S2: Ep 4 | The evolution of SharePoint as a platform, with Mark Kashman
Mark Kashman spent over a decade inside Microsoft working on SharePoint, from the early days of SharePoint 2007 to becoming the first product manager for SharePoint Online. Now as an independent consultant, he shares insights that only come from being on the engineering side of one of the world's most widely used platforms. In this conversation, Mark breaks down the evolution of SharePoint from a document storage system requiring a "SharePoint PhD" to the modern collaboration platform that now powers Microsoft Teams, Lists, Loop, and countless other applications. He explains why SharePoint succeeded by being both an application and a platform, and how this flexibility creates both opportunities and challenges for organizations. The discussion covers the reality of intranet ownership, from governance planning to the never-ending nature of digital workplace evolution. Mark shares surprising use cases he's encountered, from managing 500 delivery trucks with Funko Pop shipments to massive enterprise deployments with pixel-perfect branding requirements. We explore the future of digital workplaces in an AI-driven world, examining how Copilot and similar tools will complement rather than replace traditional intranet experiences. Mark explains the crucial difference between pull-based AI interactions and the push-based communication that organizations still need for announcements, training, and company-wide initiatives.
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S2: Ep 3 | Behind DLA Piper's SharePoint intranet success, with Alex Peers
David Bowman and Jarbas Horst speak with Alex Peers, Intranet Content Manager at DLA Piper, about transforming corporate communications through storytelling on SharePoint. Alex manages the intranet for 7000 people across multiple countries at the global law firm, turning what could be dry corporate content into engaging human stories. Alex explains how DLA Piper moved beyond traditional corporate jargon 18 months ago by applying external storytelling techniques internally. The team operates like a news desk, creating compelling content about colleagues from a German partner who referees Bundesliga matches to a lawyer who appeared on the Swedish version of Survivor. This approach has significantly improved engagement rates while subtly reinforcing company values without forcing vision statements down people's throats. Key topics covered: [00:00] Intro [02:07] SharePoint Migration to Cloud Strategy [03:25] Internet as Central Hub for 7000 Employees [04:16] Human-Centered Storytelling Approach Transforms Corporate Communications [05:50] Swedish Survivor Story Hooks Employees [07:32] Building a Collaborative News Desk Team [08:52] Managing Global Audience Across Multiple Regions [11:12] Flexible Tools Enable Quick Response Changes [12:25] Relationship-Based Feedback Over Forms [15:52] Balancing Compliance with People-Oriented Culture [18:12] Automated Content Management Reduces Manual Work [20:46] Power BI Dashboard Transforms Analytics [25:32] Microsoft 365 Integration Benefits [28:10] AI Copilot Empowers Non-Technical Users [30:53] Future Vision Beyond Browser-Based Intranets [34:05] Always Be a Student Mindset The conversation explores balancing global content needs with local office requirements, using Power Automate for content governance, and measuring success through relationships rather than just analytics. Alex shares insights on preparing for AI agents and the future where intranets may not require traditional web browsers at all.
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S2: Ep 2 | How to build a people-first intranet in SharePoint with Abby Webster
Abby Webster from TD Bank shares how they transformed a frustrating 150000-page intranet system into a streamlined platform that 95000 employees actually love using. From handling 1 million daily visits to seamlessly integrating social collaboration, discover the strategic decisions that made their SharePoint-based solution a massive success.
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S2: Ep 1 | The SharePoint intranet saga continues
David Bowman and Jarbas Horst return for Season 2 of Fresh Perspectives, diving into the latest SharePoint drama that unfolded while David was on vacation. Microsoft introduced new page templates that disappeared almost immediately after user backlash, plus a mysterious AI quick actions button that's now floating on every SharePoint site.The hosts share real feedback from recent conferences where SharePoint vendors face the same response - users saying "no" when asked if they like SharePoint. They discuss the reality of boring, disconnected experiences that plague large organizations, especially when relying on out-of-the-box features.Fresh Intranet's parent company Advania UK completed major acquisitions, creating a 450 million pound revenue business with over 1500 employees and 10,000 customers. Meanwhile, ChatGPT-5 launched with more natural conversations now available in Microsoft Copilot.
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Ep 12 | The reality of SharePoint intranets: Season 1 Wrapped
In this season finale of Fresh Perspectives, Jarbas and David reflect on the standout moments and key lessons from their first twelve episodes.From reflecting on how the podcasting journey pushed them out of their comfort zones, to sharing their most memorable highlights - this episode revisits the episodes that explored 2025 trends, the evolving role of AI and Copilot, and standout guest appearances from industry voices like Kai at Swoop Analytics and Manesh Mistry from Microsoft.Tune in for the full episode for a few sneak peeks and exciting plans for Season 2.------------------That’s a wrap for Season 1 🎉Thank you for your support, feedback, and brilliant questions.We’re taking a short break to gear up for Season 2, meanwhile follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fresh-digital-workplace/] for more insights on all things SharePoint intranets and employee experience.
About Fresh Perspectives: Living in the reality of SharePoint intranets
Need to use a SharePoint intranet due to internal policies, company transitions, or legacy systems? When all the available information is overly technical or negative, where do you turn? Enter Fresh Perspectives: Living in the reality of SharePoint intranets. We provide useful, jargon-free insights and real-world examples to help you maximize the benefits of SharePoint intranets and tackle its challenges. Pro-SharePoint but realistic, we debunk misconceptions and share product management insights from Fresh Intranet.
Listen to Fresh Perspectives: Living in the reality of SharePoint intranets, The Ramsey Show and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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