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The Wonderful World of Mark Kashman

As we get ready as we get ready for the Microsoft 365 Community Conference in May 2025, it was a good time to sit down with my longtime colleague and Intrazone podcast co-host Mark Kashman from Microsoft.



We explored Mark's role as a Senior Product Manager, and his work with customers and the community. We covered some of his favorite productivity tips with @mentions and Loop, and even had Mark throw in his own gratuitous sports reference for once. Of course, building on our M365 Conference preview with Jeff Teper and Karuana Gatimu, we took a deep dive into what to expect next month beyond the keynotes, sessions, and expos at the Community Lounge in Las Vegas.


Even if you're not going to the conference, it’s great to hear Mark's take on the importance of this community and how to get connected and stay engaged.

We hope you enjoy it, and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.


Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.


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.


References


Microsoft and the Community

Mark Kashman


Pop Culture

Events

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.


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.”

  • "Businesses 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?”

 

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.


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

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