Session Abstract

When people talk about Viva Engage, they often talk about “Communities” and “Communities in Viva”, but what are Communities (of Practice, a.k.a. CoPs) really? And what are the benefits for us as individuals of spending time building communities? What is the potential business value to our customers, or to our peers, teams, and Organisations? Isn’t it all just a social club and yet another soulless social media-type trend which will fade away? And, at the end of the day, isn’t it just another distraction and a complete and utter waste of time and (our employer’s) money? In this session we will learn the basics of what CoPs are, how they work (and don’t work), when and why they work – and how they can become a great source of inspiration, innovation, and creativity, improve employee satisfaction, growth, and wellbeing, and enhance both productivity and profitability. Too good to be true? No, it isn’t. because it will not come for free – it will take vision, work, and perseverance but it will be worth every penny and every minute spent as soon as you start reaping the benefits! This session is based on storytelling from Rebecka's own experiences pioneering a new category or CoPs inside Microsoft Consulting Services and her journey through Knowledge Management that started with a small role as a Community Lead, and grew into a career, thanks to the friendships she formed, the visibility and recognition she received - and her passion for sharing knowledge without expecting compensation or anything in return.

Note to event organizers

Delivered successfully and with much appreciation at Bletchley Park (Sep 24) and accepted to several other CD events and international KM and M365 conferences.

Rebecka Isaksson

Rebecka is a visionary thought leader passionate about technology, people, and behaviour, specialising in people and culture change. She guides organisations on harnessing knowledge to drive business value through responsible and ethical use of AI. As Knowledge- & Copilot Enablement Lead at Sulava MEA, she actively contributes as a peer mentor in the global Knowledge Management (KM) Community. Rebecka is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at international events, sharing insights on how AI accelerates and enhances KM strategies and vice versa. With over a decade of global experience, she previously served as Director of Knowledge Management and Product Marketing Manager for Content AI at Microsoft corporate headquarters. In July 2024, she was recognised as a Microsoft MVP for M365 Apps & Services/SharePoint, reflecting her influence and expertise in the field.

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