Microsoft acquires LinkedIn and the beginning of our journey to unite the world's best professional cloud and the world's best professional network.
In these recent months, as our leadership teams spent time together, I have gained a deeper understanding of LinkedIn's relentless focus on its users.
The similarities in cultures and the added value that can be brought to LinkedIn members, helping professionals transform their work model, create new job opportunities, and connect in different ways, is unmatched by Microsoft and its software technology.
In June, Microsoft presented the shared vision of the opportunity ahead, and since then, both teams have worked hard to build an integration plan.
Examples of upcoming results very soon:
LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite.
LinkedIn notifications from the Windows Action Center.
Allow professional network members to draft resumes in Word to update their profile, and discover and apply to job offers on LinkedIn.
Extend the reach of sponsored content through Microsoft properties.
Enterprise search with LinkedIn Lookup powered by Active Directory and Office 365.
Have LinkedIn Learning available from Office 365 and the Windows ecosystem.
Develop a business news desk through our ecosystem and MSN.com.
Redefine social selling with the combination of Sales Navigator and Dynamics 365.
As we expressed six months ago, our top priority is to accelerate LinkedIn's growth by delivering added value to every member of the social network.
However, we also see a great opportunity to help ensure that everyone can benefit from digital technology and the new opportunities created by the digital economy. As Brad Smith recently noted, Microsoft – including LinkedIn – can help people online develop new skills, find new jobs, and easily connect and collaborate with colleagues. Technology alone will not solve these challenges, but together, working with the public and private sectors, we can create more opportunities for everyone to participate and share in economic growth.
