Show sponsor: https://www.fromcodetoclarity.com/

Join Alec Harrison as he’s joined by special guest Clark Sell—veteran conference organizer turned AI coach behind Code to Clarity—in a Brian-less edition of Azure Cloud Talk. Clark walks us through his pivot from running THAT Conference and boutique engineering work to helping organizations modernize with AI-driven agents and low-code automations. Along the way, they unpack what “agents” really mean, debate buy vs. build, and explore how AI can boost productivity and reshape the future workplace—without replacing people. Tune in for real-world stories, tooling tips, and a roadmap for getting ahead on the AI hype train.

00:01 – Welcome & Brian-less Episode

00:10 – Brian’s Absence & MSSA Graduation Shout-Out

00:43 – Introducing Clark Sell & Code to Clarity

01:43 – Pivoting from THAT Conference to AI Coaching

04:40 – AI’s Role in Modernizing Repetitive Work

07:13 – Demystifying “Agents” in Automation

09:37 – Buy vs. Build Debate: Zapier, Make.com & AI

16:01 – AI in Podcasting: Riverside, Copilot & Production Enhancements

24:15 – Low-Code Rapid Prototyping: Google Sheets & Copilot Studio

31:26 – Future of Work: New Roles, Industries & Innovation

39:45 – Final Calls to Action & Working with Clark

43:09 – Wrap-Up & What’s Next

Show sponsor: https://www.fromcodetoclarity.com/

Join Alec Harrison as he’s joined by special guest Clark Sell—veteran conference organizer turned AI coach behind Code to Clarity—in a Brian-less edition of Azure Cloud Talk. Clark walks us through his pivot from running THAT Conference and boutique engineering work to helping organizations modernize with AI-driven agents and low-code automations. Along the way, they unpack what “agents” really mean, debate buy vs. build, and explore how AI can boost productivity and reshape the future workplace—without replacing people. Tune in for real-world stories, tooling tips, and a roadmap for getting ahead on the AI hype train.

00:01 – Welcome & Brian-less Episode

00:10 – Brian’s Absence & MSSA Graduation Shout-Out

00:43 – Introducing Clark Sell & Code to Clarity

01:43 – Pivoting from THAT Conference to AI Coaching

04:40 – AI’s Role in Modernizing Repetitive Work

07:13 – Demystifying “Agents” in Automation

09:37 – Buy vs. Build Debate: Zapier, Make.com & AI

16:01 – AI in Podcasting: Riverside, Copilot & Production Enhancements

24:15 – Low-Code Rapid Prototyping: Google Sheets & Copilot Studio

31:26 – Future of Work: New Roles, Industries & Innovation

39:45 – Final Calls to Action & Working with Clark

43:09 – Wrap-Up & What’s Next

Show sponsor: https://www.fromcodetoclarity.com/

In this episode of Engineer in the Loop, Alec Harrison and Brian discuss the rebranding of the podcast, the challenges in the current job market, the importance of upskilling, and the role of AI in development. They emphasize the need for engineers to adapt to changes, explore side gigs for financial security, and leverage networking opportunities to navigate their careers effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Engineering the Loop

05:52 Navigating Layoffs and Job Security

09:51 The Challenges of Entry-Level Job Seekers

15:11 Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Tech Landscape

16:44 Navigating Uncertainty in the Job Market

21:38 The Rise of AI in Development

25:09 Building Multiple Income Streams

31:09 Leveraging AI for Rapid Prototyping

33:24 Job Opportunities and Networking

Takeaways

• Staying updated with Azure certification changes is crucial.
• Practice exams are essential for identifying knowledge gaps.
• Rescheduling exams is easy if done within 24 hours.
• Participating in skills challenges can lead to exam vouchers.
• Understanding the weight of exam topics helps prioritize study efforts.
• AI is becoming an integral part of development toolkits.
• Exam vouchers can expire, so plan accordingly.
• Utilizing resources like Microsoft Learn is beneficial for preparation.
• Networking and asking for demos can enhance learning.
• Continuous learning is key to remaining relevant in tech.

Massdriver: https://www.massdriver.cloud/

Cory's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryodaniel/

Platform Engineering Podcast: https://www.platformengineeringpod.com/

Alec also talks through some changing recommendations in the AI space. While RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) has been the go-to approach, there’s a shift happening—more MVPs are starting to recommend fine-tuning models again. Alec breaks down the differences between the two methods, when each makes sense, and how the barriers to entry are getting lower with new tools and samples.

He also previews some upcoming talks, including submissions to Global AI Bootcamp and content for Azure Universe. There’s a quick mention of open-source quickstart projects, LinkedIn Learning courses, and conferences like Brian Gorman’s May conference (formerly Sci-Fi DevCon).

📌 Topics in this episode:

• MVP Summit reflections
• Fine-tuning vs. RAG
• Open-source AI tools
• Sample projects and quickstarts
• Upcoming conferences and community events
• LinkedIn Learning course access

If you're interested in AI, LLMs, or just trying things out for the first time, there's something here for you.