How Microsoft Uses People Data to Shape Flexible Working that Helps Teams Thrive (an Interview with Dawn Klinghoffer)

Last week, Microsoft announced an update to its flexible work guidelines.  As Amy Coleman, Chief People Officer at Microsoft, explained: “We’ve looked at how our teams work best, and the data is clear: when people work together in person more often, they thrive – they are more energized, empowered, and they deliver stronger results.” 

As such, I’m delighted that my guest on this week’s episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast is Dawn Klinghoffer, Global Head of People Analytics at Microsoft. As she explains in our conversation, Dawn and her team conducted the analysis that informed this decision - revealing a causal link between office presence and employee thriving. 

In our conversation, Dawn and I discuss: 

• What the data shows about the ideal balance between office presence and flexibility 

• Why "moments that matter" are key to in-person collaboration and connection 

• How Microsoft's people analytics team is evolving its composition and strategy in the age of AI 

• The impact of deep vs. broad AI adoption on employee thriving 

• How AI is transforming employee listening, from sentiment analysis to real-time feedback loops 

• The creation of Microsoft’s new Analytics Innovation team—and what it signals about the future of HR 

This episode is packed with data-backed insights, practical examples, and a forward-looking perspective on how HR can lead through complexity and change. 

This episode is sponsored by HiBob. 

HiBob is the all-in-one HCM platform built for HR leaders who need connected data, flexible workflows, and a user experience people actually want to use. 

Learn more by visiting hibob.com/davidgreen2025.  

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