As generative AI transforms applications into dynamic, reasoning-driven systems, traditional observability tools fall short—Microsoft is redefining what it means to monitor AI and agents at scale. Unveiled at Microsoft Ignite, Azure Monitor and AI Foundry deliver a unified observability solution for GenAI agents, featuring the AI Agent Overview Dashboard, AI-Tailored Trace Views, and Low-Code GenAI Agent Monitoring across infrastructure and application. Built on open standards OpenTelemetry, this approach eliminates vendor lock-in and empowers enterprises to govern AI workloads with the same operational discipline applied to traditional software—ensuring quality, compliance, and cost efficiency at every layer.
GitHub Copilot already generates awesome SQL code but awesome is different from aligned with your team. In this episode, we explore how to take full control of GitHub Copilot context inside VS Code using the MSSQL extension.
We start with a clean workspace to demonstrate what GitHub Copilot produces with zero context, then add a single custom instruction file that teaches it your team's exact T-SQL conventions automatically. We then use Plan Mode to design a full data model from a PRD (Product Requirements Document) and bring it to life in Schema Designer with Agent Mode, connecting GitHub Copilot to your actual database. From there, we create a skills file that teaches GitHub Copilot your vector search architecture as a slash command, generating SQL Server 2025/Azure SQL Database T-SQL without explaining anything in the prompt. To wrap up, we open the GitHub Copilot debug panel to inspect the full LLM request payload, including the system prompt and injected context, so you can see exactly what GitHub Copilot receives with every request.
Learn how to make GitHub Copilot and the MSSQL extension for VS Code work like a teammate who already knows your standards and architecture in this episode of Data Exposed.
Welcome to Episode 425 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this audio and video episode recorded live at Microsoft headquarters during the MVP Summit, Ben welcomes a return guest, Joy Apple, to the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast and discuss her 20-year career in the Microsoft collaboration space, from financial services to SharePoint training, consulting, and her current role at Orchestry Software. Joy explains Orchestry as a Microsoft 365 governance automation layer covering templated provisioning for SharePoint and Teams, archiving policies (including Microsoft 365 Archive), guest management, and OneDrive governance. They emphasize that AI and Copilot amplify existing information architecture, permissions, and data hygiene issues, making governance more critical. They describe the MVP Summit as a “family reunion” where MVPs attend sessions and reconnect with peers. Joy and Ben also spend some time describing paths becoming an MVP and how much they just enjoy the community around the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and connecting with people both at MVP Summit as well as various conferences throughout the year.
About Joy Apple
Joy is a Microsoft MVP and Director of Success and Enablement at Orchestry. With years of experience as an information technologist, I’m dedicated to helping organizations implement technology with a purpose-driven, “human-first” approach, ensuring tools like Microsoft 365 empower people to do their best work.
Teaching and knowledge-sharing are at the heart of what I do. Whether it’s through volunteering in the Microsoft Community, speaking at events, or writing as the “Joy of SharePoint,” I’m passionate about helping others unlock their potential with modern workplace solutions.
Im also a cohost of the Guardians of M365 Governance podcast, where I explore the challenges and rewards of governance, and a columnist for She is Tulsa, a quarterly magazine celebrating impactful stories from my local community.
Outside of work, you’ll often find me enjoying live music or discovering new spots in Tulsa, Oklahoma, combining my love of connection and creativity wherever I go.
TrustedTech is a leading Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) specializing in Microsoft Cloud services, Microsoft perpetual licensing, and Microsoft Support Services for medium and enterprise-sized businesses. Our robust team of in-house, U.S-based Microsoft architects and engineers are certified in all 6/6 Microsoft Solutions Partner Designations in the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program.
Your migration and governance solution for Microsoft 365
ShareGate helps your teams simplify tenant migrations, get Copilot-ready, and take control of Microsoft 365 governance.
Our Microsoft 365 experts and Microsoft Azure experts focus on the Microsoft cloud, so you can focus on what you do best! Learn more how we can help you!
Disclaimer: I've created everything on my channel in my free time. Nothing is officially affiliated or endorsed by Microsoft in any way. Opinions and views are my own! 🩷
This week’s guest is Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna Security, who has experienced both sides of the startup journey: scaling quickly during the boom years and then making the incredibly difficult decision to lay off a significant portion of his team when the market shifted.
From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t hiring fast, it’s making tough decisions with care, transparency, and integrity.
In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Yogev unpack what it really means to lead through layoffs with compassion and how founders can support their teams even in the most challenging moments. They also explore the lessons learned from scaling too quickly and how to build a more resilient company the second time around.
They discuss:
How to approach layoffs with empathy and transparency
Ways to support employees beyond financial compensation
What founders get wrong about scaling and hiring
Why culture matters most during difficult moments
Lessons from rebuilding after layoffs
Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.
TechCrunch Disrupt:If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.
Use codebuildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.
New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.
"We can be in a flow state running in the wrong direction. Unless you can tie all your actions back to your strategic imperative, you might look back in five years and think: That was fun, but could I have gotten further?"
In this episode of the HangarDX podcast, Ankit Jain, co-founder and CEO of Aviator, talks to Steve Pereira, lead consultant at Visible Value Stream Consulting and co-founder of the Flow Collective, to discuss where AI is genuinely moving the needle versus just generating more code to review, how to think about context switching and flow state when AI makes task-switching cheaper than ever, and how teams can use value stream mapping as a framework for getting AI adoption right.
00:00 Introduction to Developer Experience and Value Stream Mapping 05:20 Understanding Value Stream Mapping in Practice 08:09 The Impact of AI on Value Stream Flow 17:06 Context Switching and Flow State in Software Development 27:48 Intentionality in Context Switching and Flow State 35:07 Value Stream Mapping as a Superpower for AI Success
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