Digital Workplaces in 2025 - Ed Rogers and Michelle Caldwell
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Release Date: 02/23/2025
The Introvert’s Guide to Influence - Crissy Conner
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
Building Delight: Inside Microsoft Product Management
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
Not Too Big, Not Too Small – TechCon is Just Right - David Wilhelm
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
Bots to Books to Bucks – The AI Revenue Flywheel - Zack Zeller
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
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...
info_outline
The Wonderful World of Mark Kashman
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
Strategy Unplugged: Dialogues with Dr. John Hillen
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
Transform the Future at The M365 Community Conference - Jeff Teper
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
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 – 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 , after most...
info_outline
The Productivity Paradox: Handling More with Less - Mr. Productivity
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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...
info_outline
AI Realities: More Than Meets the Avatar - Michael Cutajar
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – 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 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...
info_outline
Project Runway: The Path to Delivery Excellence with Michelle Boyd
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
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...
info_outlinePolaris 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