Guest Episodes Episodes

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, host Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft AI MVP and CTO Karthikeyan VK about the biggest problem in today’s AI landscape: organizations are relying too heavily on Large Language Models (LLMs) while ignoring the engineering foundations needed for reliable enterprise AI systems. Karthikeyan explains that many companies try to make AI agents handle everything directly through prompts and LLMs, instead of combining them with deterministic engineering practices such as orchestration, validation, governance, retries, observability, and state management. He argues that LLMs should act as reasoning engines, while structured workflows and business logic remain controlled through traditional engineering systems. The discussion highlights the difference between probabilistic AI systems and deterministic enterprise processes like finance, compliance, ERP integrations, and security workflows. According to Karthikeyan, enterprise trust breaks down when A…

Microsoft is ending support for Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online, with full retirement starting October 2026. The article explains why this matters for Microsoft 365 administrators, developers, ISVs, backup vendors, and enterprises still relying on legacy integrations. EWS has been a core API for mailbox access, calendar synchronization, migrations, archiving, and third-party tools for years, but Microsoft is now pushing organizations toward Microsoft Graph as the modern replacement. The article highlights that this is not just a technical API change. Many existing applications, scripts, automation processes, monitoring tools, and enterprise workflows still depend heavily on EWS. Organizations that fail to identify these dependencies early may face outages, broken integrations, compliance risks, or unsupported applications once Microsoft disables the service. A major focus is the migration challenge. While Microsoft Graph offers a modern, secure, and unified API mo…

From DAX to Community: The Power BI Journey with Bernat Agulló Roselló explores the evolution of modern Business Intelligence through the personal and professional journey of Microsoft MVP Bernat Agulló Roselló. In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Bernat shares how he moved from Excel macros and manufacturing reporting into advanced Power BI development, semantic modeling, DAX optimization, and community leadership. The conversation highlights how Business Intelligence is far more than dashboards and visuals. Bernat explains that successful Power BI solutions depend on data modeling, automation, architecture, optimization, and collaboration. A major focus is DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), where he discusses common misconceptions, especially the mistake of treating DAX like Excel formulas. He emphasizes the importance of semantic models, filter context, relationships, and understanding measures versus calculated columns. Another key topic is Tabular Editor and its role in e…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and Copilot adoption expert Edyta Gorzoń about why successful Microsoft Copilot adoption is far more than a technical deployment project. The conversation focuses on the gap many organizations face between rolling out AI tools and creating measurable business impact. Edyta explains that real adoption depends on people, communication, culture, and change management rather than only licenses, governance, or feature training. She highlights why many AI initiatives fail when companies focus purely on technology while ignoring user behavior, business processes, and employee concerns. The episode explores how organizations can build scalable adoption strategies by identifying real business use cases, supporting employees through change, and creating continuous learning instead of one-time training sessions. Edyta also discusses the importance of leadership involvement, internal champions, and measuring prod…

What does it really take to build modern AI applications at scale? In this episode, we take a deep dive into Microsoft Foundry and explore how it is shaping the next generation of AI-powered apps and services. We unpack the vision behind Foundry, the developer experience it enables, and how Microsoft is bringing together AI models, orchestration, security, and enterprise-grade infrastructure into a unified platform. From rapid prototyping to production-ready deployments, Foundry is designed to help developers and organizations move faster while maintaining governance and control. The conversation covers the evolving AI stack, practical use cases, and how developers can integrate tools like copilots, agents, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and model customization into real-world business applications. We also discuss the growing importance of observability, responsible AI, and hybrid architectures as enterprises adopt generative AI at scale. Whether you are a developer, …

“AI Meets Security” is a deep-dive conversation between Mirko Peters and Microsoft Senior Product Manager Danilo Nogueira about how AI is reshaping enterprise security, governance, and compliance. The episode explains that the biggest challenge with Microsoft Copilot and AI adoption is not the technology itself, but the hidden weaknesses already existing inside many Microsoft 365 environments. Danilo highlights that oversharing in SharePoint, weak permissions, poor governance, and missing classification policies become far more dangerous once AI can instantly surface information through natural language prompts. Organizations often believe they are “AI ready” because they purchased licenses, but true readiness requires understanding data access, governance structures, and organizational behavior. A major focus is Microsoft Purview, which Danilo compares to a “baby monitor” for enterprise data. Instead of blocking everything, modern security should focus on monitoring, visibility…

This episode of M365.fm explores why traditional Microsoft 365 governance approaches fail at enterprise scale and how organizations can move from manual oversight to automated, enforceable governance models. The discussion explains the difference between governance documentation and true operational governance, highlighting why policies alone are not enough in modern cloud environments. The episode introduces the concept of control planes versus data planes and explains how scalable governance depends on automation, identity management, lifecycle controls, telemetry, and policy enforcement rather than human-driven approval processes. It also covers common governance failures such as stale policies, overprivileged automation, unmanaged AI identities, and lack of monitoring. Additional topics include governance strategies for Copilot, AI agents, and Power Platform environments, along with practical ways organizations can reduce governance friction while maintaining security, compl…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and MCT Nick Doelman about the rapid evolution of agentic coding and how AI is transforming software development. Nick shares his journey from traditional development into the world of low-code, Power Platform, and AI-assisted application building. The discussion explores how modern AI agents are changing the way developers create solutions by automating repetitive tasks, generating code, and assisting with business logic. Nick explains that agentic coding is not about replacing developers, but about enabling them to work faster, focus on architecture and problem-solving, and deliver value more efficiently. The episode also highlights the growing importance of Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform, and AI orchestration within enterprise environments. Nick discusses how developers and organizations must adapt their skills, rethink governance, and understand the balance between automation and human oversigh…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and MCT Billur Samdancioglu about how AI, Copilot, and autonomous agents are transforming finance operations inside Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365FO). The conversation explores how modern ERP systems are evolving far beyond traditional accounting platforms into intelligent business ecosystems that connect finance, procurement, analytics, automation, compliance, and AI-driven decision-making. Billur shares insights from more than 20 years of experience in Dynamics AX and D365FO implementations, explaining how the pace of innovation has accelerated dramatically in recent years. A major focus of the episode is Microsoft Copilot inside D365FO. Billur explains how conversational AI is changing the way finance teams interact with ERP systems by enabling natural language queries, automated reporting, invoice analysis, procurement assistance, forecasting, and workflow guidance. Rather than navigating…

Keith shares his background in traditional .NET and SQL development and explains why Power Apps immediately stood out to him: speed. Instead of repeatedly building the same forms, logic, and app structures manually, Power Apps allowed him to focus more on solving business problems while drastically reducing development time. A major topic is “vibe coding,” where developers describe applications in natural language while AI generates layouts, formulas, workflows, and functionality automatically. The episode covers new Power Apps capabilities such as Generative Pages, Vibe Apps, Code Apps, AI-generated layouts, and Copilot-assisted Power Fx generation. Keith explains how screenshots, requirement documents, and prompts can now generate working applications in minutes instead of days or weeks. The discussion also highlights how AI is changing the role of developers. Future app creators will rely less on memorizing syntax and more on business analysis, architecture, governance, testi…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters talks with Microsoft MVP Gábor Ruzsinszki about the evolution of modern .NET development, from legacy WPF desktop applications to ASP.NET Core, cloud-native architectures, and gRPC services. Gábor shares his journey from teaching IT and programming to becoming a software architect specializing in C# and .NET. He explains how .NET has transformed from a Windows-only framework into a fast, cross-platform ecosystem used for cloud services, APIs, IoT, and enterprise applications. He highlights major performance improvements in recent .NET releases and discusses how upgrading frameworks alone can significantly improve application speed. A large part of the conversation focuses on WPF and why many enterprise companies still rely on it today. Gábor explains the strengths of WPF, its XAML-based architecture, and how it influenced newer technologies like .NET MAUI and WinUI. He also compares alternatives such as Avalonia and Uno Platfo…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer Nathalie Leenders about building a successful career in the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem. Nathalie shares her journey from IT service management and support roles into SharePoint, InfoPath, Power BI, and eventually Power Platform consulting. Her story highlights that careers in technology are rarely linear and often grow through curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning. A major focus of the conversation is the value of hands-on experience. Nathalie explains how she learned by solving real business problems, watching tutorials, attending workshops, and building solutions directly in customer environments. She emphasizes that certifications alone are not enough. While Microsoft exams such as PL-400 can help create structure and validate skills, true expertise comes from practical implementation, understanding business processes, and staying curious about new…

PowerShell is far more than just a scripting language for administrators. It is a powerful automation platform that can simplify repetitive tasks, connect services, and save countless hours across many different environments. From Microsoft 365 and Azure automation to local system management, reporting, APIs, and DevOps workflows, PowerShell provides flexible tools for almost every scenario. This session explores practical automation examples from multiple areas, showing how PowerShell can be used to streamline daily operations, improve consistency, and reduce manual work. We will look at real-world use cases including Microsoft 365 management, file and data processing, REST API integrations, scheduled automation, and cross-platform scripting. Whether you are just getting started with PowerShell or already writing scripts regularly, this session demonstrates how small automations can create significant improvements in productivity and reliability. Expect live demos, useful tips,…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Microsoft MVP Alan Cox joins us to discuss how organizations can securely adopt Microsoft 365 Copilot using Microsoft Purview, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Insider Risk Management. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily work, protecting sensitive business data while enabling productivity is becoming a major priority for IT and security teams. Alan explains how Microsoft Purview helps organizations manage data governance, reduce oversharing risks, and apply security controls that work alongside Microsoft 365 Copilot. The conversation explores how DLP policies can help prevent sensitive information from being exposed through AI-powered experiences, how Insider Risk Management can identify potentially risky user behavior, and why adaptive protection is changing the way businesses approach security and compliance in Microsoft 365. Alan also shares practical guidance around Copilot readiness, governance strategies, compliance co…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Carina de Vries shares practical strategies for making AI adoption successful inside organizations and turning Microsoft Copilot into a tool employees actually use every day. Drawing from her own personal journey with AI and years of experience in user adoption, she explains why most AI rollouts fail: companies focus too much on the technology and not enough on the real problems employees are trying to solve. The conversation explores how organizations can move from experimentation to measurable productivity within 90 days by focusing on small, repeatable habits instead of overwhelming users with one-time training sessions. Carina highlights the importance of trust, confidence, and behavior change, explaining that successful AI adoption starts with understanding user needs, daily workflows, and business outcomes before introducing tools like Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT. The episode also dives into the challenges companies face when employ…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters talks with Microsoft MVP Thomas Sandsør about the human side of CRM, Dynamics 365, and modern business applications. Rather than focusing on technical features, the conversation explores why successful CRM projects depend more on people, culture, leadership, and trust than on software itself. Thomas shares his journey from aspiring soccer goalkeeper to becoming “The CRM Keeper,” explaining how teamwork, leadership, and understanding personalities shaped his consulting approach. Drawing from nearly 20 years of Dynamics CRM experience, he reflects on how he originally believed technology alone solved business problems, only to later realize that user adoption, change management, and organizational buy-in are the real drivers of success. The discussion dives into why so many CRM implementations fail despite powerful technology. Common issues include weak leadership engagement, poor communication, unclear goals, and resistance to …

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and MCT Anitha Eswaran about the realities of integrating Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365FO) into modern enterprise environments. The discussion focuses on why integrations often become fragile, difficult to scale, and hard to govern when organizations rely on outdated architectural thinking or tightly coupled systems. The episode explores how Azure-native integration patterns can improve reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability. Anitha explains the importance of event-driven architecture, asynchronous communication, APIs, and message-based systems when connecting D365FO with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, external SaaS platforms, and legacy enterprise applications. Rather than building direct point-to-point integrations, the conversation emphasizes designing loosely coupled systems that can evolve without constantly breaking dependencies. Another key topic is governance and ope…

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, Åsne Holtklimpen joins Mirko Peters to discuss the real challenges behind Microsoft Copilot adoption and AI readiness in Microsoft 365 environments. The core message is clear: Copilot does not create security problems — it exposes the governance and security gaps that already exist inside organizations. The conversation focuses on common issues such as overshared SharePoint sites, outdated permissions, forgotten Teams channels, uncontrolled data sprawl, and missing governance strategies. Åsne explains how many organizations rushed into cloud collaboration during the pandemic without proper structure, and AI tools now make these weaknesses far more visible. A major part of the episode highlights the importance of Microsoft Purview, sensitivity labels, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Conditional Access, and Zero Trust principles. These tools help organizations classify sensitive information, secure access, and prevent Copilot from exposing confide…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, we dive deep into building and deploying production-grade AI agents with Microsoft Foundry together with Edgar McOchieng (MVP). The conversation explores how organizations can move beyond AI demos and prototypes into scalable, secure, and enterprise-ready agentic solutions. Edgar shares practical insights into Microsoft Foundry, Azure AI services, orchestration patterns, governance, observability, and the challenges teams face when deploying AI agents in real-world environments. We discuss how developers can combine tools like Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel, MCP integrations, and multi-agent architectures to create intelligent systems that are reliable, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise requirements. The episode also covers key topics such as memory management, tool integration, security boundaries, human-in-the-loop workflows, responsible AI practices, and monitoring strategies for production workloads. Edgar explains why architect…

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, Mirko Peters talks with Lukas Pavelka about the future of enterprise app development, AI-assisted coding, and the growing connection between Figma and Microsoft Power Platform. Lukas shares his journey from Java development into building tools like PowerApps for Figma and Power BI for Figma, designed to bridge the gap between modern UI design and low-code development. The conversation explores how Figma has evolved beyond a design tool into a broader ecosystem for prototyping, presentations, reusable design systems, and enterprise application delivery. Lukas explains how his plugins help developers speed up PowerApps creation, improve UI consistency, and even support multi-language app generation across more than 100 languages. A major focus of the episode is AI-driven development and “vibe coding.” Lukas discusses practical experiences with GitHub Copilot, Claude, AI agents, and prompt-based workflows. While AI dramatically accelerates de…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, the discussion focuses on using PowerShell to automate tasks across Azure and Microsoft 365 with guest Matthew Dowst MVP. Matthew explains how automation became essential as cloud environments grew more complex and repetitive administrative work increased. The conversation covers how PowerShell can be used to automate common Microsoft 365 and Azure management tasks such as user provisioning, license assignment, reporting, governance, Exchange Online administration, and Entra ID management. Matthew emphasizes that automation should be approached like software development, with proper testing, version control, documentation, and reusable code rather than quick one-off scripts. A major topic is the transition from older AzureAD and MSOnline PowerShell modules to Microsoft Graph PowerShell. Matthew explains why organizations should modernize their scripts and adopt API-based automation to stay aligned with Microsoft’s cloud direction. The e…

This episode discusses how organizations can securely share business data with users outside their organization using Microsoft’s Power Platform. The main focus is on designing the right architecture rather than simply enabling access. Nicholas Hayduk (MVP) explains that external users should not be treated like internal employees. Instead of giving them direct access to systems like Dataverse, organizations should use solutions such as Power Pages to act as a secure front layer. This approach allows controlled access to data without exposing internal systems. A key point in the episode is the importance of identity and authentication. External users should authenticate through trusted identity providers, such as Azure Active Directory or social login providers, rather than being managed directly inside the system. This improves both security and scalability. The discussion also highlights that security must be implemented at multiple levels. It is not enough to hide data in …