On July 1, 2026, I started a new chapter at Microsoft as the Worldwide Solution Lead for Data and Apps within the Global Delivery organization. For those who know me, this probably isn’t as big of a change as the title suggests. While it is a new role, I still have the same mission.

To educate, elevate, and empower everyone to achieve more.

I’ve always enjoyed helping people learn, solve problems, and build confidence with technology. Whether it’s delivering a SQL Server workshop, mentoring a new instructor, helping a customer modernize a data platform, or supporting a technical community, I’ve always been passionate about education and technical readiness.

That hasn’t changed… What has changed is the scale of impact.

In this new role, I’m focused on helping our global delivery organization continue to grow, improve, and scale. My primary focus areas include delivery excellence, AI enablement, skilling, community development, and portfolio governance.

Delivery Excellence

My solution area focus remains centered on SQL Server and Azure SQL performance, security, and modernization.

A big part of my role is to help ensure customers receive a consistent, high-quality experience regardless of who delivers a workshop or where it’s delivered. That means partnering with delivery teams, identifying opportunities for improvement, helping remove blockers, and supporting the development of new workshop offerings and intellectual property.

As our portfolio continues to evolve, consistency matters more than ever.

AI Innovation and Delivery Enablement

AI is changing everything, including how we deliver workshops.

I’m excited to help our community identify practical ways to leverage AI, adopt agentic workflows, and incorporate AI capabilities into our delivery practices. My goal isn’t to add technology for technology’s sake. It’s to help our teams become more productive, spend less time on repetitive tasks, and focus more time on customer value.

Skilling and Community

If you’ve worked with me before, you probably know this is my favorite part.

I’ve always believed that investing in people delivers the greatest return. Building technical communities, developing readiness programs, supporting certifications, and helping others grow their careers are things I’m deeply passionate about.

One of my biggest priorities will be expanding structured readiness programs that help cloud solution architects, consultants, and trainers build confidence and deepen their expertise in Microsoft technologies.

When we invest in learning, everybody wins.

Portfolio Management and IP Governance

Great delivery starts with great content. Another part of my role is helping strengthen IP governance and portfolio management across our workshop catalog. That means ensuring content ownership is clear, keeping assets current, supporting lifecycle management, and helping maintain the quality standards our customers expect. It may not be the most glamorous work, but it is critical to delivering a world-class experience.

Plus, I do love creating content to make difficult technical topics easier to understand.

Am I Still Delivering Workshops?

This is probably the question I’ve been asked most often over the last few weeks and the answer is simple: Absolutely.

While my primary focus is now supporting our global delivery community, I will continue delivering approximately 12 to 15 SQL Server workshops each year.

Staying engaged with customers is important to me. It keeps me grounded in real-world challenges, helps me identify opportunities to improve our content, and honestly, it’s something I genuinely enjoy.

After all these years, I still love teaching.

Looking Ahead

The data and AI landscape will continue to move at an incredible pace. Organizations are modernizing SQL Server workloads, embracing Azure SQL, exploring AI-driven development, and finding new ways to turn data into actionable insights.

I’m excited to be part of that journey.

As I settle into this new role, my focus is straightforward:

• Drive consistency across our delivery portfolio
• Strengthening IP governance
• Expand technical readiness and skilling opportunities
• Help our teams adopt AI responsibly and effectively
• Support a thriving technical community

The role may be new, but the mission remains the same. Helping people build skills, deliver value, and create great outcomes for customers. I’m excited about what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving both our customers and the Microsoft delivery community in this new capacity.