Before anything else, I want to thank you for reading this.
I mean that. Time is one of the most valuable things we have, and how we choose to spend it matters. I can't give back the minutes you spend reading this newsletter. What I can do is make them worth it, with content built on real experience. I want you to finish each post and think, "That was worth my time."
I won't pretend every post will hit that mark for every reader. But I can promise that most of them will.
Who I am
I've worked in technology for more than 30 years, and nearly 22 of them have been with two of the biggest names in the industry, Microsoft and IBM.
My path didn't start in tech, though. In my youth, I spent ten years chasing a promising soccer career. When that ended, I was 23, and I traded the only thing of value I owned for my first computer. It felt like a loss at the time. It turned out to be the decision that started everything.
In 2002, I began working with Microsoft in Brazil as a database consultant, through a contractor. After almost four years there and a few smaller companies, IBM invited me in 2009 to join them in Brazil as a Senior SQL Server Specialist. I supported large global clients, managed around 180 SQL Server databases for one of them, and mentored colleagues as they grew in their own careers.
In 2013, Microsoft invited me back, this time as a full-time employee, and I've been there ever since. In 2016, I relocated to Texas, where I still live and work today.
Today I'm a Senior Cloud Solution Architect for Azure Databases on Microsoft's Mission Critical team. I help some of the world's largest banks, financial firms, healthcare organizations, and public institutions keep their data secure and resilient across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Cosmos DB.
If you'd like to know more about my career, visit my LinkedIn profile. I'd be glad to connect.
Why I'm writing again
I've written posts and articles throughout my career, so this is a return, not a start. Recently, while going through my day-to-day notes, I realized how much is in them: years of real problems, solutions, and lessons learned.
To be clear, I'll never share anything confidential about the companies I work for or the customers I serve. Professional confidentiality matters to me, as it does to all of us. But there's still a lot I can share, and today's AI tools make it much easier to turn raw notes into something clear and useful.
What you can expect
A new post every Tuesday, on four topics:
Databases. This is my specialty, so I'll write about it with real authority, explained so that anyone can follow.
AI. Here I'm writing as someone who's still learning, like most of us. I'll share the tools I use, how I apply them day to day, what works and what doesn't, and where I struggled most, so you can avoid the same mistakes.
Career stories. In more than 30 years, I've faced situations I'd handle differently today. I'll share the things I wish someone had told me sooner.
Business advice. Lessons from two decades of working with companies of every size.
Free and paid
Some posts will be free, and others will be for paid members. Paid subscriptions let me put even more time and care into each post, so that every minute you spend here is worth it.
So come back often, and if something resonates, hit reply. I read every message.
If you'd like everything from day one, the first 100 paid members get the Founders' Rate: 30% off, locked in forever. Claim the Founders' Rate →
Until next time, and thank you again for your time.
Alex
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Microsoft. The author is a Microsoft employee.
