Knowledge Fika

Rebecka Isaksson (KnowFlow Value); Dawn Brushammar (Sugarwork)
Knowledge Fika

Swedish “fika” is a cherished tradition of enjoying coffee and pastries with friends, family or co-workers, creating a cozy and social atmosphere. It is not just about feeding the body but also our souls and brains, when we take mini-breaks throughout the day, to clear our minds and replenish. In this podcast we will sit down with interesting profiles from the global Knowledge Management community, for casual conversations about relevant KM-topics, over a virtual cup of coffee. And of course there will be a lot of talk about AI and AI-powered Knowledge solutions!

  1. Episode 12: A KM startup grounded in Social Anthropology & Computer Science - Emily Harburg

    FEB 2

    Episode 12: A KM startup grounded in Social Anthropology & Computer Science - Emily Harburg

    In this episode we talk about knowledge sharing, crowdsourcing knowledge, expertise location, and the role of Communities [of Practice] in businesses. And we’ll hear what inspired Emily's decision to leave her corporate job and jump into the exciting world of AI start-ups to build on her academic research, and experiences from Meta, Google and EF (Education First). We also touch upon some of the volunteering and mentoring work that she does, helping and supporting Women in Tech! And of course, why “Fika” breaks are important to building trust among employees – something Emily saw first-handedly when working for Swedish company, EF. About Dr. Emily Harburg: Emily is the CEO and founder of PairUp, a platform that utilizes generative AI to accelerate workplace knowledge sharing and connection. Emily’s background spans industry, startups, and academia. She has worked in industry at Disney Imaginee ring, Facebook (Meta), and EF Education First. She also co-founded Brave Initiatives, an organization dedicated to helping women learn how to code and now supports training the incarcerated. Emily graduated with a B.A. in Social Anthropology and Psychology from Harvard College, and with a Ph.D. in Technology and Social Behaviour from Northwestern University.  Emily's research has been shared in global conferences, academic journals, case studies, and news publications – including the Harvard Business Review, TEDx, Computer Human Interaction (CHI), CNN, and more. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, volleyball, and learning how to DJ! About PairUp: PairUp is an AI-powered platform that transforms how companies access and leverage their knowledge. By combining research-backed AI with human expertise, PairUp provides data-driven insights, optimizes workflows, and ensures critical information is fully utilized. With PairUp, organizations save time, eliminate redundant efforts, and enhance efficiencies by harnessing the collective intelligence of their teams. Seamlessly integrating into a company's existing workflow, PairUp can accelerate onboarding, break down silos, and preserve essential institutional knowledge – ensuring nothing is lost when employees leave. Learn more, explore common use cases, or request a demo today at https://pairupapp.com/.

    27 min
  2. Episode 11: A Knowledge Mobilization Paradigm - Sierra Woods

    JAN 19

    Episode 11: A Knowledge Mobilization Paradigm - Sierra Woods

    Sierra Woods is a dynamic innovator and entrepreneur passionate about impactful solutions. Initially aspiring to be a professional soccer player, her athletic background instilled perseverance and adaptability. Sierra launched Link X to enhance experiential learning at Carleton University and created Precision Cities to address food insecurity in Ottawa. Her pioneering work in knowledge mobilization (KMb), inspired by David Phipps and Royce Holladay, reimagines KMb as a complex form of change. Sierra’s work is deeply personal, rooted in her experience with chronic back pain. By fostering relationships with healthcare providers, she witnessed transformative results, inspiring her to develop a new KMb paradigm focused on relationships and impact. Sierra is currently writing a book to share this approach, blending personal insights and research to empower others tackling today’s challenges. In the second episode of our Knowledge Fika podcast 2025, Sierra and I share a coffee and talk about her work building out a Knowledge Mobilization Paradigm, and the five ingredients, or dials, she has identified: Curiosity, Access, Reciprocity, Power, and Ripples. Through her personal story, we delve into how and why she also concluded that knowledge sharing isn’t a linear thing, but something complex and highly dependent on context. Please find the resources on Knowledge Mobilization that Sierra mentioned, here: https://www.hsdinstitute.org/index.html

    35 min

About

Swedish “fika” is a cherished tradition of enjoying coffee and pastries with friends, family or co-workers, creating a cozy and social atmosphere. It is not just about feeding the body but also our souls and brains, when we take mini-breaks throughout the day, to clear our minds and replenish. In this podcast we will sit down with interesting profiles from the global Knowledge Management community, for casual conversations about relevant KM-topics, over a virtual cup of coffee. And of course there will be a lot of talk about AI and AI-powered Knowledge solutions!

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