What happens when you hand the mic to one of the biggest internal communications teams in the world and hit record?
You get ‘GEEC Out’—a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how Microsoft’s Global Employee & Executive Communications (GEEC) team is evolving the way 200,000+ employees are engaged, informed, and inspired.
This first—and so far only—episode was recorded live at the Microsoft 365 Conference, where for the first time, Corporate Communications had its own dedicated track. If you’re working in as a communicator, it’s the track you’ll want to join next year’s conference.
A Community-Centric Approach to Comms
GEEC isn’t just a function—it’s a global community of over 1,000 internal communicators working together to align messaging, elevate executive voices, and build trust across Microsoft’s workforce. What’s impressive isn’t just the scale—it’s how intentional the team is about collaboration, consistency, and community-building across time zones and teams. From weekly communications and calls to “Tech & Tools” sessions and office hours, the GEEC team ensures members are equipped with the latest resources—including AI and Viva Engage—to support communications.
Amy Morris shares, “We’re managing from the center—the strategy for all employees. We scale resources for different programs across the company and leverage a Viva Engage community to do that. For stickier topics, we have an employee hot topics document that comms leads can reference when prepping their leaders.”
Listening and Learning at Scale
John Cirone, Senior Director of Employee Communications, shares how GEEC uses employee listening, real-time data, and platform analytics to shape strategy. This is communications as a responsive, evolving system—where the message follows the insight, not the other way around.
John shares, “A big part of that is listening—leaning in, listening, and demonstrating that you're listening by responding at scale. We were able to measure that leaders with high comms satisfaction scores were doing this really well: communicating authentically, addressing topics employees care about in a timely manner, and creating an open and transparent communications environment.”
Measuring What Matters
One of the biggest takeaways from the session was the shift from traditional metrics like email open rates to measuring real business impact. Through tools like employee signals surveys and annual comms assessments, the team evaluates how well employees understand key initiatives like AI and security—and how trust and two-way dialogue influence communication satisfaction.
AI as an Accelerator, Not a Replacement
Both Amy and John emphasized how AI is transforming their work. From drafting comms plans to analyzing CEO town hall feedback, AI tools like Copilot are helping communicators work smarter and faster. The key? Start with the problem you’re trying to solve and let AI accelerate the solution.
Celebrating 50 Years of Microsoft
The team also reflected on Microsoft’s 50th anniversary campaign— part of the strategy for employees included a 50-day Viva Engage countdown celebrating changemaking moments from the past while looking toward the future. With global participation and leader-driven storytelling, the campaign was a powerful example of two-way engagement at scale.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Internal Communications
What makes this conversation resonate isn’t just the tools or the structure, it’s the mindset. The magic of GEEC isn't just in the platforms or playbooks—it's in the culture. Whether it’s evolving town halls or reimagining executive engagement, they’re not afraid to try new things—and that’s what keeps Microsoft’s communications both fresh and future-focused.
As John (and Wayne Gretzky) put it, “You skate to where the puck is going.” For communicators, that means embracing change, experimenting with new tools, and building trust. Amy added, “Don’t be afraid to experiment. Trust is where I’m investing.”
The pace of change in the field of internal communications is faster than ever, and it is crucial for communication professionals to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s adopting new tools, experimenting with innovative strategies, or continuously learning and upskilling, the key to success lies in our ability to adapt and evolve.
Watch the Episode + Join Us Next Year
Whether you lead internal comms at a Fortune 500 or you're building a function from scratch, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical ideas.
And if you missed the M365 Conference Communications Track this year, make plans to join us next year April 21 - 23, 2026 in Orlando, Florida! It’s one of the only places where comms professionals gather to talk strategy, tech, storytelling, and the future of employee experience—all in one place.
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