The Hive Mind: Copilot Learnings from the Community

Let's talk about real-world preparation Microsoft Copilot! Yes, it can transform modern work, if the implementation is done correctly.
Joy and her colleagues surveyed leading M365 experts on how to make Copilot a success. This session brings those insights to you!
We'll dive into:
*Expectations vs. Reality
*Three Facets of Copilot Readiness
*Technical- Essential technical preparations for Copilot.
*People- Strategies for engaging your team with Copilot.
*Content- The role of content in optimizing Copilot's performance.
*Starting Points- Leave with practical steps to embark on your Copilot journey.

Join Joy Apple as she dives into Copilot readiness, ensuring you have the knowledge to move forward with confidence.

Rethinking Intranet Navigation. Hub Sites for the Modern World

We all miss our old, trusty global navigation; modern site architecture calls for a change in how we think about organizing and connecting to our sites and information. But there’s good news: Hub sites can help us get back consistency in our intranet navigation as we flatten out our architecture.

In this session we'll discover what Hub sites are, what they aren’t, and best practices for leveraging them in modern architecture.
We'll also walk through utilizing the new Global Navigation feature and see how Viva Connections surfaces the Global Nav in Teams!

What Does AI Readiness Really Mean, Anyway?

AI readiness, preparing for Copilot... we're hearing these phrases a lot but what do they really mean?
Let's cut through the buzz words and perform a quick reality check on what it really means to be AI ready. We'll talk about familiar topics such as information architecture, permissions, security, lifecycle management and why these are the essential elements to being ready for the age of AI.

Viva Underground. An Outcome-based Route to Success with Microsoft Viva

Have you begun your journey into Microsoft Viva or is the landscape too intimidating? Unsure which tech to deploy first? Consultants have too many opinions on which tool will improve your business?

Join Joy and Jay as they present their Viva Underground: a map of outcome-based paths to Viva success, focused on your business needs.

There is no one "starting place" for Viva, but there are many paths you can take based on your organizational objectives.
Key Takeaways:
- How to begin defining your Employee Experience priorities
- How to decide which route to take to help achieve your organizational goals
- Approaching Microsoft Viva from a human first perspective

Creating Intelligent Intranet Using Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Viva Engage!

A lot has changed since Microsoft began recommending flat information architecture for modern SharePoint intranets.
In this session we’ll discuss:
• The advantages of flat information architecture
• How hub sites provide consistent navigation and content rollups
• How Teams connected team sites play a role in the intranet
• Using Yammer to engage employees
• Creating a single-pane-of-glass experience for employees with Microsoft Viva

This session can run between 45-60 mins.

Using Technology to Lessen "Rushing Woman Syndrome"

Are you a Rushing Woman? Are you struggling with a lot on your plate at work, at home, and more “to-dos” just keep coming in?
Is there really such a thing as “work/life” balance and if so, how to we start finding that magical balance point? Why is it so important that we find this balance in our lives.

In this community talk I’ll highlight some of the functionality we have in Microsoft 365 that can enable all of us to protect our mental wellbeing and even our personal time.
Apps we'll explore include:

• Microsoft Viva
• Outlook
• Teams
• Even Instacart!

I’ll also share some of my perspectives and steps I’ve taken to lessen the “rush mentality” in my personal time.

How to Win Friends (in the Business) and Solve Problems

Do you hate talking to people? Do you wish you could simply deploy a tool and move on to the next "problem"? Do you long for the olden days where the business left you alone?

During this session, Jay and Joy will help you look like you care (because we know you really do) about business needs, to fine tune your technological solutions, and ensure the successful adoption of these tools in helping your company succeed.

1. Care for the business
2. Deploy cool technology
3. ...
4. Profit

How Teams Fits into My Modern Information Architecture

For years science has argued that your Information Architecture should follow your organizational structure and intranets have been built accordingly. However, Flat Architecturers Joy & Jay are here to break the conspiracies through this INTERACTIVE discussion and show that Flat Architecture is not only possible, but it works!

For real though, here's what you'll learn:
- Flat doesn’t mean one dimensional
- Teams IS a layer in your Information Architecture
- Why is a Flat Architecture the best practice for M365?
- How do you go from Nested to Flat?
- How is this best for business users? Admins? Security? Knowledge Management?

TMO (Too Many Options) In M365?

Is the confusion of TMO (Too Many Options) in M365 getting to you?
SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Yammer, Outlook... When do we use what for communication? Collaboration?
In this session Joy will break down our Microsoft 365 options and bring clarity on how the M365 tools work better together for collaboration. We'll address leveraging our "Swiss Army Knife" of applications to be better equipped when communicating with the various audiences we interact with day in and day out.

Microsoft 365 Groups - The Force That Binds the Universe (of Apps) Together

Microsoft 365 Groups are at the heart of modern collaboration and security models. Much like the Force binds the universe together, M365 Groups binds our apps. They provide permissions management and a security service that can simplify managing access to users throughout SharePoint, Teams, Planner, and more.

Let's take a closer look at the power of Microsoft 365 Groups and how they can bring together security, collaboration, and communication. We'll learn how to use the Force... Groups to streamline modern work in the context of Microsoft 365 applications such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook, as well as how guest management works within a Group.

Teams In The Architecture

Microsoft Teams is revolutionizing how we collaborate in business. However, many organizations struggle with their Teams implementation due to complexities and misunderstandings of how Teams impacts their Architecture.
This session will cover how we can architect our intranet with Teams in mind, not only to reduce duplication of sites, but to use existing team sites with Microsoft Teams.
We'll also discuss:
• How Microsoft Teams fits into intranet architecture
• Security best practices for Teams (and SharePoint)
• Implications of private and shared channels
• Enhancing teamwork with Teams
• How tabs and connectors help us turn channels into true hubs for teamwork

60 - 90 minutes