In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, I'm joined by Fiona Carney and Richard Gregory to discuss how Microsoft are using people-focused tech for business acceleration, as well as the steps you can take towards ending productivity paranoia, embracing the fact that people come in to the office for each other, and re-recruiting your employees. Fiona Carney is the General Manager, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer Western Europe at Microsoft. Known as a highly motivated & energetic leader who thrives working with others, she has worked extensively leading large scale transformation programs, as well as running Operations for EMEA and Asia Pacific Microsoft business.Richard Gregory is the Global Leader of Modern Workplace Practice at Avanade. He is the global leader of Avanade's Modern Workplace (Value Realisation) offering, helping clients to understand this changing world, how to successfully adapt, disrupt and digitally transform at pace. By transforming the digital, physical (IoT) & virtual (Metaverse) workplace, together with wider workforce transformation, Richard helps organisations adapt to the Future of Work and define a new “Workplace Experience” - reducing both Capex and Opex while increasing organisational productivity.? Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq?️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast? Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhrThanks to Microsoft for Supporting the Show!Download your FREE e-book and learn the secret to delivering a great Employee experience and how to quantify the benefits in your organization.? https://bit.ly/3T5tPOMEpisode highlights00:00 Intro02:13 Fiona’s journey to Chief Marketing & Operations Officer Western Europe at Microsoft03:05 Richard’s journey to Global Leader of Modern Workplace Practice at Avanade04:20 What is Microsoft VIVA?09:40 Does hybrid working increase or decrease productivity?15:40 How Microsoft are redefining wellbeing in the workplace23:50 How Microsoft is using technology to further their DE&I efforts29:06 How you can help employees thrive in the new world of work32:17 The one thing that makes employees want to return to the office 39:18 The role of HR in employee experience today43:52 How Microsoft are embedding learning into the flow of work49:43 Fiona and Richard’s parting piece of advice for the HR Leaders of tomorrowHead over to our website to access the resources mentioned in this episode: www.hrleaders.co/podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.