 13:07 Community Influence on Product Development 15:54 Challenges Faced by Customers and Solutions 18:42 AI's Role in Product Design and Development 21:16 The Importance of Trust in Technology 24:07 Reflections on SharePoint's Legacy and Future 28:02 Customer Opportunities 34:02 Billion User Legacies 35:49 SharePoint Year 25 - Year 50 37:11 Personal Views on Pop Culture 39:23 Upcoming Tech Events 40:33 The Journey of Knowledge Management 42:00 Next on Polaris 42:33 Conclusion

• AI for Nonprofits - Tori Miller-Liu & Andrew Borg

  Episode 22

  Guest: Tori Miller-Liu, Andrew Borg

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Nonprofits are moving from AI experiments to governed, human‑centered deployments. AIIM's Tori Miller‑Liu and Synozur's Andrew Borg share field lessons, from "conversational search" that cites sources to coalition‑driven ethics and the EU AI Act's impact horizon.  Takeaways AI is a force multiplier, not a headcount reducer. The biggest value today is in accelerating research, finance, content triage, and enterprise search—so your people spend more time on strategy and relationships. Governance is behind adoption. Surveys show most nonprofits use AI in some form, but comparatively few have formal policies—an exposure area leaders should close. Regulation is real—and staggered. The EU AI Act is now law (entered into force Aug 1, 2024) with phased obligations through 2026; even non‑EU orgs will feel its ripple effects via vendors and data flows. "Frontier Firm" playbook is emerging. Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index highlights human–agent teams and "intelligence on tap"; nonprofits can apply the same operating model to scale impact responsibly. Ethics + belonging are differentiators. Keep human connection in the loop—AI can process, route, and answer, but it shouldn't replace the sense of community members join for. Start with existing platforms. Many nonprofit tech vendors now ship AI capabilities; piloting within your current stack reduces cost, risk, and time to value. Data privacy & access control are non‑negotiable. Especially for nonprofits working in sensitive contexts—design for minimum necessary data and tight permissions from day one. Sound bites Tori Miller‑Liu "Use AI to multiply value—not replace people. Our job is advancing member outcomes, and AI helps us do more of that." "Belonging beats the bot. Let AI handle transactions; keep humans where community and trust are built." "Start where you are: pilot inside the tools you already own before building from scratch." Andrew Borg "For nonprofits, AI is a force multiplier on training wheels—powerful, but it still needs guardrails." "Keep AI at arm's length ethically. Until models have a moral core, humans must stay accountable." "Cooperate to accelerate. Sector coalitions let nonprofits share tools, data, and hard‑won lessons." "Don't buy the hype—buy outcomes. The winners align AI to real missions and measurable value." References Guest Notes Tori Miller‑Liu (LinkedIn): CEO of AIIM (Association for Intelligent Information Management) Andrew Borg (LinkedIn):Head of Ethical AI & Nonprofits at Synozur Industry Notes 82% of nonprofits are using AI;  Nonprofit Quarterly: "Sector Adopting AI, Building Reserves, and Expanding Missions European Commission: "AI Act enters into force" (Aug 1, 2024) Fast Forward's accelerator program saw six times more AI-powered nonprofit applicants than the year before: Stanford Social Innovation Review: "Mapping the Landscape of AI‑Powered Nonprofits" 300% increase since 2018 in the use of AI to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Google.org (Research brief)) IBM watsonx Assistant  (conversational search / RAG) ASAE: Association Coalition for AI (ACAI) Forbes Coverage of MIT "GenAI Divide" ROI findings (context for '95% fail' headline) Jared Spataro from Microsoft on defining the "frontier firm" and on 'headline hype' obscuring the real buseinss value of AI. NetHope "AI Lighthouse" for Nonprofits (responsible AI resources) Culture Notes Avett Brothers and "Swept Away" on Broadway (official) Events Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square  CollabDays New England 2025 |  October 17, 2025 Microsoft New England in Burlington MA Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 Vancouver BC TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA). ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland).  Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI and Its Impact 01:51 News and Data Points 03:42 Tori Miller-Liu and Andrew Borg 06:10 AI in Nonprofits: Opportunities and Challenges 08:04 The Dichotomy of AI Perception 10:50 Governance and Risk in Nonprofits 13:44 AI as a Force Multiplier 16:03 The Future Workforce and AI 16:38 The Role of Education in AI Utilization 19:52 Human-AI Interaction and Ethical Considerations 21:53 AI's Role in Enhancing Community Engagement 24:30 Cooperation Among Nonprofits 27:24 Advice for Nonprofits on AI Adoption 33:43 Cultural Reflections and Personal Insights 37:36 Upcoming Tech Events Overview 38:29 Closing and Acknowledgments

• Trendspotting - The Future of AI with Michael Tchong

  Episode 35

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and futurist Michael Tchong, founder of the Ubertrends Academy, discuss the profound impact of AI on society, the workforce, and the economy. They explore the rapid advancements in AI technology, the potential for job displacement, and the need for upskilling in the workforce. Michael  emphasizes the importance of understanding the trends and innovations that AI brings, as well as the cultural shifts that accompany these changes. The conversation highlights the urgency for businesses and individuals to adapt to the evolving landscape shaped by AI. Takeaways AI's Disruption Is Here: AI is already transforming work and society on a massive scale – a change many experts call even bigger than the internet revolution. Leaders can't ignore it. Adaptation Is Key: Rather than fearing automation, organizations must focus on upskilling talent and using AI to streamline workflows. Those who leverage AI will outpace those who don't. In Michael's words, "Everyone needs to upskill… that's the only way you're going to survive." Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain: New tech often displaces jobs initially (especially entry-level roles). But if harnessed correctly, AI can boost productivity and create new opportunities – similar to how desktop publishing eventually made print bigger, not smaller. Real Problems, Not Just "Me-Too" Tools: Michael argues today's AI boom is filled with copycat chatbots. The real value will come from AI solving everyday pain points – for example, automating tedious workflows so people can focus on creative, high-value work. Quality vs. Quantity: With generative AI, it's now easy to pump out content – including low-quality "AI slop." In the long run, either AI will learn to produce truly high-quality results, or people will seek out human authenticity. (Think of it as a "flight to humanity," where authenticity becomes a differentiator.) Stay Ahead of the Wave: Michael's motto is, "I help you catch the next wave before it catches you." The message: be proactive. Understand the trends (like AI) shaping your industry, and lead with them – don't chase them after the fact. Sound bites Michael Tchong: "AI is the biggest revolution – even larger than the internet itself." "With AI, we're going to get a 10× wave of unforeseen effects on society." "Everyone needs to upskill in AI – it's the only way you're going to survive." "The #1 pain point for everyone is: why does it take so freaking long to do anything? Workflow is the biggest opportunity for AI to boost productivity." Chris McNulty: "Every breakthrough is social before it's technical. What changes the wires changes us." "Either AI gets better at quality, or there will be a flight to humanity – people craving authentic, human work." "AI won't replace people. But people using AI will replace those who don't." References Michael Tchong University of San Francisco – https://www.usfca.edu Michael Tchong serves as an adjunct professor of innovation at USF Ubertrends – https://www.ubertrends.com Ubertrends Academy, Michael Tchong's trend forecasting & innovation academy (and title of his book "Ubertrends – How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future"). Michael Tchong on LinkedIn Industry News ChatGPT reached 100 million users in its first two months (Source: Ubertrends) Only 17% of U.S. adults expect AI to have a mostly positive impact on society in the next 20 years (Source: Pew Research Center) 18% of work globally could be automated by AI, affecting 300 million roles (Source: Goldman Sachs) Society & Culture Open Letter on AI Pause – In 2023, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and 1,000+ tech leaders signed an open letter urging a 6-month pause on advanced AI development, warning of "profound risks to society"[5]. Teens & AI Therapy –28% of parents report their teen has used AI for emotional support (Source: Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Connected Kids (2025)) Ford CEO on Jobs – Jim Farley (Ford Motors) predicted at Aspen Ideas Festival that "AI is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.". (Source: Ford Authority.) John Oliver's Take – On HBO's Last Week Tonight, John Oliver discussed how it's not going to be AI replacing lawyers; it's going to be lawyers with AI replacing lawyers without it. "The Victorian Internet" (book by Tom Standage) chronicles how the 19th-century telegraph revolutionized communication, spurring phenomena from instant stock quotes to the first "online" romances – a reminder that technology has long disrupted social norms. Events TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada London Tech Leaders' Summit | October 7-8., 2025 Minster Building - right near the Tower of London - London UK  Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Vancouver AI Summit | October 19-20, 2025 Vancouver BC TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX) - Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland).  Production Polaris is produced with help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Terms and Data Points 03:32 Introducing Michael Tchong 05:24 The Rise of AI and Its Impact 07:07 Future of Work and Labor Market 09:50 AI in Marketing and Business Transformation 11:20 Agentic AI 14:27 Conclusion and Future Directions 30:22 Cultural Influences 32:57 Upcoming Tech Events and Conferences 34:03 The Impact of Technology on Society 35:16 Closing

• Tarmacs, Tariffs, and Transformation – Rob Asen

  Episode 36

  Show Notes Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and Rob Asen discuss the critical challenges of corporate transformation, the role of transformation offices, and the impact of AI on business strategies. They share insights from successful transformation projects, highlight common pitfalls to avoid, and outline a five-step process for effective transformation. Additionally, Rob shares his personal experiences with community service through flying patients and rescue dogs, emphasizing the importance of engagement and leadership in driving change. Takeaways Transformation ≠ PMO++: A PMO ensures projects run; a Transformation Office owns the strategy and is empowered to make course corrections without months of re alignment. PMO = "doing things right;" TO = "doing the right things." Lead from the top (and closer to the work): Transformations only stick when the CEO and senior team are personally engaged, with the TO reporting at or near the top of the house. AI now lets leaders be "virtually hands on" deeper in operations. A 5 part operating lens—Vision, Leadership, Impact, Capacity, Measurement—keeps strategy connected to execution, prioritization, change absorption, and outcomes (not activities).  Be adaptive to shocks: Geopolitics (e.g., the new U.S. tariffs now in effect) and supply chain fragility demand faster decision cycles—exactly where a TO excels over a reporting only PMO. Reality check: Only about 12% of major transformations fully achieve their original ambition—raising the bar on the governance and empowerment a TO provides.  AI shifts roles: As AI reduces administrative overhead, PMO functions evolve, while executives gain better telemetry and can intervene at the right altitude—without substituting governance for management.  Human factor matters: Deep, credible sponsorship, clear trade offs, and authentic change management beat checklists and adoption dashboards every time.  Sound bites (Rob Asen)  "A PMO makes the trains run on time. A Transformation Office decides if we're even on the right railroad."  "Strategy needs the right to turn left—without a six‑month re‑alignment."  "AI won't replace leadership; it makes good leaders hands‑on at scale."  "If you can't measure impact, you're just admiring activity."  References Business Transformation Office success rates: (Bain) — Only ~12% of major transformations meet original ambition.  Long‑term sustainment: McKinsey — only 12% sustain transformation goals for 3+ years. Rise of the Transformation Office / Chief Transformation Officer:   Tariffs: Over the past two weeks, sweeping new U.S. tariffs entered into effect. See coverage from NBC, NYT and WEF. Frozen raspberries & U.S. supply concentration (illustration of fragile chains): Washington State — especially Whatcom County — dominates U.S. frozen red raspberries production. TSMC & semiconductor dependence (mentioned) Guest Rob Asen (Synozur Transformation Officer): LinkedIn PALS SkyHope (Patient AirLift Services) — free medical flights Pilots N Paws (animal rescue flights) Events TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada London Tech Leaders Summit | October 7-8., 2025 Minster Building - London UK Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Vancouver AI Summit | October 19-20, 2025 Vancouver BC TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland). Production Polaris is produced with the help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:27 Data Points and References 02:30 Introducing Rob Asen 06:58 The Impact of AI on Transformation Offices 11:36 Leading Transformation Projects: A Personal Story 11:37 Defining the Transformation Office 21:48 The Telecom Transformation Journey 23:30 Avoiding Transformation Pitfalls 28:11 Recommendations for Successful Transformation 33:42 The Impact of Personal Experiences 39:00 Upcoming Events 39:58 Closing

• Content without Compromise – Inside the M-Files & Microsoft Alliance

  Episode 31

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty hosts Ryan Barry from M-Files and Ian Story from Microsoft to discuss the evolving landscape of content management, particularly in light of their new partnership. They explore how AI is transforming traditional content management systems, the unique offerings of M-Files, and the importance of unstructured data in leveraging AI effectively. The conversation highlights the benefits of their collaboration, which allows organizations to utilize the strengths of both M-Files and Microsoft without having to choose between them. The episode concludes with insights into future trends in content management and the significance of tailored solutions for specific industries. Key Takeaways ·       Content is Exploding: The $73 billion content management market is booming, with enterprise data volumes expected to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025 — most of it unstructured. Businesses need effective solutions to transform this information into insights. ·       No More Either/Or: The partnership between M-Files and Microsoft removes the old dilemma of choosing between a specialized system and Microsoft 365. Now, clients benefit from M-Files' purpose-built content management solution for industry use cases natively within Microsoft 365, blending collaboration with structure. SharePoint Embedded serves as the storage backend, enabling native Office co-authoring, and native access to M-Files content for Copilot, while keeping content within Microsoft's compliance framework for unified security and governance. ·       AI-Ready Content: This joint solution also prepares organizations for the future of AI. By combining M-Files' semantic architecture with Microsoft's AI tools, companies elevate their AI solutions, ensuring accurate and relevant information is accessed by LLM technologies. SharePoint provides broad content services while M-Files delivers out of the box solutions for industry use cases —allowing businesses to tailor solutions to their needs without fragmentation of their investment in Microsoft. ·       User Adoption through Simplicity: Ultimately, this seamless approach encourages user adoption. Employees can work in familiar apps while M-Files manages content in the background, promoting compliance and readiness for the AI era. · Sound bites Ryan Barry (M-Files) – Vice President, Strategic Operations & Corp Dev "In the next five years, every organization – big or small – will be challenged to find a way to effectively implement AI… because they'll be left behind if they don't." "A document management system is basically a structured approach to your unstructured data. That's how you make AI work for you – garbage in, garbage out." "We've eliminated a painful choice for customers. You no longer have to pick between the Microsoft platform and a specialized solution – now you get both, seamlessly." "The reality is, the lowest common denominator tends to prevail. Whatever is easiest for users is what happens. This partnership makes the right way the easy way." Ian Story (Microsoft) – Principal Architect, OneDrive & SharePoint "This is some of the biggest news in content management since SharePoint itself. Two former rivals are teaming up – and the result is greater than the sum of its parts." "Everybody loves the library… nobody wants to be the librarian. We need tools that organize and govern information for you, without extra effort." "If you've ever named a file 'Final_final_V2.doc', you know you need a better content management system!" "Language is the rocket fuel of AI, and language lives in documents. By bringing all your content into one intelligent system, you're filling your AI's tank with high-octane fuel." References M-Files and Microsoft M-Files – https://www.m-files.com Microsoft – https://www.microsoft.com SharePoint Embedded Ryan Barry – M-Files VP Corp Dev Ian Story – Microsoft Principal Architect M-Files & Microsoft Partnership Press Release – Microsoft SharePoint Blog – "SharePoint Embedded & M-Files: a new wave of document management" Forrester Blog (Cheryl McKinnon) – "M-Files Deepens Microsoft Integration" Content Management IDC Data Age Report – Global Datasphere to reach 175 ZB by 2025 Congruity360 Blog – Unstructured Data Stats (80% & 95%) AIIM Industry Research – "No single ECM system" Pop Culture "Happy Gilmore 2" - July 2025 Dodgers vs. Red Sox - July 2025 – Red Sox take the series in Fenway, 2-1. Kirk Gibson 1988 HR – The Natural in real life Events FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - August 26 (Teams Online) London Tech Leaders' Summit | October 7-8., 2025 (London UK) Minster Building Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 (Vancouver BC) – Harbour Centre TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 | Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland). Production Polaris is produced with the help from 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of AI in Content Management 01:40 Terms and Data Points 03:20 Navigating the Challenges of Unstructured Data 03:28 Introduction and Backgrounds 05:48 The Partnership Announcement 07:27 Sportsball - Red Sox and Dodgers 09:13 In the News: M-Files and Microsoft 10:21 M-Files Now Native to Microsoft 365 12:30 Customer Reactions and Market Impact 15:16 The Value Proposition of the Partnership 24:29 Content Management and Human Nature 25:21 What's SharePoint Embedded? 30:07 Understanding the Value of Content Management 31:58 The Role of AI in Content Management 37:37 Future Trends in Content Management 41:42 Personal Insights and Recommendations 45:35 Upcoming Events 46:46 Closing Thoughts

• From Lean to Lead – A Consultant-Turned-Owner Story – Damien Lacey

  Episode 26

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Damien Lacey, an expert in operational excellence, about his journey from a consultant to a business owner. They discuss the importance of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies in today's business landscape, the challenges of acquiring a business, and the cultural shifts that come with ownership. Damien shares insights on balancing strategy with operations, the impact of AI on productivity, and offers advice for small business owners looking to improve their operations. References      Guest Tru Steel – Tru Steel is a steel fabrication company in Australia acquired by Damien Lacey and his team to implement operational excellence firsthand. The company designs, manufactures, and installs steel buildings, and serves as a real-world example of Lean transformation in action. OE Partners – Damien's consulting firm, specializing in operational excellence. Damien Lacey – Founder of OE Partners and Principal at Tru Steel Business Lean and Six Sigma – Lean and Six Sigma are proven methodologies for improving productivity and reducing waste. They've been applied across industries for nearly a century, helping businesses streamline operations and solve problems through data-driven decision-making. McKinsey & Company – Referenced for research on global disruptions and the resurgence of Lean Six Sigma as a top continuous improvement approach (including a mining case of 25% output boost) Entrepreneur Magazine – Cited for the "Silver Tsunami" statistic: over 12 million boomer-owned small-to-mid businesses in the U.S. are poised for sale as baby boomers retire, creating a buyer's market for transformational change Bosch (Robert Bosch GmbH) – Global engineering and manufacturing company where Damien first implemented Lean practices (Bosch Production System), referenced in his career story Toyota – Automotive company famed for the Toyota Production System; referenced as the source of many Lean principles (Damien worked at Toyota to learn from "the source" of Lean)   Pop Culture The Who – Rock band referenced via the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" (lyric: "meet the new boss, same as the old boss") as a pop culture touchpoint about leadership change Star Trek – Iconic science fiction franchise (Original Series, Next Generation, Voyager) cited as a personal influence illustrating teamwork and problem-solving, contrasted with today's bite-sized media Events Seattle Tech Week |  July 28 - August 1, Seattle WA FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies | August 26 (Teams Webinar) Tribal Net Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada London Tech Leaders' Summit | October 7-8, 2025,- London UK Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 Vancouver BC TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX) Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA) ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Dublin, Ireland) Takeaways Lean applies everywhere: Lean and Six Sigma principles have been proven across industries – the question isn't if they fit your business, but how to leverage them in your operations. Operational excellence is timely: In an era of supply chain disruptions, inflation, and labor shortages, continuous improvement methods are seeing a resurgence as companies seek efficiency and resilience. Transformation through ownership: Damien Lacey's journey from consultant to business owner highlights the difference between advising on improvements and implementing them on the front lines, providing a firsthand perspective on change leadership. Balance strategy and execution: Even the best strategies fail without execution – success comes from iterating improvements while keeping the business running, "not letting perfect be the enemy of the good." Empowering small businesses: Many small-to-mid size business owners feel their operations are too chaotic or custom to improve, but Damien shows that by standardizing processes and addressing root causes, there is a path out of the chaos to greater control and efficiency. Leadership and culture matter: Continuous improvement requires a culture of ongoing learning and problem-solving. Leadership must support building processes (even when prior success came from instinct) to make improvements sustainable beyond any one person's know-how. Future-focused advantage: Embracing operational excellence and new technologies (like AI) in tandem will widen the gap between average companies and excellent ones – those slow to improve risk falling behind, while adopters can dramatically outperform peers. Notable Quotes (Damien Lacey) "It's not a question of whether Lean applies to my business. It does, and it has – the question is how do I apply it in my business." "Business owners will embrace an idea quickly if it gives them a result, and dismiss it equally quickly if it doesn't." "You've got to choose to iterate – not letting perfect be the enemy of the good." "The gap between the average company and an excellent company will widen… businesses that don't adopt better methods will fall by the wayside." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Damien Lacey 04:06 Damien's Journey in Engineering and Consulting 06:53 Current Trends in Supply Chain and AI 09:25 Operational Excellence: Lean and Six Sigma 10:30 Acquiring True Steel: The Transition to Ownership 13:21 Insights from the Business Acquisition Process 17:13 Cultural Shifts in Business Ownership 19:51 Balancing Strategy and Operations 22:08 Misunderstandings in Operational Excellence 25:15 Starting the Journey to Improvement 27:58 The Future of Operational Excellence and AI 29:21 Personal Insights and Influences 31:38 Conclusion and Staying Connected 32:00 Upcoming Tech Events Overview 33:35 Wrap-Up and Guest Insights Production Polaris is produced with the help of 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.

• The King of Data Migration Magic with Jordan (Uytterhagen)

  Episode 55

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Jordan Uytterhagen, CEO of Cadence Solutions, about the critical role of data migration in the age of AI. They discuss the challenges organizations face when transitioning to modern platforms like Microsoft 365, the importance of information architecture, and the need for effective governance during migration. Jordan shares insights on user behavior, best practices for successful migrations, and the tools Cadence offers to streamline the process. The conversation also touches on future trends in data management and personal reflections on business culture. Notable Quotes (Jordan Uytterhagen) "You go from Jetsons technology at home to Flintstones technology at work." "Co-authoring is a huge change management win without really needing to do anything." "Anyone can get data into SharePoint — the hard part is getting it out of the old system." "There are filers and there are pilers, and you can't make one into the other." References Industry Forbes – Reference about modernizing legacy data platforms for AI readiness. CIO Magazine – Article on consolidating outdated systems onto modern platforms to cut costs and complexity. Gartner – emphasizing that careful planning and risk management in data migrations leads to more successful outcomes. OpenText – an enterprise content management software suite often used for document and records management. Kofax – , a software company specializing in document capture, OCR, and automation solutions for digitizing content. Guest Jordan Uytterhagen - LinkedIn Cadence Solutions – the boutique firm founded by Jordan Uytterhagen, focused on data migration and information governance (Microsoft 365 specialist). Pop culture The Jetsons – a 1960s animated sitcom set in a futuristic world of advanced technology (shorthand for "modern tech"). The Flintstones – a 1960s animated sitcom about a Stone Age family (shorthand for "outdated tech"). It was created to be a primetime  Stone Age cartoon based on The Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Shoe Dog – a memoir by Nike co-founder Phil Knight, recounting the scrappy early days and growth of Nike. The Founder –  a 2016 biographical film starring Micheal Keaton about Ray Kroc and the expansion of the McDonald's franchise. Air (2023) – a 2023 film dramatizing Nike's pursuit of a young Michael Jordan and the creation of the Air Jordan sneaker line starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Too Big to Fail - a 2009 book by Andrew Ross Sorkin (and later an HBO film) detailing the 2008 financial crisis and the collapse of Wall Street institutions. The Big Short – a 2015 film (based on Michael Lewis's book) that portrays a few investors who bet against the 2008 housing bubble and profited from the financial crisis. American Greed – a CNBC true-crime documentary series that profiles cases of corporate fraud and white-collar crime. Moneyball – a 2011 film (based on a book) about the Oakland A's baseball team using data analytics to build a competitive roster on a budget, with Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt and Jonah Hill War Dogs – a 2016 film based on the true story of two young men who became unlikely arms dealers for the U.S. government, again with Jonah Hill and Miles Teller Events M365 Community Days NYC | July 25, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Seattle Tech Week |  July 28 - August 1, Seattle WA TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center. FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - August 26 North American Collaboration Summit | September 7-9 Branson. MO TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada London Tech Leaders' Summit | October 7-8., 2025 London UK Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 Vancouver BC Takeaways Modernize for AI: True AI readiness begins with a solid data foundation. Jordan explains that moving content from old systems to modern cloud platforms is key before using advanced AI tools. Without accessible data, even the best AI models can't provide value, so modernization is essential. Use Your Cloud Investments: Many organizations already pay for Microsoft 365 yet don't fully use it. Migrating legacy data unlocks built-in features and cuts costs by retiring outdated systems. Jordan shares examples where clients used their E5 licenses more effectively after migration, boosting ROI on existing software. Immediate Wins (Beyond AI): Migration brings quick benefits beyond future AI. For instance, e-discovery and audit trails improve instantly when data is consolidated, pleasing compliance teams. Co-authoring in SharePoint and OneDrive also boosts collaboration, especially for new hires used to modern tools, helping drive change. Filers vs. Pilers – Keep Some Structure: People organize in different ways—filers prefer folders, pilers use search. Jordan recommends a light structure with basic folders and metadata for filers, so everyone has a place for their content. This approach avoids overcomplication and supports both search-driven users and governance. Migration Is More Than Moving Files: Migration involves more than just transferring files; legacy systems often have retention policies, workflows, or integrations. These elements need to be rebuilt in the new system. Jordan stresses that detailed planning is crucial, including what to move first and how to manage processes post-migration. Choose Partners with Source Expertise: Jordan's key point is that extracting data from old systems is the hardest part. Pick migration partners familiar with your legacy platform to avoid missing data or complications. His team even built specialized tools for common legacy systems, highlighting the value of source expertise. Plan, Govern, and Manage Risk: Success means balancing speed with caution. Jordan advises migrating by department or priority, freezing content during cut-over, and scheduling transitions during off-peak times. It's okay to leave behind unnecessary data. Careful planning prevents loss or disruption and ensures the migration finishes on time. 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introductions 01:09 Terms and Data Points 01:59 Welcome to Jordan Uytterhagen 04:31 The Role of AI in Data Migration 07:26 Understanding Microsoft 365 Benefits 10:20 Migration Strategies and Challenges 12:58 Information Architecture vs. AI 15:49 The Future of Data Migration 17:31 Client Experiences and Lessons Learned 19:48 Tools and Services for Migration 22:56 The Importance of Understanding Legacy Systems 29:32 Cultural Insights and Recommendations 32:45 Upcoming Tech Events Overview 34:35 Wrap-Up and Guest Insights

• UX Marks the Spot – Navigating the Customer Journey with Ginny Delaitre

  Episode 23

  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, Chris McNulty interviews Ginny Delaitre, founder of VDS Digital Agency, discussing the critical role of user experience in marketing. They explore Ginny's journey from an iOS developer to an entrepreneur, the cultural challenges of establishing a business in the U.S., and the importance of understanding client journeys. The conversation delves into successful marketing strategies for healthcare and luxury brands, the significance of persona mapping, and the challenges of content marketing. Ginny shares insights on ideal customer profiles and her current focus on creating AI tools for enhancing user experience in marketing. Takeaways User Experience (UX) Marketing is critical before product sign-up: Don't just focus on existing customers – design a pre-customer journey that makes discovering and engaging with your brand seamless and compelling. A well-designed user experience even before someone becomes a customer can dramatically boost conversion rates (companies prioritizing UX see up to 400% higher conversions, per Forrester). Persona Mapping drives strategy: Before jumping into campaigns, clarify who you're talking to. Ginny emphasizes starting with strategy – define your brand and map out ideal customer personas (their goals, habits, challenges, and hang-outs). This ensures your marketing efforts hit the right channels and messages. Businesses that use persona mapping see significantly higher conversion rates (HubSpot says 73% higher) because content and outreach are better targeted. You can't be everywhere – focus on the right channels: It's impossible (and inefficient) to try engaging on every social platform or marketing channel. Use data (or informed hypotheses, for new businesses) to find where your target personas actually spend time. Ginny advises clients to select 3–4 key channels that make sense for their audience and excel there, rather than stretching thin across all platforms. Content marketing isn't dead – it needs purpose: People who claim "content marketing is dead" are likely doing it wrong. Content needs a focused topic and a purpose. Random posts with no theme won't move the needle. Instead, build content around consistent themes or stories that align with your audience's interests, and include a clear call-to-action. When done with strategy, content marketing remains a powerful tool to educate and convert customers (instead of "content for content's sake"). Consistency and brand experience matter (especially for premium brands): Every customer touchpoint should meet the same high standard. For example, in luxury marketing, the brand is the product – customers pay for an image and experience. Ginny notes that luxury audiences are extremely demanding; they expect personalized, high-quality interactions at every step. One off-key message or low-effort visual can break the illusion. Maintaining a cohesive "vibe" across channels builds trust and brand desire. Strategy is about choices: Good strategy means choosing what not to do as much as what to do. Ginny and Chris discuss that you can't chase every idea – you must prioritize the customer journeys and campaigns that align with your goals. Look at data and early results to adjust quickly. It's better to do a few things well than many things poorly. Tech knowledge is a marketing superpower: Ginny's background as an iOS developer and her embrace of AI tools gives her an edge in marketing. In 2025, marketing leaders benefit from understanding technology – from mobile-first design (thinking of that "little screen" first) to leveraging AI (even "no-code" tools involve some code). Embracing tech helps marketers create better user experiences (e.g. interactive content, personalized automation) and operate more efficiently. Sound bites Ginny Delaitre (Guest): "Everyone wants to post tomorrow, but I always insist on strategy first – we need to know who we're talking to." "Some say content marketing is dead – I say they're doing it wrong. Content needs a purpose; without that, it means nothing." "Luxury customers pay a lot, so they want a lot. We create a vibe where the brand is the experience – the product comes second." References Guest Ginny Delaitre (LinkedIn) – Ginny's professional profile VDS Digital Agency – The digital agency founded by Ginny Delaitre, specializing in user experience marketing, design, and strategy for clients in industries from military relocation to luxury retail. Research Forrester – Their research noted that companies prioritizing UX design can see a 400% increase in conversion rates. McKinsey & Company – Found that nearly 80% of luxury sales are influenced by one or more digital touchpoints, underscoring the importance of digital strategies for luxury brands. HubSpot – Observed that using persona mapping yields about a 73% higher conversion rate in sales funnels, highlighting the value of well-defined customer personas. MustWants – A platform (created by veterans) that helps U.S. military families find housing when relocating for PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves – this is the "military real estate" service Ginny referenced. Culture Sesame Street – Long-running children's TV show known for the segment "One of These Things Is Not Like the Other," used as an analogy for inconsistent branding in the episode discussion. Supernatural (TV Series) – A fantasy/horror TV show (2005–2020) with 15 seasons. Ginny noted how watching it reflects the evolution of consumer technology (from flip phones in 2005 to smartphones by 2020). Black Mirror – A British sci-fi anthology series that explores the dark side of technology. Chris mentioned it as a contrast when discussing the impacts of tech advances (as opposed to the optimistic take on tech in marketing ). Events M365 Community Days NYC | July 25, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Seattle Tech Week |  July 28 - August 1, Seattle WA FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - August 26. I'll be sitting down with our CEO Michelle Caldwell for a fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how Microsoft partners can align for success. TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center. North American Collaboration Summit | September 7-9 Branson. MO TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada London Tech Leaders Summit | October 7-8., 2025 Minster Building - right near the Tower of London London UK Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 Harbor Centre in Vancouver BC Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).   ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland).  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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ginny Delaitre and VDS Digital Agency 01:07 News and Data Points 02:10 Welcome to Ginny Delaitre 04:07 Journey from Developer to CEO 06:47 Cultural Challenges of Starting a Business in the US 09:08 Understanding UX Marketing 11:54 Client Journeys and Success Stories 15:01 Marketing for Luxury Brands 17:48 The Importance of Strategy in Marketing 21:07 Content Marketing and Ideal Customer Profiles 23:25 Pop Culture Reflections and Future Endeavors 25:49 Upcoming Tech Events Overview 27:41 Wrap-Up and Guest Insights

• Synergy over Silos – the New Age of Knowledge

  Episode 24

  Guest: Gabe Karawani

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this conversation, Chris McNulty and Gabriel Karawani discuss the challenges of fragmented information in digital workplaces and the introduction of Atlas, a knowledge assistant designed to improve productivity and knowledge management. They explore the future of AI in knowledge management, common misconceptions about AI, and the importance of integrating knowledge with AI systems. The discussion includes success stories from organizations using Atlas, the risks of relying on public AI, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI use. They also address the challenges of capturing tacit knowledge and measuring success in knowledge management. Key Takeaways  The "Toggle Tax" is Real: Fragmented apps and data silos cause employees to toggle between tools ~1,200 times a day, wasting nearly 4 hours a week (about 9% of work time) just reorienting. Unified knowledge systems can recover this lost productivity.  First-Gen AI Fell Short: Early AI assistants created isolated "islands of AI" within each tool, adding to silos. Business leaders now demand Omni AI – solutions that integrate data across all platforms for cohesive answers.  Integrated Knowledge = Competitive Edge: Companies relying only on public AI (like generic chatbots) get "vanilla" answers, while those who leverage proprietary knowledge via tools like Atlas gain trusted, context-aware insights tailored to their business – a significant competitive advantage.  Atlas Platform in Action: Atlas, ClearPeople's intelligent knowledge platform, auto-captures and classifies information across Microsoft 365 and other systems, acting as an "ultimate knowledge assistant" that delivers precise answers with sources cited for trust. This reduces search time and surfaces expertise within the organization.  AI Needs Quality Data: Generative AI isn't magic – it's only as smart as the data you feed it. Context is king – AI must know which knowledge base or document version is relevant. A key Atlas benefit is robust metadata (like tagging content by client, project, or jurisdiction) so AI uses the right information when answering.  Ethical, Responsible AI is Essential: Enterprises should implement AI with transparency, security, and governance. Gabe notes the importance of ethical AI use, complying with standards (like ISO/IEC 42001 AI management systems) and emerging regulations (EU AI Act) while building a culture that encourages sharing knowledge responsibly.  People + AI, Not vs. AI: Successful adoption requires empowering people with AI, not replacing them. Atlas's approach augments human expertise – e.g. capturing experts' know-how and making it discoverable – so employees spend less time searching and more time innovating and collaborating on higher-value tasks.  Sound Bites (Gabe Karawani)  "It became a case of 'The answer is GenAI – now what's the question?' People assumed generative AI would magically solve knowledge problems. In reality, AI needs guidance and context to be useful."  "If you run your business on public AI, you'll get vanilla answers. Your competitor using AI trained on their own knowledge will eat your lunch with richer, precise insights."  "Think of Atlas as your ultimate knowledge assistant. It connects you instantly with the right information and experts inside your organization by automatically capturing and classifying knowledge at scale."  "Unless an AI agent can connect to the right contextual knowledge, it's likely to give a perfectly credible answer based on the wrong data. That's a big problem we solve – making sure AI is grounded in truth."  References Toggle Tax: Harvard Business Review – "How Much Time and Energy Do We Waste Toggling Between Applications?" (Murty et al., 2022). Study of 137 workers found ~1,200 app/website toggles per day and ~4 hours per week lost to reorienting. https://hbr.org/2022/08/how-much-time-and-energy-do-we-waste-toggling-between-applications   Retirement of Viva Topics (February 2024) to refocus on generative AI, with full retirement by Feb 2025. Organizations using Viva Topics are advised to prepare alternatives for knowledge discovery. https://www.reworked.co/digital-workplace/microsoft-is-retiring-viva-topics-heres-what-you-can-do/   Agent2Agent (A2A) Protocol – An open standard (initially by Microsoft and Google, now Linux Foundation) for secure, interoperable communication between AI agents. Announced in 2025 and backed by over 100 tech companies, A2A enables different AI systems to "talk" to each other and collaborate. https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-foundation-adopts-a2a-protocol-to-help-solve-one-of-ais-most-pressing-challenges/   Model Context Protocol (MCP) – An emerging open standard (led by Anthropic) that provides a universal way for an AI agent to connect to external tools, APIs, and data sources 2 2. MCP acts like a "USB-C port for AI," complementing A2A by grounding agents in shared data. https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-foundation-adopts-a2a-protocol-to-help-solve-one-of-ais-most-pressing-challenges/   ISO/IEC 42001:2023 – The first international standard for AI Management Systems (AIMS), published Dec 2023. It provides a framework for governing AI use (risk management, transparency, bias mitigation, etc.) to ensure responsible, ethical AI deployment https://www.iso.org/standard/42001 EU AI Act – The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (entered into force Aug 2024) is the world's first comprehensive AI law. It introduces a risk-based framework restricting certain AI practices, imposing transparency for AI systems, and requiring extra compliance for "high-risk" AI (e.g. in hiring or biometric ID). Artificial intelligence act Guest Information Gabe Karawani - LinkedIn ClearPeople – A digital solutions company co-founded by Gabe Karawani, specializing in knowledge management on Microsoft 365. Creator of the Atlas Intelligent Knowledge Platform. https://www.clearpeople.com Atlas Intelligent Knowledge Platform – ClearPeople's AI-powered knowledge platform for enterprises. It centralizes and auto-classifies content across Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, etc.) and other sources, providing a single trusted hub for knowledge discovery, enterprise search, and AI assistance. https://www.clearpeople.com/atlas-platform Events M365 Community Days NYC | July 25, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square Seattle Tech Week |  July 28 - August 1, Seattle WA TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center. FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - August 26. I'll be sitting down with our CEO Michelle Caldwell for a fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how Microsoft partners can align for success. North American Collaboration Summit | September 7-9 Branson. MO TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada Vancouver AI Summit | October 20, 2025 Vancouver BC TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland).  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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Gabriel Karawani and Clear People 06:21 The Evolution of Atlas: From Services to Product 09:50 Navigating the AI Landscape: Misconceptions and Realities 15:34 Success Stories: Real-World Applications of Atlas 21:23 The Importance of Tailored AI Solutions 26:18 Ethical Considerations in AI Implementation 29:16 Measuring Success: Key Metrics for AI Impact 33:06 Challenges in Knowledge Management: Tackling Tacit Knowledge 35:56 Upcoming Events in 2025 37:26 Conclusion

• Two Miles High and Rising - Kelly Schuknecht

  Episode 21

  Guest: Kelly Schuknecht

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Kelly Schuknecht, CEO of Two-Mile-High Marketing, about the importance of thought leadership in marketing. They discuss Kelly's journey from being an employee to starting her own marketing agency, the significance of establishing authority, and how to effectively connect with audiences. The conversation also covers the role of messaging, the benefits of podcasting, and the evolution of authorship in building credibility. Kelly shares insights on client success stories and strategies for post-publication marketing, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to thought leadership. Takeaways Thought Leadership Drives Business: Establishing yourself as a thought leader can directly lead to business opportunities – according to an Edelman/LinkedIn study, nearly 60% of decision-makers awarded business to a company because of its strong thought leadership content. From Support Role to Leader: Kelly's career journey shows that transitioning from a behind-the-scenes supporter to the public face of a brand can be scary but rewarding. Being laid off pushed her to start her own firm and step into the spotlight, illustrating that sometimes adversity sparks growth. Authenticity and Focus Win: Not every company needs "thought leadership marketing," but for relationship-driven businesses (like professional services), investing in personal brand credibility pays off. Authentic content that addresses your audience's pain points will resonate more than generic marketing. Speaking and Content Build Credibility: Consistent speaking engagements (conferences, podcasts) and content creation (articles, videos) help establish authority. Kelly advises starting with podcast interviews to refine your message. These low-cost opportunities help you practice answering questions and learn what resonates with your audience. Don't Fear Repetition: If you feel you've told your story a million times, remember it's likely brand new to each audience. Kelly reminds us not to get bored with our core message – your enthusiasm (or lack thereof) will transfer to listeners. Consistency and passion make your message powerful every time. Books Boost Authority (Strategically): Authoring a book (or working with a ghostwriter) can elevate your expert status – it's a credibility booster when you're on stage or pitching. But don't just publish and pray: use the book in your marketing strategy (speaking, social media, press) so it genuinely amplifies your reach. Face Your Fears: Personal growth is part of the thought leadership journey. Despite helping others get on stage, Kelly herself feared public speaking for years. She overcame that fear by pushing herself (100+ videos, frequent talks) – a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone is often necessary to lead and inspire others. Sound bites Notable Quotes (for promotion): "For 20 years I was the 'person behind the person.' Being laid off pushed me to step out of the shadows and start my own company." "Even if you've given the same message a dozen times, for a brand new audience it's the first time they're hearing it. It's still a powerful message – don't get bored with it, or your audience will feel that too." "Getting on as many podcasts as you can early on really helps you refine your messaging and figure out what people are interested in." "It might be ironic, but I was terrified of public speaking – and I run a business around it! Facing that fear changed everything for me." "Not every company needs a 'thought leader' — but if your business runs on relationships, you'd better put a face to your brand."  References Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Study – Research (2019) showing nearly 60% of decision-makers said strong thought leadership content led them to award business to a company (and 29% decided not to if content was poor). Two-Mile-High Marketing – Kelly Schuknecht's marketing agency focused on thought leadership (headquartered in Leadville, Colorado and named after Leadville's ~10,000 ft elevation, "two miles high"). "Personality Isn't Permanent" – A self-help book by organizational psychologist Benjamin Hardy. Kelly cited this book as a catalyst that encouraged her to face her fear of public speaking. Crissy Conner – Marketing strategist known as "The Visibility Queen." Mentioned in the episode as a former guest who overcame her on-camera fears by doing 100 live video broadcasts in one year. Memories Matter– A 2025 nonfiction book about caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's, authored by Dawn Brenniman Wirtz. This book (written through Kelly's course) led to the first-time author being invited to speak at an Alzheimer's event and even a local news interview – an example of authentic content opening doors. Kelly Clarkson – Singer and TV personality. Referenced when Kelly mentioned an author sending Clarkson a book in hopes of a shout-out (part of a story about creative book promotion). Events FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - July 29. I'll be sitting down with our CEO Michelle Caldwell for a fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how Microsoft partners can align for success. TechCon 365 Atlanta 2025 – A Microsoft 365 and Power Platform conference (held August 11–15, 2025 in Atlanta, GA). TechCon 365 Dallas 2025 – The Dallas edition of the TechCon 365 conference series (November 3–7, 2025 in Irving, TX). Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Microsoft's flagship annual tech conference (scheduled for November 18–21, 2025 in San Francisco, CA). ESPC25 – A major European Microsoft 365/Azure conference (December 1–4, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland). 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kelly Schuknecht and Two-Mile-High Marketing 01:10 News and Data Points 05:37 The Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur 07:34 Defining Marketing and Its Importance 10:06 Identifying Ideal Clients for Thought Leadership 12:37 Balancing Brand and Personal Marketing 14:48 Success Stories and Client Experiences 16:02 Navigating Speaking Engagements and Event Selection 17:55 Refining Messaging for Effective Speaking 20:02 Using Podcasting as a Tool for Growth 22:44 The Role of Book Publishing in Thought Leadership 26:17 Post-Publication Strategies for Authors 28:53 Future Plans for Two-Mile-High Marketing 30:24 Cultural Influences and Personal Growth 32:16 Closing Thoughts and Resources 33:11 Upcoming Events in Tech 34:16 Leadership Insights for Emerging Companies

• The Introvert's Guide to Influence - Crissy Conner

  Episode 13

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Crissy Conner, founder of the Visible CEO movement, about the complexities of developing leadership careers for women amidst gender bias. They discuss the importance of visibility, authenticity, and overcoming fear in order to succeed in leadership roles. Crissy shares her journey of becoming a visibility strategist and emphasizes the need for women to embrace their authentic selves to connect with their audiences. The conversation also touches on the challenges female leaders face, the significance of role models, and the strategies for refining visibility in business. Key Takeaways Visibility is Vital: Being visible and authentic as a leader isn't vanity – it's a business strategy. A strong personal brand builds trust and opens opportunities. In fact, 82% of people trust a company more when its leaders are active on social media, underscoring the value of showing up. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Many leaders (nearly 70% of people) experience imposter feelings at some point. Crissy emphasizes that you're not alone – recognizing these doubts is the first step to overcoming them. She shares how to move past the "I'm not ready" mindset and step into the spotlight with confidence. From Introvert to Influencer: Crissy's own journey from being shy to becoming The Visible CEO illustrates that introversion is not a barrier to leadership or influence. Confidence comes from consistency – by regularly using your voice (in speaking, writing, or video), you can grow more comfortable and impactful. "Get Heard, Get Seen, Get Paid": Your expertise can't help anyone if no one knows about it. Crissy's mantra – get heard, get seen, get paid – reminds us that visibility directly contributes to business growth. She explains how showing up authentically attracts your "raving fans" and ideal clients, leading to increased influence and income. Irresistible Offers & Authentic Messaging: One key to visibility is having an offer and message that truly resonates. Crissy advises crafting "irresistible offers" – solutions so aligned with your audience's needs that they feel drawn to you. Clarity in your message (knowing exactly how you help and whom) makes it far easier to show up and speak out, because you know the value you provide. Multi-Channel Presence: Don't hide – engage on platforms where your audience spends time. Crissy encourages leveraging formats like live video, community groups, and consistent content to amplify your reach. By building a presence across channels (from LinkedIn to Instagram), you create more touchpoints to connect and establish trust. Empowering Women Leaders: They discuss the unique visibility challenges women often face in leadership. Crissy stresses that embracing your achievements and expertise is not bragging – it's owning your worth. By building a personal brand, women leaders can challenge stereotypes, inspire others, and gain the recognition they deserve. Notable Quotes (Crissy Conner) "Being the best-kept secret in your industry helps no one. Visibility is about service, not ego." "I used to be the quietest person in the room. Now I teach others: if you have a solution, you have a responsibility to let the world know." "Visibility isn't about shouting louder, it's about aligning your message with your audience's heart." "Confidence isn't an innate trait – it's a skill you build by consistently showing up, even when it's uncomfortable." References United Nations (UNDP) – Gender Social Norms Index 2023 Report Nearly 90% of people hold biases against women; half believe men make better leaders, reflecting stagnation in women's leadership roles over the past decade. Harvard Business Review – Why Women Don't Apply for Jobs Unless They're 100% Qualified Explores an internal Hewlett-Packard finding that men apply when they meet ~60% of job requirements, whereas women tend to apply only when they meet all the qualifications. Rob Dial – The Mindset Mentor Podcast Crissy references Rob Dial's challenge to spend 365 days doing something uncomfortable every day as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. The Visible CEO - Crissy Conner's official site and program hub for "The Visible CEO," where she offers resources and coaching to help entrepreneurs and leaders increase their visibility. Mel Robbins – "The Let Them Theory" A book/concept by Mel Robbins emphasizing that you should allow others to act as they will ("let them") and not let fear of others' opinions hold you back from showing up. Social Currency 82% of respondents trust a company more if the CEO and leadership engage on social media (emphasizing the trust gained through leader visibility). [Business Wire] Imposter Syndrome: 70% of people experience impostor feelings in their lives (context for our discussion on overcoming self-doubt).[Time] Events TechCon 365 Seattle - June 23-27, 2025  FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - July 29, 2025 (Teams Webinar). I'll be sitting down with our CEO Michelle Caldwell for a fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how Microsoft partners can align for success. TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center. TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center  Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25  | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland). Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Female Leadership and Visibility 01:35 News and Data Points 03:02 Introducing Crissy Conner 05:43 The Power of Uncomfortable Actions 08:37 Building the Visible CEO Movement 11:21 Challenges for Female Leaders 13:48 Transforming Visibility into Authenticity 17:04 Refining Personal Branding Strategies 19:56 Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence 22:48 Creating Impactful Content 25:33 The Role of Personality in Visibility 28:47 Final Thoughts and Resources 31:55 Upcoming Events 33:26 Closing

• Building Delight: Inside Microsoft Product Management

  Episode 14

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Sean Squires, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, about the evolving landscape of software development, particularly in the realm of content management and AI. They discuss the challenges posed by the massive data explosion, the role of AI in enhancing content findability, and the importance of customer empathy in product management. Sean shares insights into the balance between creating minimally viable products and those that are lovable, as well as the impact of AI on product development processes. The conversation also touches on the cultural aspects of technology and personal reflections on creativity and inspiration. 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Quotes "Customer empathy is the cornerstone of building a good product." – Sean Squires "A minimum viable product must quickly become a minimum lovable product." – Sean Squires "Whenever we build a feature, we ask: where's the magical moment for the user?" – Sean Squires "Some of the best ideas I've seen come directly from customers and the community." – Sean Squires  References Data and Business IDC estimates 175 zettabytes of data worldwide by 2025, with ~80% of it unstructured and 90% of unstructured data never analyzed – Global Intelligent Document Processing market size growing from $1.1B (2022) to $5.2B by 2027 at 37.5% Major League Baseball – ~63% of surveyed MLB players do not want robot umpires (Automated Ball-Strike system), preferring the human element – https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25204707-mlb-pitcher-says-potential-abs-robot-umpire-rule-change-would-ruin-baseball Henry Ford's "faster horse" quote – "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." (Often attributed to Ford to illustrate innovation beyond customer requests; actual origin is apocryphal) – https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/07/28/ford-faster-horse/ Steven Sinofsky – "Learning by Shipping" – Blog by former Microsoft Windows president Steven Sinofsky, discussing tech, management, and strategies (includes commentary on AI and product development) – https://learningbyshipping.com/ "Unsolicited Feedback" podcast – A weekly product & growth podcast by Reforge, featuring candid discussions between product leaders on recent tech trends and product decisions – https://www.reforge.com/podcast/unsolicited-feedback Google NotebookLM – An AI-powered research and note-taking tool by Google that can summarize documents and even generate podcast-like audio discussions from your notes (an experimental project formerly known as Project Tailwind) – https://notebooklm.google/ ModuleQ – An "People-Facing AI" startup founded by David Brunner, which integrates with Microsoft Teams to deliver personalized, proactive insights to professionals (example of AI in enterprise workflow) – https://www.moduleq.com/ Pop Culture "The Pitt" – The Pitt (2025) is a new medical drama TV series set in a Pittsburgh trauma hospital's ER, noted for its realistic portrayal of medical staff and intense single-shift story structure (starring Noah Wyle) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pitt "A Day in the Life" – Iconic 1967 song by The Beatles (from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band), known for its elaborate production – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADayintheLife Sir George Martin – Renowned record producer for The Beatles, often called "the Fifth Beatle" for shaping their sound – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Martin Irving Berlin's transposing piano – Songwriter Irving Berlin used a custom piano with a transposing lever so he could play in one key (F#) and the piano would shift the pitch, allowing him to accompany in any key – https://www.straightdope.com/21343780/if-irving-berlin-couldn-t-read-or-write-music-how-did-he-compose The Ministry of Time (novel) – The Ministry of Time is a 2024 science fiction novel by Kaliane Bradley, exploring time travel and identity. It gained attention as one of Barack Obama's recommended summer reads in 2024 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMinistryofTime(novel) Leon (Leon Bridges album) – Leon (released October 2024) is the fourth studio album by R&B/soul artist Leon Bridges. The album blends retro soul with folk and country influences and has received positive reviews for its storytelling and style – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon(LeonBridges_album) The Intrazone podcast – The Intrazone is a Microsoft 365 podcast (hosted by Mark Kashman and oft-co-hosted by Chris McNulty) that ran from 2018–2025, covering SharePoint and Microsoft 365 topics. (It announced a pause after 220+ episodes in mid-2025) – https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/36825055 Events Business Strategy Master Class | June 17, 2025 (Teams Online) Synozur's own Matt Shaffer will present our new master class on how to develop and sustain business strategy with the Synozur Company OS.  https://aka.synozur.com/strategy-masterclass TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 (Seattle Convention Center) FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - July 29, 2025. A fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how partners can align for success. TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center. TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland).  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sean Squires and His Role at Microsoft 06:53 The Role of a Product Manager 09:18 A Day in the Life of a Product Manager 12:25 Navigating Product Development Challenges 15:29 The Balance Between MVP and MLP 18:02 Creating Delightful User Experiences 21:07 Customer Needs vs. Innovative Solutions 24:15 The Importance of Customer Feedback 27:11 Working with Familiar vs. New Tech Stacks 30:02 AI's Impact on Product Development 32:34 Staying Inspired in Product Management 38:58 Introduction to Upcoming Events 40:27 Reflections on Podcasting and Future Directions

• Not Too Big, Not Too Small – TechCon is Just Right - David Wilhelm

  Episode 25

  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 conversation, Chris McNulty and David Wilhelm discuss the challenges of AI adoption in enterprises, emphasizing the importance of training and expertise. They explore the evolution of TechCon 365, highlighting the benefits of mid-sized tech events, community engagement, and the diversity of attendees. The discussion also covers the direct engagement opportunities available at these events and the upcoming plans for future conferences. Sound Bites "At a 600-person event, you're not just a number – attendees feel seen and heard." — David Wilhelm "As Microsoft's world grows, our community grows with it. We just give them more to explore at each event." — David Wilhelm "Not everyone can fly to Vegas or SF for a mega-conference. Regional events open the door for folks who'd be left out otherwise." — David Wilhelm "A conference isn't just sessions. Like a great local restaurant, it can become a place where everybody knows your name." — David Wilhelm References News and Data Points Gartner (July 27, 2023) – Press release reporting that 52% of organizations say risk factors are a critical consideration when evaluating new AI projects. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-07-27-gartner-survey-finds-55-of-organizations-that-have-deployed-ai-take-an-ai-first-strategy-with-new-use-cases IBM (Jan 10, 2024) – IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2023 research found limited AI skills and expertise is the top barrier to AI adoption (~33% of enterprises cite this). https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-01-10-Data-Suggests-Growth-in-Enterprise-Adoption-of-AI-is-Due-to-Widespread-Deployment-by-Early-Adopters SS&C Blue Prism (Mar 28, 2025) – Global survey of business leaders: 35% cite lack of AI skills/expertise as a major barrier to adopting AI (tied for #1 barrier). https://www.blueprism.com/resources/blog/ai-agentic-agents-survey-statistics/ Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) – Microsoft's program to support community-led events worldwide (e.g., Community Days). https://adoption.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-global-community-initiative/ Social: David Wilhelm | LinkedIn Pop Culture Chef's Table (Netflix series) – Documentary series showcasing world-class chefs; referenced as an analogy for community building. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chef%27s_Table Cheers (TV sitcom) – 1980s sitcom set in a bar "where everybody knows your name"; referenced to describe a welcoming community vibe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheers The Bear (FX/Hulu series) – TV series about a Chicago restaurant, popularized the phrase "Yes, chef." Referenced humorously in the episode. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series) Events 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) FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - July 29 (Teams Webinar) TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 (Georgia World Congress Cente)r. TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Irving Convention Center) Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA).  ESPC25 | December 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Ireland) Fabric Community Conference (FabCon) – Microsoft Fabric Community Conference (upcoming event focusing on Microsoft Fabric and data/A.I.). https://fabricconf.com 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to David Wilhelm and Tech Conferences 04:12 The Evolution of Tech Conferences 07:32 Transitioning from SharePoint to Microsoft 365 11:51 The Benefits of Mid-Sized Events 15:25 Diversity and Accessibility in Tech Events 18:29 Engagement Opportunities for First-Time Attendees 21:37 Upcoming Events and Future Plans 24:43 Community Building Through Food and Events 26:44 Staying Connected with David Wilhelm 27:40 Conclusion

• Bots to Books to Bucks – The AI Revenue Flywheel - Zack Zeller

  Episode 15

  Generative AI is reshaping the business world by accelerating sales and customer engagement. In this episode of Polaris, Zack Zeller shares how thought leadership and engaging content can fuel the AI-powered revenue flywheel. From practical frameworks to emotional resonance in marketing, Zack explores how AI can amplify authenticity, streamline content creation, and drive meaningful business outcomes. 📌 Key Takeaways AI as a Catalyst: AI is not just a tool—it's a catalyst for deeper customer connections and more efficient marketing systems. The Revenue Flywheel: Thought leadership and personalized content can accelerate the sales cycle and deepen engagement. Authenticity Wins: In a sea of generic AI content, uniqueness and personality are key to standing out. AI as Actor, Not Expert: Zack likens AI to an actor—it performs best when given strong direction and context. Voice-Driven Campaigns: With the right prompts, a voice note can be transformed into a full marketing campaign. Books as Brand Builders: Long-form content like books helps establish credibility and deepen trust. Misconceptions About AI: Many overestimate AI's capabilities; success depends on specificity, iteration, and context. Marketing Systems Over Funnels: Zack emphasizes building holistic systems over isolated conversion tactics. 🧠 Soundbites from Zack "Generative AI isn't just a tool—it's a catalyst for deeper customer connections." "The revenue flywheel powered by AI is revolutionizing how businesses think about growth." "Every piece of thought leadership today can be amplified with AI, driving real results." "AI bridges the gap between efficiency and engagement, unlocking new possibilities for sales." "If you don't have uniqueness, you're just warming up your audience to buy from your competition." "Procrastinate on the right stuff—focus on one thing that pierces the market." References  About Zack Zeller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackzeller22 Free Gift at FixYourList.com Research AI in Sales: According to a recent report by Gartner, 75% of B2B sales organizations will augment traditional sales playbooks with AI-based guidance by the end of the year. Gartner Predicts 75% of B2B Sales Organizations Will Augment Traditional Sales Playbooks with AI-Guided Selling Solutions By 2025 Microsoft, the AI powerhouse, is also addressing this trend. In March, they announced two new agents. Sales Agent works autonomously to expand pipeline, engage customers, and even complete a sale, while Sales Chat can help guide revenue teams to the next best action. Finally they've introduced a new AI accelerator to drive CRM system migration and help with adoption. New sales agents accessible in Microsoft 365 Copilot help teams close more deals, faster | Microsoft 365 Blog Content Marketing: A study by Forbes highlights that 70% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing, with a focus on creating high-quality, engaging content to attract and retain customers. Top Content Marketing Statistics – Forbes Advisor Other Poe - AI Chat Primal (Adult Swim) from Genndy Tartakovsky Andy Warhol's Soup Cans from the Museum of Modern Art, New York The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Book Summary by Eliyahu M. Goldratt  Events 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. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. Chapters 00:02 – Introduction: Generative AI and the Revenue Flywheel 03:04 – Meet Zack Zeller: From College Hustle to AI Marketing Expert 05:00 – Post-Pandemic Economics and the Rise of Precision Marketing 07:22 – AI's Role in Reach, Engagement, and Conversion 09:41 – Breaking the Pattern: Authenticity in AI Content 12:11 – Conversion and the Emotional Side of Sales 14:07 – Tools and Tactics: Using AI to Support Sales Agents 17:19 – Visual AI: Spotting the Real from the Rendered 19:26 – Case Study: AI-Assisted Book Creation with Richard Vanderbloom 21:00 – Why Thought Leaders Should Write Books 24:28 – Zack's 3-Step Framework: Facts, Thesis, Mechanism 26:05 – Finding Your Voice and Market Entry Point 27:43 – AI Misconceptions and the Importance of Context 29:43 – Voice Notes to Campaigns: Zack's Prompting Strategy 32:02 – Future of AI in Marketing: Systems Thinking 36:23 – Pop Culture Pick: "Primal" and the Power of Wordless Storytelling 38:36 – Connect with Zack: LinkedIn and FixYourList.com

• The Wonderful World of Mark Kashman

  Episode 20

  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

• Strategy Unplugged: Dialogues with Dr. John Hillen

  Episode 18

  Guest: Dr. John Hillen

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty engages with Dr. John Hillen, author of 'The Strategy Dialogues', to explore the complexities of business strategy. They discuss the common misunderstandings surrounding strategy, the importance of dialogue in strategy development, and how to bring strategic thinking into everyday business practices. Dr. Hillen emphasizes the need for clear definitions of strategy, the distinction between strategic planning and thinking, and the critical questions organizations should ask to define their strategic direction. The conversation also touches on the significance of values, the role of networking in strategic relationships, and innovative approaches like blue ocean strategy. Finally, they address the pitfalls of annual strategy cycles and the importance of measuring strategic success. Dr. John Hillen is a versatile leader with an impressive background spanning business, government, the military, and academia. As a CEO, Board Chairman, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, he's navigated complex strategic landscapes and shared his insights through teaching at notable institutions like Duke University and George Mason University. An author of several influential books, including 'What Happens Now? Reinvent Yourself as a Leader Before Your Business Outruns You,' Dr. Hillen has also contributed to prestigious publications such as Forbes and The New York Times.  He also holds two masters' degrees, a Ph. D from Oxford, and a Fulbright Scholarship. Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks. References Interview Notes  Our guest, Dr. John Hillen, is the author of The Strategy Dialogues. You can get in touch with him through his website, JohnHillen,com Andrew Ross Sorkin also used narrative dialogue to tell the story of the 2008 financial crisis in Too Big to Fail "The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns." – William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1. – see AllGreatQuotes.com Norm Augustine, Lockheed Martin CEO, looked at the business implication of Shakespeare's work in Shakespeare in Charge: The Bard's Guide to Leading and Succeeding on the Business Stage Lee Iacocca thought about the minivan at Ford, but made it a reality at Chrysler in 1983 - The History of the Minivan – Smithsonian Magazine 2013 Cirque du Soleil is known for their global stage shows and traveling performances – learn more about their origin at How Cirque Du Soleil's Strategy Reinvented The Circus (Instrategia) Heidi Roisen is legendary for making strategic leadership networks through Silicon Valley. Statistics and Data Points According to a survey conducted by Forbes Coaches Council, 90% of respondents believe a strategy is necessary to carry out business activities. But only 14% of executives indicated they had fulfilled their strategic plan from the prior year. [Source: The Importance Of Strategic Planning For Business Success, Forbes] Based on a study by ClearPoint, 80% of leaders feel their company is good at crafting strategy, but only 44% feel they are good at implementation. [Source: 50+ Strategic Planning Stats: Boost Your Strategy Success – ClearPoint] Pop Culture The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Wikipedia The Godfather (1972) - IMDb The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Wikipedia Slow Horses Succession – won six Emmys in 2024 to bring its t9tal to 19. - How Many Emmys Did Succession Win in 2024? - Parade Events Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (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) TechCon 365 Seattle - June 23-27, 2025 Takeaways Strategy is often misunderstood and misapplied in organizations. Dialogue is a powerful tool for developing and understanding strategy. Strategic planning is not the same as strategic thinking. Key questions like 'What is our winning aspiration?' are essential for effective strategy. Building strategic thinking skills is vital for leaders and organizations. Networking and relationships are integral to successful strategic leadership. Blue ocean strategy encourages companies to seek untapped markets. Avoiding the annual strategy trap requires continuous measurement and adaptation. Sound Bites "I think the A question in strategy is not what to do, but what do we not do? What do we not spend?" "Trying to see patterns emerging in the future...because the future rarely follows a perfectly linear path...[is what] strategic thinking really is versus  the annual corporate budgeting drill is. That's the number one reason why I see people resisting...true strategic thinking and planning." "Everybody's got the strategic thinking muscle, even though only a small percentage ... naturally think strategically, but everybody can build that muscle." "[On strategic networking] If you wait until you need a [strategic] relationship, it's too late to form it." "[Blue Ocean Strategy] Instead of seeking out the most competitive environment where everybody's fighting for the customers and the ocean is red from all the blood in the water, go to where the customers ain't, but you could provide a value proposition that could draw new customers there." "Let's go where the enemy ain't." 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 to Dr. John Hillen 04:25 Introducing Dr. John Hillen 07:00 The Strategy Dialogues: A Narrative Approach 11:29 Bringing Strategy Down to Earth 15:24 Defining Strategy vs. Goals 18:10 Key Questions for Strategic Thinking 21:24 Success in Strategy: The IKEA Example 24:33 Cultivating Strategic Thinking Skills 29:14 The Power of Networking in Leadership 34:28 Understanding Blue Ocean Strategy 44:08 Avoiding Common Strategic Pitfalls 45:57 Cultural Reflections and Personal Insights 49:47 Staying in Touch 50:57 Upcoming Events 53:04 Wrap-Up and Acknowledgments

• Transform the Future at The M365 Community Conference - Jeff Teper

  Episode 17

  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

• The Productivity Paradox: Handling More with Less - Mr. Productivity

  Episode 9

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. We reimagine business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode, Mark Struczewski, known as Mr. Productivity, discusses the challenges of maintaining focus in a world filled with distractions, particularly the impact of attention residue. He emphasizes the importance of effective meetings, personal definitions of success, and the hidden forms of procrastination that can hinder productivity. Mark also highlights the role of AI as a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and encourages a growth mindset for continuous improvement. Sound Bites "FOMO is real. We don't want to wait." "Attention residue is real." "Everybody procrastinates." "You can either fight AI or use it." "Productivity isn't about doing more; it's about doing what matters most." "Efficiency comes from smart strategies, not just hard work." References Mr. Productivity You can follow up with Mark through his website, https://misterproductivity.com/ or on LinkedIn. One of Mark's favorite pieces of pop culture is the time management book The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.: Sharma, Robin: 9781443456623: Amazon.com: Books. Impact of Digital Distractions on Productivity According to a study by RescueTime, the average worker spends only 2 hours and 48 minutes per day on productive tasks. The rest of the time is often consumed by digital distractions such as social media, emails, and other non-work-related activities. Source: RescueTime A report by Udemy found that 70% of workers feel distracted during work hours, with 16% stating that they are almost always distracted. Source: Udemy Rise of AI Tools in Enhancing Productivity A recent report by McKinsey & Company highlights that AI adoption has the potential to increase global productivity by up to 1.4% annually. Source: McKinsey & Company Growing Importance of Personalized Productivity Coaching The demand for personalized productivity coaching has surged, especially with the shift to remote work. A survey by the International Coach Federation (ICF) found that 89% of coaching clients reported improved work performance and 70% reported improved time management skills. Source: ICF  Multitasking Think you're a great multitasker? Read on to learn why you're probably not as good as you think. Opinion | A Focus on Distraction - The New York Times] Events Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) . European Collaboration Summit | May 26-28, 2025 (Düsseldorf, Germany) TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 Takeaways Many people feel overwhelmed due to constant technology bombardment. Prioritization is key to achieving goals. Reviewing daily tasks can enhance productivity. Writing things down can relieve cognitive load. People often switch productivity tools unnecessarily. Technology can both aid and hinder productivity. Attention residue affects our ability to focus on tasks. Defining personal success is crucial for motivation and productivity. Procrastination is a common human experience that everyone faces. Establishing boundaries between work and personal life is essential. Buffer time between meetings can reduce stress and improve focus. Effective time management is key to maximizing productivity. 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 to Productivity 01:17 Super Bowl Recap 02:02 Trends and Data Points 03:27 Introducing Mr. Productivity 08:43 Understanding Client Needs and Clarity 13:45 The Importance of Prioritization and Time Management 17:46 Technical Mastery 18:40 Navigating Technology and Productivity Tools 20:41 The Impact of Attention Residue 21:50 Rethinking Meetings for Productivity 26:22 Defining Personal Success in Productivity 27:46 Hidden Forms of Productivity and Procrastination 32:07 Embracing AI as a Productivity Tool 34:39 The Importance of a Growth Mindset 37:33 Upcoming Events 38:36 Conclusion

• AI Realities: More Than Meets the Avatar - Michael Cutajar

  Episode 11

  Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company, navigating the complexities of strategy and planning with ease. In this conversation, Chris McNulty and Michael Cutajar explore the transformative potential of AI-powered interactive avatars in business. Michael is the CEO and founder of InteractiveAvatars.AI. They discuss the current state of the digital avatar market, the capabilities of avatars, and the challenges of customer acceptance. Michael shares insights on how avatars can enhance customer experiences, the ethical considerations surrounding their use, and the importance of understanding customer needs. The discussion also touches on generational shifts in technology acceptance, the future of augmented reality, and personal reflections on memory and passion. Keywords   Takeaways Interactive avatars are becoming essential for customer engagement. The digital avatar market is rapidly growing. Avatars can provide multilingual support. Customer satisfaction is key to avatar success. Younger generations are more accepting of avatars. Ethical considerations are crucial in avatar deployment. Historical figures as avatars generate interest. Sound Bites "We've got our avatars in 20 languages. So with the switch of a button, you could have them speak English, then French, then Chinese, and Arabic." "There are a couple of articles on the internet about our release of Cleopatra. So from a bust to an image, to an image, to a live video, from a live video to interactive live video. We're working with some professors from universities to make sure that we're getting things right." References Michael shared his appreciation of the Making Sense Podcast with Sam Harris. According to Grandview Research the global digital avatar market reached over $18 billion in 2023 and is growing at a 49% clip between now and 2030. Digital Avatar Market Size, Share & Growth Report, 2030 Interactive AI powered Avatars comprise over the half the market and are growing even faster. Six years ago, Forbes was presenting the idea that avatars would soon come to dominate customer service. What Is An Ideal Customer Avatar?  Microsoft rolled out solutions like the HoloLens, Microsoft Mesh and even SharePoint Spaces. (SharePoint Spaces is being shut down this year.) But there's been a lot less attention focused on avatars of late, with the attention paid to generative AI. However, GenAI solutions are making overall avatar experiences richer and more interactive. And there's a lot of investments in Gen AI. Bloomberg project the Generative AI market will hit the $1 Trillion mark in just over five years Generative AI to Become a $1.3 Trillion Market by 2032, Research Finds | Press | Bloomberg LP You can see an example of Michael's interactive Cleopatra on YouTube. Events Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) SharePoint Intranet Festival (SWOOP Analytics) | May 21, 2025 (Online) European Collaboration Summit | May 26-28, 2025 (Düsseldorf, Germany) TechCon 365 Seattle 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 to Interactive Avatars 01:28 Context and Data Points 05:06 The Evolution of Metaverse Technologies 06:34 Identifying Client Needs and Use Cases 09:02 The Unique Advantages of Avatars 10:59 Overcoming Reluctance Towards Avatars 12:44 Generational Shifts in Avatar Acceptance 14:42 Ethics and Transparency in AI Avatars 16:35 Customer Engagement and Avatar Deployment 19:48 Success Stories with Historical Figures 21:30 Understanding the Technology Behind Avatars 23:22 Defensibility in the Avatar Business 26:20 Future Trends in Avatar Technology 28:29 Personal Reflections on Memory and Passion 31:34 Upcoming Events in AI and Collaboration 33:10 Insights on AI-Powered Avatars and Customer Experience

• Project Runway: The Path to Delivery Excellence with Michelle Boyd

  Episode 4

  Guest: Michelle Boyd

  In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and Michelle Boyd discuss the importance of delivery excellence in project management. They explore the definitions of projects and delivery management, common misconceptions, and the significance of methodologies like Agile and Waterfall. The conversation highlights the role of kickoff meetings, tools, and templates in ensuring successful project delivery, as well as strategies for rescuing troubled projects. They also touch on the impact of technology and AI on project management and share insights from successful deliveries. Takeaways Delivery excellence is crucial for organizations. A project is defined as a temporary endeavor with specific objectives. Miscommunication is often the root cause of project failures. Kickoff meetings are essential for aligning expectations and success criteria. Agile methodologies are not always the best fit for every project. Technology can enhance project management but is not a panacea. Sound Bites "Projects are more about people than processes." "Flexibility within a framework is the true essence of effective project management." "Technology should be an enabler, not a dictator, of project success." References The Rise of Agile Methodologies in Non-Software Industries: According to a recent report by the Project Management Institute (PMI), organizations that prioritize delivery management are 30% more likely to meet their project goals and stay within budget. This highlights the critical role of delivery management in achieving project success. Source: Pulse of the Profession | PMI Agile methodologies, traditionally used in software development, are now being adopted by various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. A study by McKinsey & Company found that 75% of organizations in these sectors have implemented agile practices to improve efficiency and adaptability. Source: 17 Agile Statistics You Need to Know in 2025 The Impact of AI and Automation on Project Management: The integration of AI and automation tools in project management is transforming the way projects are planned, executed, and monitored. Gartner predicted that by 2025, AI will automate 80% of project management tasks, leading to increased productivity and reduced human error. [They now say it wil late until 2023.] Source: AI in project management: A no hype guide for teams Events Association for Intelligent information Management AI+IM Summit | March 31- April 2 (Atlanta) Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) European Collaboration Summit | May 26-28, 2025 (Düsseldorf, Germany) TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 (Seattle) 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.  Creative inspirations from Mark Kashman. Chapters 00:00 Opening 01:32 Trends and Data Points 03:06 Introducing Michelle Boyd 05:57 Defining Projects and Their Characteristics 08:31 Project Management vs. Delivery Management 11:49 Project Methodologies - Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid 17:04 The Importance of Kickoff Meetings 19:34 Effective Communication Strategies in Projects 20:15 Tools and Templates for Successful Delivery 21:53 Understanding the RAIDD Log 23:59 Project Rescue: The First Steps 26:16 Common Reasons Projects Go Off Track 27:13 New Technologies in Project Delivery 27:52 The Role of Technology in Project Management 32:06 Delivery Management Success 32:42 A Successful Delivery Case Study 34:55 Cultural Reflections and Personal Insights 35:41 Upcoming Events in Information Management 37:32 Closing

• "So A Lawyer Walks Into a Podcast Studio" with Dennis Meador

  Episode 10

  Polaris is a production of Synozur - an advisory agency focused on transforming business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategic planning with ease. In our latest episode of Polaris, we sit down with Dennis Meador, CEO of the Legal Podcast Network. Dennis has a front-row seat for the evolution of modern marketing techniques in the professional services sector, particularly within the legal industry. He explores the importance of influencer marketing, the role of podcasting in building authority, and how attorneys can leverage digital platforms to connect with their ideal clients. Dennis also shares insights on simplifying the podcasting process for lawyers, the significance of specialization, and the future of marketing in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Keywords modern marketing, professional services, legal industry, podcasting, branding, influencer marketing, digital marketing, content creation, Web3, AI Takeaways Modern marketing techniques are essential for professional services. Podcasting can significantly enhance a lawyer's authority and reach. Attorneys need to embrace digital marketing to stay competitive. Specialization in legal practice areas is crucial for success. Earning attention is more effective than traditional advertising. The future of marketing involves embracing new technologies and AI. Podcasting should be viewed as a means to generate client engagement, not just views. References A study by Edelman and LinkedIn revealed that 55% of decision-makers use thought leadership content to vet organizations they are considering working with - and nine of ten decision-makers and C-suite executives say they are moderately or very likely to be more receptive to company that consistently produces high-quality thought leadership. 2024 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Report | Edelman Events AI+IM Summit 2025 Atlanta Georgia March 31-April 2 https://aiim.org  Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Las Vegas) TechCon 365 Seattle - June 23-27, 2025 - Synozur will be sponsoring and speaking at TechCon 365 Seattle. https://www.techcon365.com. Sound Bites "Data is the new oil, and those who can harness it will lead the marketing revolution." "Personalization isn't just a trend; it's the future of customer engagement." "Collaborating with the right influencers can be a game-changer for your brand." Production Credits 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 to Dennis Meador and His Journey 01:21 Trends and Data 01:24 News and Trends 05:12 The Rise of Podcasting in the Legal Industry 06:58 Modern Marketing Techniques for Law Firms 09:53 Creating Seamless Content for Attorneys 13:00 Niche Specialization in Legal Podcasting 15:00 Success Stories: Transforming Legal Practices 17:32 Establishing a Strong Online Presence 20:25 Content Strategy and Distribution Channels 21:45 Understanding Digital Languages in Marketing 23:38 The Role of Podcasting in Modern Marketing 25:59 Navigating Remote Work Culture 26:09 Embracing New Technologies and Trends 31:04 Chat about SideCoach.AI 31:20 Revolutionizing Productivity with AI Tools 32:36 Future Directions for Legal Marketing 34:17 Upcoming Events in 2025 36:04 Closing and Thanks

• AI and the Digital Workplace with Ed Rogers from Akumina and Michelle Caldwell

  Episode 12

  Polaris is a production of Synozur - an advisory agency focused on transforming business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategic planning with ease. Welcome to a special episode of Polaris Pulse, where we're joined by Ed Rogers of Akumina and Michelle Caldwell to explore the transformative impact of AI on digital workplaces, discussing the challenges and strategies for effective integration. AI offers new ways to generate and consume information in the digital workplace, while digital workplace tools can unify fragmented user experiences that are a byproduct of a multiplying range of AI systems. Together, they unravel the challenges and strategies necessary for creating cohesive and productive digital workplaces, emphasizing the crucial balance between technology, people, and processes. Keywords AI, digital workplace, productivity, omni-AI, employee engagement, integration, technology transformation, chatbots, organizational culture, strategies Takeaways The proliferation of AI tools is reshaping digital workplaces. Task switching among AI applications is a significant productivity drain. Digital workplaces must integrate technology, people, and processes effectively. AI is not just a tool; it's a strategic necessity for businesses. Employee engagement is crucial for a successful digital workplace. A cohesive strategy is needed for integrating various AI systems. The human element remains vital in AI interactions. Organizations must avoid fragmentation in their digital tools. AI should enhance human interaction, not replace it. Sound Bites "AI is not just a tool; it's a partner that can enhance our creativity and productivity, making digital workplaces more dynamic and efficient." - Ed Rogers "Integrating AI in the workplace is not just about automation; it's about creating an environment where innovation flourishes." - Michelle Caldwell References Synozur research projects the market for generative AI is growing at triple digit rates and will reach significantly over $100 billion in 2025. But that expansion of revenues is also leading to an expansion of interfaces. AI proliferation contributing to productivity declines: Our research also shows that the productivity drain from knowledge worker task switching will reach $279.5 billion this year.  Embracing the Future: Predictions for AI in 2025 — The Synozur Alliance  Events Transforming the Digital Workplace – Webinar. On March 11, join Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell for a live webinar exploring digital workplaces in depth, with demos and resources.  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 to Digital Workplaces 02:07 Trends and Data on Digital Workplaces and AI 04:31 Introducing Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell 04:31 AI and Integrated Digital Workplaces 06:05 The Impact of AI on Digital Workplaces 09:35 Can AI Chat be the Interface to Everything 11:41 Human-Centric Approaches in AI Interactions 13:57 Upcoming Events 14:49 Closing

• Digital Workplaces in 2025 - Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell

  Episode 8

  Polaris is a production of Synozur - an advisory agency focused on transforming business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategic planning with ease.  In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty is joined by Ed Rogers (CEO of Akumina) and Michelle Caldwell (CEO of Synozur) to explore the evolving landscape of digital workplaces. They discuss the importance of employee engagement, the role of marketing in shaping digital environments, and the impact of AI on workplace communication. The conversation delves into strategies for effective content management, the concept of omni-work, and best practices for implementing successful digital workplace initiatives. The episode concludes with insights on the future of digital workplaces and the importance of listening to employees. Keywords digital workplace, employee engagement, AI, omni-work, content strategy, communication, marketing, collaboration, productivity, technology Takeaways Digital workplaces are strategies, not just products. Effective communication strategies enhance employee engagement. Marketing teams are increasingly controlling intranet content. Two-way conversations are crucial for modern workplaces. Omni-work allows employees to work from anywhere, anytime. Listening to employees helps shape effective strategies. Content should be targeted and relevant to employees. Sound Bites "Marketing is taking control of intranets." "Content is king in the digital workplace." "Listening to employees is key to success." References Digital Transformation: Forrester predicts that by 2025, companies will spend over $2 trillion on digital transformation initiatives.  US Tech Spending Forecast To Hit $2.7 Trillion in 2025 Remote Work Trends: A study by McKinsey found that 58% of employees now have the option to work remotely at least part-time, highlighting the shift towards flexible work environments.  McKinsey Study  A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking's landmark work on cosmology, time, black holes, quarks, antimatter and physics, written for everyone. Only Murders in the Building Season 4 – Yes, there were a lot of cameos in SNL50 but here's a list of some of the guests (John McEnroe, Melissa McCarthy and more) joining Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. Events Transforming the Digital Workplace – Webinar.  On March 11, join Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell for a live webinar exploring digital workplaces in depth, with demos and resources.  Association for Intelligent information Management, AIIM, will host their annual conference the AI+IM Summit in Atlanta, Georigia March 31 -April 2. Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) TechCon 365 Seattle - June 23-27, 2025  Synozur will be sponsoring and speaking as TC365 returns to the 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. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Digital Workplaces 02:43 Trends and News 03:49 Introducing Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell 04:54 The Digital Workplace in 2025 08:10 Understanding the Digital Workplace Strategy 12:23 The Role of Communication in Digital Workplaces 17:02 Omni-Work: The Future of Work 21:24 Content Strategy and Engagement 26:12 Defining Success: What Good Looks Like 30:06 Building a Journey for Customer Engagement 35:14 Upcoming Events 37:08 Conclusion

• AI Predictions for 2025 - Chris McNulty

  Episode 7

  In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty shares predictions for AI in 2025.  He shares insights on the wide-scale adoption of AI, its impact on the workforce, and the rising trends in AI technology. Tune in to hear Chris' predictions about Omni AI, sustainable green AI, workforce disruptions, the rise of personal knowledge chatbots – and even Super Bowl LIX. Keywords AI, predictions, Omni AI, Green AI, autonomous agents, personal chatbots, technology trends, workforce impact, 2025 Takeaways 2025 is expected to see wide-scale adoption of AI. Omni AI will integrate knowledge across multiple platforms. Sustainability in AI is becoming increasingly important. Organizations need to manage fears surrounding AI disruption. AI's energy consumption is a growing concern.. Ethics and quality will be critical in AI deployment. Sound Bites "Gen AI chatbots need not be limited to a single source of information. Most organizations have dozens of sources of data. Customers need a managed way to create an indexed source of data for LLMs and RAG systems.  …[A]n emerging ISV or two will successfully introduce solutions to unify, enrich, and secure cross-platform information for Gen AI. " "Omni AI will empower better decisions." "Anxiety about AI will remain high in 2025." References Next week, on Tuesday, February 11 at 8:00AM PST we'll host our webinar How to Succeed with your Copilot Rollout.  You can sign up now at https://aka.synozur.com/Copilot2025 2025bb Clear People published their collections of expert KM predictions  in their eBook The Trends Shaping Knowledge in 2025 The webinar with Katya Linossi, Barry Byrne, Marjan Hermkes and me can be found on demand at  The Trends Shaping Knowledge in 2025 Harvard Business Review published their source research on app context switching recently. Last year, IDC published their research on AI-Driven Growth in Datacenter Energy Consumption. EY's research in AI-induce workplace anxiety is also helpful: EY research shows most US employees feel AI anxiety (the title sums it up, doesn't it?) The size of the AI chatbot market was forecast by AIM Research in The Chatbot Market: Trends, Growth, and Key Players (AIM Research, 2024) Credits Polaris is produced with the help of our friends at Riverside.fm. Our theme song, "Alternative Dream" is provided courtesy of Adobe. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI Predictions for 2025 00:36 Knowledge Management and the NFL 03:13 Omni AI: The Future of Integrated AI Systems 06:26 Green AI: Sustainability in Artificial Intelligence 07:45 Anxiety and Workforce Disruption from AI Agents 09:04 Personal Knowledge Chatbots: The Next Frontier 12:53 Upcoming Events 13:47 Conclusion 14:38 New Chapter

• Fractional CxOs Get Our Undivided Attention - Michelle Caldwell

  Episode 2

  Guest: Michelle Caldwell

  In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and Michelle Caldwell discuss the emerging trend of fractional leadership, particularly the role of fractional CxOs. They explore the reasons behind the rise of these roles, including the impact of the pandemic, the mass resignation trend, and the increasing acceptance of remote work. Michelle shares insights on the benefits of fractional leadership, such as flexibility and access to top talent, as well as the importance of defining success and cultural fit. The conversation also touches on the risks associated with fractional roles and how organizations can effectively engage fractional leaders. Keywords fractional leadership, CXOs, remote work, business transformation, talent acquisition, organizational strategy, executive roles, innovation, consulting, Synozur Takeaways Fractional leaders provide strategic expertise without long-term commitment. The mass resignation trend has led to talent shortages. Remote work has made fractional roles more acceptable. Cross-industry exposure enhances innovation and creativity. Cultural fit is crucial for fractional leadership effectiveness. Fractional roles can help organizations test fit before full-time commitment. Fractional leaders often bring fresh perspectives and energy. Sound Bites "We can find talent anywhere in the world." "Cultural fit is super important." "Fractional leadership is about flexibility." References The West Wing John Spencer played Leo McGarry, Chief of Staff for President Josiah Bartlet on the NBC drama. Simon's Sinek's podcast, A Bit of Optimism | An inspiring podcast with Simon Sinek can be found on most major podcast platforms. Events "SharePoint: From Concept to Creation to Impact + Live AMA" webinar with Jeff Teper | Jan. 29, 2025, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST 2025 Trends Shaping Knowledge. Sponsored by ClearPeople, Katya Linossi, their CEO will host Marjan Hermkes (LIME),  Barry Byrne (Novartis & the Knowledge Summit) and Chris McNulty (Synozur) to look ahead at knowledge, AI use cases, technology trends and more.  January 30 at 8AM PST, 11AM EST. M365 Miami 2025 | Feb. 6-7, 2025 Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) Jeff Teper and Jared Spataro will be keynoting from Microsoft, along with many other speakers from Microsoft, Synozur, partners, customers and more.  TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025   Synozur will be sponsoring and speaking at TechCon 365 Seattle. Credits Polaris is produced with the help of our friends at Riverside.fm. Our theme song, "Alternative Dream" is provided courtesy of Adobe. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fractional CXOs 09:15 The Rise of Fractional Leadership 18:13 Defining Success in Fractional Roles 24:16 Synozur's Approach to CxOs 26:02 Retaining Fractional Talent 27:23 Things to know 28:14 Recommended Content 29:33 Upcoming Events in 2025 31:42 Wrap Up and Thank You

• Holiday Reflections from Synozur: A Dynamic 2024

  Episode 5

  In this special holiday episode of Polaris, guests from Synozur reflect on the past year, discussing significant events, innovations in technology, and personal highlights. They explore the impact of AI on businesses and the community, share memorable pop culture moments, and make predictions for 2025, emphasizing the importance of adapting to change and focusing on the human side of technology. Takeaways 2024 was a year of both challenges and innovations in technology. AI is expected to be leveraged in new and impactful ways in businesses. The rise of fractional expertise is becoming a trend in organizations. Pop culture moments, like the Olympics and music events, shaped the year. The importance of focusing on the business value of AI is critical. A more skeptical approach to AI investments is anticipated in 2025. Diversity in STEM fields is increasing, as seen in events like the Excel World Championships. The future of AI should prioritize ethical considerations and human values. Sound Bites "AI has been going along for like 65 years." "There's a lot of incentive to get this right." "The business value of AI has yet to be proved." References News and Third-Party Sources: ·       Enhanced Geothermal Systems:  Advancements in geothermal energy for commercial use. MIT Technology Review ·       James Webb Space Telescope: Provided unprecedented clarity in astronomy with stunning images of distant galaxies and exoplanet atmospheres.  NASA's Webb Depicts Staggering Structure in 19 Nearby Spiral Galaxies ·       Gartner Report on Generative AI: Discusses the deployment and expectations of generative AI solutions in businesses. Gartner Says More Than 80% of Enterprises Will Have Used Generative AI APIs or Deployed Generative AI-Enabled Applications by 2026 ·       CrowdStrike Outage: Impact on Windows systems and the need to modernize technology infrastructures. Understanding the CrowdStrike-Induced Microsoft Outage Pop Culture: ·       Coldplay's Music Video "All My Love": Features Dick Van Dyke, highlighting his career and family. Dick Van Dyke sings with Coldplay's Chris Martin in 'All My Love' music video ·       Olympics 2024: Memorable moments including Snoop Dogg's hosting and breakdancing as an Olympic sport. Snoop Dogg's BEST MOMENTS At The 2024 Paris Olympics ·       Madonna's Truth or Dare (1991): Mentioned in the context of AI discussions. Madonna: Truth or Dare - terrific documentary ·       Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Their relationship's impact on the Super Bowl and pop culture. Travis Kelce Reveals How Taylor Swift Romance Has Impacted Pop Culture ·       Shogun TV Series on Hulu: Detailed depiction of Japanese culture and its intersection with Western culture. Shōgun: The brutal Japanese history that inspired 2024's latest TV hit ·       Anora (2024): An exotic dancer's trouble with the Russian mafia, both hilarious and heartbreaking. Anora - Wikipedia World Travel: ·       Olympic Mountains: Mentioned in the context of global events. Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service) ·       Breckenridge, Colorado: Mentioned as a skiing destination. Colorado Skiing & Snowboarding | Breckenridge Resort ·       Iceland: Locations where the aurora was observed. Northern Lights in Iceland - When & Where To See the Aurora ·       Whidbey Island: Locations where the aurora was observed. Northern Lights over Whidbey Third-Party Events: ·       M365 Community Conference: Scheduled for May 4th-9th in Las Vegas, featuring keynotes from Jeff Teper and Jared Spataro. Microsoft 365 Community Conference ·       TechCon 365 Seattle: Scheduled for June 23rd-27th at the Seattle Convention Center. TechCon 365 Seattle Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions 00:52 Guest Introductions 02:43 Highlights of 2024: Innovations and Discoveries 10:09 Reflecting on Synozur's Year: Achievements and Growth 15:20 Pop Culture Moments of 2024 26:08 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2025 33:24 Upcoming Events and Conferences 34:25 Closing Thoughts 36:05 Thanks and Happy Holidays This podcast was produced with Riverside.fm, and features the song A Snowflake's Tale by Howard Harper-Barnes, courtesy of Epidemic Sound. © 2024 The Synozur Alliance, All Rights Reserved

• Company Operating Systems - CoS it's Thanksgiving - Matt Shaffer

  Episode 3

  In the latest episode of Polaris, Matt Shaffer delves into the concept of Company Operating Systems (CoS), exploring its framework, key components, and the importance of documentation and communication in achieving business goals. We discuss the distinction between strategic and operational focuses, the difference between strategy and planning, and share real-world applications of CoS in various organizations. The conversation also touches on the role of software in implementing CoS, best practices for successful implementation, and future trends in organizational design and strategy. Takeaways ·       A Company Operating System is a framework that helps maintain focus on business priorities. ·       The four key components of a CoS are business foundations, strategy, annual plans, and focus rhythm. ·        Goals are just one small piece of a larger operating system. ·       Documentation is crucial for intentionality in achieving business objectives. ·       Strategy involves long-term choices, while planning is about execution. ·       Leading practices for implementation include (1) educate on CoS components; (2) understand the difference between strategy and planning; and (3) don't over-commit on quarterly rocks your first time. How to get going  = candid discussions with leaders, then workshops. " Things we discussed on the show: General ·       You can discover more about Polaris Hall at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs at Polaris Hall • United States Air Force Academy ·       Matt has additional CoS resources hosted at www.salient7.com ·       The "Think System" of Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. [Spoiler: it doesn't really work – bands have to actually, umm, practice.] ·       The story behind the origin of "Big Rocks", popularized by Stephen Covey in his work The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Summary – big rocks have to be tackled first. Events ESPC24 - December 2--6 Stockholm Sweden, Jeff Teper keynote, Microsoft  365 an Azure teams and the best of the community across Europe and beyond.  www.sharepointeurope.com Upgrade your Company Operating System Webinar - December 5: Join Matt for a live overview of company operating systems – a great place to get your questions answered. Register at https://aka.synozur.com/COS2024 CollabCon - December 12: Hosted in Orlando, Florida – learn more at www.collabconforall.com Chapters ·       00:00 Opening ·       00:16 Introducing Matt Shaffer and the Company Operating System ·       06:27 Common Leadership Challenges in Organizations ·       09:30 Understanding Company Operating Systems ·       12:19 Key Components of a Company Operating System ·       15:02 The Importance of Intentionality in Strategy ·       17:54 Distinguishing Between Strategy and Planning ·       20:38 Real-World Applications of Company Operating Systems ·       22:51 The Role of Software in Company Operating Systems ·       25:49 Best Practices for Implementing a Company Operating System ·       27:51 Future Trends in Organizational Design and Strategy ·       36:16 Introduction to Polaris and Its Significance ·       38:18 Matt Shaffer Wrapup ·       39:30 Upcoming Events and Announcements ·       40:50 Closing

• CIAO means goodbye, but say hello to the CAIO - Andrew Borg

  Episode 1

  Today we examine the emerging role of the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) and its growing importance within organizations. While the CAIO may not be necessary in every company, particularly those in the early stages of AI adoption, their role becomes increasingly vital as AI adoption matures. We outline the key responsibilities and benefits of a CAIO, including driving AI strategy, managing AI initiatives, ensuring ethical AI development, and bridging the talent gap in AI expertise.  Portions of this podcast were generated by Google Notebook LM AI, and is based on Andrew Borg's excellent post on the Synozur blog -  The rise of the Chief AI Officer. Andrew discusses the quality and ethics issues that can arise with machine generated content based, in part on other machine generated content.  Takeaways AI is rapidly evolving and requires ethical oversight. The Chief AI Officer role is becoming essential for organizations. AI maturity varies across companies, influencing the need for a CAIO. Regulations are being established to ensure responsible AI use. Transparency in AI processes is crucial for building trust. AI tools can significantly enhance content creation efficiency. Organizations must prepare for AI integration into operations. Learning agility is vital for adapting to AI advancements. AI-generated content raises ethical considerations. Things we discussed on the show: Andrew Borg's blog post on the Synozur web site, The rise of the Chief AI Officer — The Synozur Alliance, is a great introduction to the business context and success criteria for establishing a Chief AI Officer role. Andrew also discusses how it's important to assess where any organization is on the MIT Sloan School AI Maturity Model, as published In MIT Sloan Management Review Fall 2024, "Do You Really Need a Chief AI Officer?", the authors describe 5 keys stages of AI Isaac Asimov's famous Three Laws of Robotics - Wikipedia All this has happened before - the concept of the ghost in the machine originated with 20th Century Oxford philosopher Gilbert Ryle. And its reference in the Police's fine album in 1981 Ghost in the Machine and also SZA's 2022 song Ghost in the Machine with Phoebe Bridgers.  AI Tools Google's fascinating NotebookLM AI knowledge management and analytics workspace  is available in beta now. Claude by Anthropic And of course, Copilot from Microsoft Events Worktech Seattle | November 7, 2024 | Seattle, WA USA TechCon365 - Dallas | Nov. 11-15, 2024 | Dallas, TX, USA Microsoft Ignite (+ more info) | Nov 18-22, 2024, Chicago, IL, USA Chapters Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Introduction to Polaris Pathways 01:38 The Role of the Chief AI Officer 03:25 Google NotebookLM 05:17 Introduction to Andrew Bork's Background 08:35 The Role of Chief AI Officer (CAIO) 11:30 Determining the Need for a CAIO 15:07 Using AI Tools for Content Creation and Ethical Considerations 20:59 The Transformative Power of AI 21:34 Google's amazing NotebookLM 36:08 Ethical Considerations in AI Technology 38:12 New Chapter 43:06 Closing Thoughts on AI Engagement 44:35 Editor's Note 44:51 Upcoming Events 46:16 Conclusion