Remote Space

The Rise of the Ghost Kitchen

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 07:05:41 GMT

Durning the pandemic many restaurants turned off their ovens, corked their wine, and closed their doors. Services like Seamless and Doordash exploded providing the vital service of connecting hungry customers with a variety of culinary delights. But many of these orders weren't from restaurants at all, but rather delivery-only businesses known as “Ghost Kitchens.”

On this episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas chats with journalist Kristen Hawley about the rise of the Ghost Kitchen, an evolution in the restaurant business that began before the pandemic and has grown exponentially with the rise in meal delivery.

Resources:

Kristen Hawley's Website:

https://www.kristenhawley.com/

Kristen Hawley's Ghost Kitchen Article:

https://www.eater.com/21540765/ghost-kitchens-virtual-restaurants-covid-19-industry-impact

Kristen Hawley's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenhawley/

Doug Thomas' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Nomadic Love Story

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:05:58 GMT

The 2020 pandemic led many to discover that they weren't as tethered to a specific location as they previously thought. Realizing that they could continue to do their job from anywhere they had a laptop and reliable internet, it was easy for people to pick up their lives and become a digital nomad. But when your life is comprised of traveling as much as a digital nomad's does, it can be difficult to meet people and forge strong bonds, but that's where our guest comes in to save the day.

Aline Dahmen realized she loved the nomad life but when she found that it was difficult to find and keep friends and develop relationships, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She developed Nomad Soulmates, an online community specifically geared for those like her who were interested in finding friends and romantic partners throughout their travels.

Resources:

Aline Dahmen's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aline-dahmen-6441a0110/

Nomad Soulmates:

https://tour.nomadsoulmates.com/

Doug Thomas' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PAWS and the Pandemic Pet

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 07:05:46 GMT

Have you noticed an ever-increasing cacophony of barks and meows in your neighborhood since the pandemic began? Well you're certainly not alone. Since the pandemic brought the majority of America's workforce inside their homes, people who previously were apprehensive about getting a pet only to leave it home alone for 8-10 hours a day figured that now is the perfect time to get that furry friend they've always wanted.

On this episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas sits down with Corey Childs and Kerri Tenniswood, two members of PAWS, an animal shelter based in Lynwood Washington, to talk about the pandemic pet adoption surge.

Resources:

PAWS

https://www.paws.org/

PAWS on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/paws_wa/

Kerri Tenniswood's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerritenniswood/

Corey Childs' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-childs/

Doug Thomas' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Reality of Virtual Reality at work

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:05:21 GMT

When offices began working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic, teams had to work extra hard to figure out ways to communicate effectively when every team member was siloed in their respective homes. Is there something better than just another Zoom or Microsoft Teams call?

On today's episode, Doug Thomas sits down with Christoph Fleischmann, the founder and CEO of Arthur Technologies a virtual reality tech company that's working to bring teams into the virtual environment. Whether it's sitting around a conference table and being able to whisper something to your neighbor, or conferences with hundreds of people, the time for Virtual Reality may be arriving at your place of work.

Resources:

Christoph Fleischmann's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfleischmann/

Arthur Technologies:

https://arthur.digital/

Doug Thomas' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering WFH, Then Sharing It

Thu, 20 May 2021 07:05:00 GMT

Having worked professionally in Australia and Europe, and both coasts of the United States, it's clear that Adam Naor likes to keep moving. So what happens when someone with an active spirit, a health-focused mindset, and a background in computer science is forced to work from inside the confines of his own home for a year? He figures out how to optimize that workflow and share his lessons with the masses.

On today's episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas sits down with Adam to discuss the founding of Work From Home Advisor and the informational newsletter training program that spawned from it, WFH Bootcamp.

Resources

Work From Home Advisor:

https://wfhadviser.com/

WFH Bootcamp Newsletter:

https://wfhbootcamp.com/

Adam Naor's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnaor/

Doug Thomas LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What 4,400 People Want You to Know

Thu, 06 May 2021 07:05:03 GMT

We all have our own ideas about what works and what doesn't in the new digital workspace. Online meetings, video chats, no water cooler talk have various advocates and detractors. And some have learned to love the “new normal.” To quantify these ideas, we can turn to Andy Goodman of The Goodman Center who conducted a survey of over four thousand people to get a more accurate sense of what works, what doesn’t, and most importantly, how to keep people engaged in the digital workspace.

On today's episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas speaks with Andy Goodman about his findings in the survey titled, Unmuted: What Works, What Doesn't, and How We Can All Do Better When Working Online.

Resources

The Goodman Center:

https://thegoodmancenter.com

The Goodman Center's Unmuted report:

https://www.thegoodmancenter.com/resources/#

Andy Goodman's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-goodman-6a36b110/

Doug Thomas LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Health Comes Into Focus

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:05:43 GMT

Over the past year as the global workforce largely shifted to working remotely, our work-life balance was thrown for a loop. But one silver lining of the complications of working from home 24/7 and all the confusion and uncertainty caused by the pandemic is that it has led to a spotlight on both our mental health and issues of accessibility.

On today's episode, Doug speaks with Megan Lawrence, Microsoft's Accessibility Evangelist who spends her days working to ensure that everybody has the tools they need to excel at their jobs. Doug and Megan speak about how there's been a paradigm shift in how those in the workforce discuss their mental health and ways that the workplace is evolving to become more accommodating, and the upcoming Ability Summit all are welcomed to.

Links

Meghan Lawrence's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganlawrence55/

Doug Thomas' LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Ability Summit:

https://abilitysummit.eventcore.com/

Office Accessibility Center:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/ecab0fcf-d143-4fe8-a2ff-6cd596bddc6

Dictate feature in Microsoft 365:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/eab203e1-d030-43c1-84ef-999b0b9675fe

Turn off notifications--distractions--in Outlook:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/turn-new-message-alert-pop-up-on-or-off-9940c70e-b306-442e-a856-d94b20318481

In Outlook, how to end meetings early or start late:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/end-meetings-early-or-start-late-ebb4c4c9-6992-4ea7-9772-8b5883df8500

Author Kenji Yoshino on Covering:

http://kenjiyoshino.com/KY/covering/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your Work: Reinvented

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 07:05:00 GMT

Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, most of us have transitioned to working remotely. It didn’t take long for some people to see some of the obvious benefits of ditching the traditional office setup in exchange for the remote work model, and many of those people have since realized they don't need to go back to the way it was. And then there are people like Lydia Lee, founder of Screw the Cubicle, who has been practicing nomadic employment long before the quarantine popped up on anyone's radar.

On today's episode of Remote Space, Doug Thomas speaks with Lydia Lee about her transition from a six-figure corporate job to starting a career helping people to find meaning in their work and empowering them to find purpose while also making a profit.

Doug Thomas' Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Lydia Lee Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydiallee/

Lydia Lee's Website: Screw the Cubicle

Lydia's article, How I turned my dream life into my real life: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-i-turned-my-dream-lif_b_9630836

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Compliance Training Met Rashelle…

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 07:05:00 GMT

We’ve all seen those classic company compliance videos, you know the ones; poorly-scripted dialogue trying to teach us not to divulge company secrets. But Rashelle Tanner, Senior Corporate Counsel for Compliance and Ethics at Microsoft, knew that there was a better way to get information across than the traditional method. Using the Microsoft Runs on Trust campaign, Tanner decided to bring a dash of Hollywood pizazz to the new compliance videos. We’re talking suspense. Actually relatable characters. Drama!

But raising the bar on these training videos takes a lot of production, and when quarantine began in March of 2020, all of that had to stop, or at least shift.

Tune in to today’s episode to hear more about Rashelle Tanner's work, some of the drawbacks of working from home from her perspective as Sr. Corporate Counsel for Compliance and Ethics, and how her team has pivoted to create Netflix-worthy compliance training videos while working remote.

Resources:

Rashelle Tanner’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashelle-tanner-a7a8ab6/

Doug Thomas’ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-k-thomas/

Standards of Business Conduct Seasons 2 and 3 trailers - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/compliance

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching Through Screens

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:05:00 GMT

In this episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas is joined by Maria Mendiburo, PhD, a Senior Technical Programmer at Microsoft. Outside of her day job digging into the engineering that makes AI work, Maria has a lifelong passion for education.

Maria has taught classes for TEALS, a program connecting classroom teachers with tech industry volunteers to create sustainable computer science classes. Maria discusses some of the advantages (and of course, disadvantages) of remote learning and what the future may look like in education going forward.

We also learn more about Maria’s work with LatinaTechies, a Seattle networking group founded by Maria with the goal of connecting women in technology. Doug and Maria discuss how she’s seeing massive explosions in networking via sites like LinkedIn versus the sponsored meetups she used to attend pre-pandemic.

Resources:

Maria Mendiburo - LinkedIn

TEALS program - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/teals

LatinaTechies - https://leanin.org/circles-network/latinas-in-seattle

Doug Thomas - LinkedIn

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Training How to Work Remotely, Remotely

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 08:05:54 GMT

The sudden shift to remote work has forced many executives and their assistants to adjust their working dynamic to fit today’s demands.

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug Thomas is joined by Laura Belgrado, a project coordinator and executive assistant to the President of KIND International at Mars, INC. Laura has been working remotely since 2003 and is no stranger to the assistant environment. Laura’s held executive assistant roles for several companies, including 10 years at Microsoft. Not only is she a champion for remote working, but she also trains executives and their assistants in remote communication and has been a touchstone for many as businesses move to a remote environment.

Laura tells us all about “communication shift,” why it’s important for assistants to speak up, how to liven up your team video calls, the importance of embracing technology, and so much more.

Resources:

Laura Belgrado - LinkedIn

Doug Thomas - LinkedIn

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keeping Parliament Running

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:01:18 GMT

“We've got a good mixture of modern buildings with modern workstations, but when you're in the Palace of Westminster is like traveling back in time. One thing that I like to do if I am working on the estate is actually just have a walk round just to remind myself [that] this is where I work, and admire the the walls, the wallpaper, the carpet, the lighting, the paintings that are on the wall and the general architecture that is so historic and hundreds of years old.” – Winnie King

How are some of the world’s oldest institutions transforming themselves in the digital age?

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug is joined by Winnie King, Personal Assistant to the Director General of the House of Commons, and Chair of Parliamentary Admin Support Network. For more than a decade, Winnie has seen the ins-and-outs of Parliament including working at the historic estate, meeting with various officials, and even meeting the Queen! Now, as most of Parliament works remotely, Winnie shares with us her challenges in trying to gratify her personal need for human interaction while providing the same level of support to the Director General and her colleagues.

Listen in and learn how the British government is reimagining work life in the remote space.

Resources:

LinkedIn: Winnie King FEPAA | LinkedIn

Email: kingw@parliament.uk

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Neighborhood Shops Go Online

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:05:34 GMT

"Talk about flipping somebody's world upside down and just shaking them, because that's exactly what happened … And once you flip it and you go online, you have to kind of learn how to, to interact with people completely differently." - Ethaniel Sinclair

The retail market has changed drastically. From online retail stores to virtual personal shoppers, consumers can purchase products without ever having to leave their home. But how has the move to a virtual environment changed the way consumers interact with sellers? Can customers and sellers achieve the same kind of human interaction remotely?

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug chats with Ethaniel Sinclair, a retail store specialist with over 16 years of experience. In the last 5 years, Ethaniel has worked at the Microsoft store in Washington, D.C. and has recently experienced the quick move to a full virtual space. By focusing on the different ways people are communicating their needs and emotions remotely, Ethaniel shares with us his experience in developing new skills to better understand his customers. He also shares with us Microsoft’s introduction of a personal shopping appointment to help bring the in-store experience into your home.

Resources:

LinkedIn: Ethaniel Sinclair | LinkedIn

Article: Emergency plan has Microsoft store employees helping people in new ways

Article: Personal online shopping appointments with Microsoft Store associates

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tales From the Customer Service Guru

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:05:25 GMT

What is the future of customer service in the remote landscape?

Try and imagine simulating the experience of interacting with a customer in-person while working remote. You might think that interaction could be quite simple, but even with today’s technology, people are realizing that customer experience is more than just a service; it’s everything the customer experiences.

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug Thomas speaks to Shep Hyken, a customer service and experience expert, an award-winning keynote speaker, and a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Shep discusses how the customer service field has changed in the last 30 years, and how people are using remote applications to try and accomplish customer service success. Additionally, Shep shares on ways to make online presentations more visually interesting and also makes a case for pre-recorded online presentations.

Listen in and find out how technology is finding ways to bring about positive customer experiences.

Resources:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shephyken

Website: www.hyken.com

Email: shep@hyken.com

Twitter: @hyken.com

Media: See more than 500 video lessons on customer service and CX on Shep’s YouTube channel: www.ShepTV.com

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Life, Interrupted

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:05:32 GMT

Congratulations, you’ve landed a new job! Minus filling out HR paperwork, your first day will be exciting as you shake hands with your teammates, get introduced to your new workspace and office equipment, and (most importantly) make the acquaintance of the coffee machine. But what if you couldn’t physically meet your coworkers to shake hands? What if your new workspace was actually your living room?

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug Thomas chats with Emily Hacker, a Threat Analyst at Microsoft. Emily recalls her first day on the job--the week Microsoft sent everyone home--from remotely participating in her new employee orientation, to meeting her co-workers over online chat. Emily describes that while her tech career started a bit differently from others, she was still able to navigate new waters and adapt to her role in helping to protect businesses from cyber criminals.

Listen in to find out how an experience in remote onboarding could be the thing of the future.

Resources

Emily Hacker – LinkedIn

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Security Goes Home

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 08:05:22 GMT

With the mass migration to remote work earlier this year, companies quickly found themselves changing their work model and mode of communication, sometimes overnight. But for other companies, the shift to remote work came before the environmental necessity to work from home.

In this episode of Remote Space, Doug Thomas converses with Chad Gniffke, CEO of briteCITY, an IT services company focused on improving companies through cyber security services, cloud and various IT solutions. Chad shares with us his success story of how his company tried out in 2019, a work-from-home model for 90 days that proved so effective, they never name back to the office! Chad also shares his method for keeping his team focused and accountable to support over 200 businesses with their security concerns, as well as what simple steps you can take to protect yourself from a cyber-security threat.

Listen in and find out how an experiment in remote work became a permanent change for a local IT solutions company.

Resources:

Chad Gniffke - LinkedIn

briteCITY - Website

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putting the Brakes on Commuting

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 08:05:39 GMT

Who didn’t dread the commute to work? Getting dressed, scarfing down breakfast, the traffic, the crowds, the anxiety. And that’s on a good day. In a different world where we can go to work in our pajamas and work entirely from home, a lot of us are actually missing the commute to work.

In this episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas chats with Natalie Singer-Velush & Lukas Velush, both former reporters and who now work as a Senior Marketing Communications Manager and a Content Program Manager at Microsoft. As two busy parents with careers in tech, Natalie and Lukas help remind us that commuting was not all that bad. In reflecting on how they used their travel time to chat, plan family events or coordinate logistics, travel time created a buffer of personal time before officially starting their workday. In addition, Natalie chats about how recent data around commute time is encouraging technology to focus in on wellbeing and productivity.

Listen in and find out how a dreaded daily occurrence has now become a reminisced pastime.

Resources

Natalie Singer-Velush – LinkedIn

Lukas Velush – LinkedIn

Microsoft analyzed data on its newly remote workforce – Article

Introducing insights in Teams to power wellbeing and productivity – Article

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Family Tech Guru

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:00:29 GMT

In today’s tech world, remote work is part of an overall remote lifestyle. From smart home devices that can lock doors, turn on lights, and set your thermostat, to digital apps that help your entire household stay organized, remote work is a welcomed addition to life in the digital age.

In this episode of Remote Space, host Doug Thomas chats with tech guru Sarah Kimmel, a digital parenting coach and owner of Family Tech. Drawing from her 16 years of experience in supporting companies as an IT manager, Sarah talks to us about the benefits of upgrading your entire space into a smart home to fit a remote work lifestyle. Sarah also discusses her views on using tech to stay in shape, the positives of introducing children to cell phones at a young age, the importance of unplugging from our devices every night, and even tech gift ideas!

Resources

Sarah Kimmel - Website, LinkedIn

Family Tech – Website

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Same Game, New Rules

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:48:27 GMT

The quick transition to remote space has got us rethinking our approach to work. The same issues surrounding company productivity, employee engagement, and work and life balance are now met along with an urgent push towards working remotely. While this sudden change has got a lot of our heads spinning, we can be assured that support staff are ready to meet the challenges.

In this week’s episode, we are joined by Bonnie Low-Kramen, a best-selling author, trainer, speaker, and former personal assistant to celebrity Olympia Dukakis. In her more than 30+ years of experience as an assistant and training administrative staff, Bonnie shares with us her views on the new ways Personal Assistants and Executive Assistants are propelling the change to remote work. Bonnie offers her insights on how support staff are building partnerships with those they support, to foster a productive and engaged remote workforce. From a love and hate relationship with technology, to the quick shift from open space to remote work, listen in and stay informed on how administrative support staff are encouraging us to rethink old ways, and adopt new rules.

Resources

Bonnie Low-Kramen – LinkedIn, Website, Twitter

Email: bonnie@bonnielowkramen.com

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fairness in Remote Work

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:00:16 GMT

The transition to remote work, while having its challenges, has also brought unexpected positive changes to the new way that we work. Now more than ever, workers from different locations around the world, who may have found it difficult to connect remotely before, are able to connect fairly throughout remote space.

In this episode, host Doug Thomas speaks with Hanna Wallach, Senior Researcher at Microsoft. In addition to her work in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Hanna also leads a group of summer interns in Microsoft’s Research program. In this episode, Hanna describes the unique ways she has connected with interns through virtual social events including yoga, painting classes, and even a cocktail making lesson. Additionally, Hanna explains how the full shift to remote work has propelled a more inclusive effort in scheduling meetings, video conferencing, and even large-scale virtual conferences.

Resources:

Hanna Wallach – MSR Bio | LinkedIn

FATE: Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics in AI

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Crisis Mode to Not Going Back

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 16:37:39 GMT

Workers at some of the world’s largest companies are having to quickly figure out how to meet the demands of the new remote workplace. From balancing meetings in several time zones, to managing a team in various countries, today’s remote worker has many challenges to getting work done.

In this week’s episode of Remote Space, we speak with Ann Hiatt, a leadership strategist and consultant for technology companies and executives focusing on efficiency, strategy, and growth. Currently based in Europe but with clients around the world, Ann developed effective remote strategies while working with CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt. Through her experience in managing projects with teams spread out in different cities, and working with executive agendas, Ann shares her thoughts on time management and team support.

Listen in and learn executive pro tips on staying connected and effective in your Remote Space.

Resources

Ann Hiatt - Website

Ann Hiatt - LinkedIn

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show and Tell in the Virtual World

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:00:59 GMT

Participating in the virtual world of online meetings and remote presentations can leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable. As we share our screens and presentations to others, we also display our digital talents, such as tackling unexpected tech issues, navigating through a slide deck, or even maintaining an organized desktop. Luckily, for those of us looking to improve our skills, our next guest can help teach us how to put our best foot forward.

In this week’s episode of Remote Space, we are joined by Vickie Sokol Evans, the Founder of RedCape, a global digital trainer who engages Microsoft, Apple, and Google productivity training. By showing others how to develop their digital skills, Vickie is helping hundreds of people at the largest companies become more efficient and expand their skills and confidence as more and more companies shift to remote work.

Listen in this week’s episode of Remote Space and learn how you can be a superhero in today’s digital workplace.

Resources

Vickie Sokol Evans, MCT – LinkedIn

RedCape - Website

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A New Mantra

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:14:02 GMT

In the sudden move to remote space, small businesses are having to rethink their marketing and service approach to continue to meet the demands of consumers. What some had considered a marginal way to attract and retain customers, online sales and services have now become the backbone and integral component to the survival of businesses everywhere.

In this week’s episode of Remote Space, we are joined by Kendra Hubbell, Sr. Product Marketing Manager at The Essential Baking Company, and also a newly practicing yoga instructor. In both of her roles, Kendra shares with us her experience in pivoting a baking company and a yoga practice, entirely to the remote space. By changing her marketing approach to accommodate the social distancing norms today, Kendra is able to help sell baked goods, and do handstands, all in the comfort of her own home.

Resources

Kendra Hubbell - LinkedIn

The Essential Baking Company – Website

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Office Evolved

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:07:47 GMT

"Although there are challenges … we are confident that we can adapt so that we can continue developing the tools and products that empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more." – Mark Powers

The current Remote Work era has forced us to redefine what it’ll look like when many of us are allowed to work from the office again. When that time comes, what can we expect when we return to our offices? Can we expect our work schedules to be the same? Can we look forward to having face-to-face conversations with our colleagues again?

In this week’s episode, we are joined by Mark Powers and Jasminder Thind from Microsoft’s Workplace Intelligence Group. By looking at the work habits of those returning to work in China, Mark and Jasminder are able to offer us some insight as to what the return to work may look like in other parts of the world. The data collected can give us hope to look forward to better communication, balanced working hours, and a continued focus, as we look forward in transitioning back to work.

Resources

Mark Powers – Linkedin

Jasminder Thind – Linkedin

Microsoft Workplace Insights - Remote Work Series

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under One Roof

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 02:19:55 GMT

While individuals make their schedules, it becomes imperative for leaders [to define] the culture for their organization and defining what they need to do to make sure that the work from home norms or the good work from home practices are maintained. – Abhinav Singh

Working in the comfort of our own home is one of the greatest perks of remote work. Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, working from home may provide the flexibility to create your own personal schedule. However, recent data shows that work has been encroaching on our personal time.

In this week’s episode, we speak with Abhinav Singh, a Business Strategy & Customer Solutions professional at Microsoft. Using meta data collected with Workplace Analytics, Abhinav walks us through the latest findings that show some people experiencing longer work days since the shift to remote work, even creeping into evenings and weekends.

Feel encouraged to check your schedules and maintain a healthy work life balance as we work and live under the same roof, in this week’s episode of Remote Space.

Resources:

Blog written by Christina Hegele, Abhinav Singh - Balancing Work and Life Under One Roof

Abhinav Singh - LinkedIn

Microsoft Workplace Insights - Remote Work Series

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Shift in Well-Being

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 04:16:22 GMT

"There will always be some boundary that an employee and a manager maintain, but that boundary certainly has shifted. And it's shifted in places that it's needed to shift so that employees can be more successful and have a better ability to manage their home life and their work life and how those things fit together." – Erik Anderson

Remote work is undoubtedly changing the way employees and managers connect. Physical meetings and ad-hoc conversations are now replaced with video, phone, and online chats. Team gatherings and workplace events have also moved entirely to online virtual events. How have these changes affected the relationship between managers and employees?

In this episode of Remote Space, we talk with Erik Anderson, a director and manager at Microsoft. As part of the Workplace Intelligence Team, Erik shares with us valuable insight into the most recent research findings from data taken before and after the shift to 100% remote work. Surprisingly, the data shows that conversations have evolved and meetings between employees and their managers are being prioritized on both sides. Erik also shares how managing remotely has helped him and his conversations with his family grow.

Listen in an be encouraged in the new way managers and employees and evolving their relationships in this week’s episode of Remote Work.

Resources

Erik Anderson - LinkedIn

Microsoft Workplace Insights - Remote Work Series

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nomadic Worker

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 03:46:45 GMT

“Being time rich is the ultimate goal.” - Camille Holden

A remote worker is defined as someone who works outside of a traditional office. A remote worker can work at the comfort of their home, at a coffee shop or internet cafe, or even on a white sandy beach. A remote worker can even work on a plane, while traveling to a tropical destination.

If this sounds like the ultimate dream job to you, meet our next guests, Taylor Croonquist and Camille Holden. This traveling duo work 100% remotely, in exotic places like Bail, Thailand, and Fiji (just to name a few). And while their role allows them to work from anywhere, Taylor and Camille explain that working remotely is not as glamorous as it seems. From trying to find decent and reliable internet on an island, to creating a work schedule that allows them to enjoy the local scenery, Taylor and Camille provide us insight into their experiences in carving out enough time to be productive and happy.

Listen in and learn about the pros and cons to remote working while traveling across the globe!

Resources

Camille Hilden LinkedIn

Taylor Croonquist LinkedIn

https://nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com/

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding the Perfect Chord

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 03:41:56 GMT

"You're not working from home. You're at home, during a crisis, trying to work."

You’ve heard of the phrase before, “Work Life Balance.” But what does it mean? How can we balance work life and home life, while fulfilling our duties as parents, spouses, roommates, or friends, all while living through uncertain times?

As most workers find themselves working from home (perhaps even indefinitely), many of us are addressing new challenges. Parents with young children are having to provide childcare full-time. Families and roommates are sharing their living spaces a lot more than usual, and remote workers are struggling to manage their time between work-life and home-life.

In this second episode of Remote Space, join us as we speak to two Senior Content Experience Managers at Microsoft, Jody Allard and Trish Winter-Hunt. Jody and Trish share with us their experiences in working from home while juggling deadlines, kids, and even law school.

Resources

Jody Allard LinkedIn

Trish Winter-Hunt LinkedIn

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Work Frontier

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 03:35:18 GMT

"Watch your accomplishments, not your time." – Jeff Porton, Take Control of Your Productivity

According to a 2019 National Compensation Survey (NCS) from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 9.8 million people work from home. And while that number only represents about 7% of the civilian workforce, this year has seen an unprecedented spike of people working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This scenario has posed many unforeseen challenges for people in the workforce. Most people were not prepared to work from home daily. For one thing, there might be physical barriers, such as not having a dedicated workspace, or working in a space that is too small or too noisy. Creating a comfortable balance between home and work life can also be challenging, along with trying to stay engaged and collaborative with work colleagues over phone or in online meetings.

In this episode of Remote Space, join us as we speak to Glenn Fleishman, author of the book “Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily.” Glenn talks about some of the challenges that people, who are new to working from home, have experienced. Glenn also shares his advice on ways to be productive, including balancing work and family life, and being both physically comfortable and efficient in our new workspace.