Laila Henriksen

About Laila Henriksen

I’m a global customer consultant working as a cloud program leader with 8+ years of experience delivering large-scale AI/ML and cloud infrastructure programs across industries including financial services, crypto, hospitality, and gaming.I specialize in: • Cloud adoption & transformation — driving AWS Landing Zone deployments with on-prem integration and multi-region availability. • AI/ML program delivery — supporting GPU-accelerated workloads and enterprise-scale AI platform adoption. • Cost optimization & capacity planning — identified and executed strategies saving $550K+ in cloud infrastructure costs. • Cross-functional leadership — partnering with engineering, finance, and product teams to align strategy with business outcomes.I thrive in fast-paced, global environments where technology meets business strategy. Currently consulting with organizations leading in AI platforms, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise transformation.On top of my professional work, I’m committed to giving back. I’ve led two global volunteer initiatives in Ghana, where I taught coding, robotics, and 3D printing to children, partnering with organizations to deliver tech education programs.

Experience

1. Customer Technical Program Manager 2 (Promotion)

   Amazon Web Services (AWS)

   Jul 2022 — Present

   Led cross-functional programs across engineering, design, and finance to optimize cloud cost efficiency in AWS ProServe-Partnered with engineering teams to develop and implement scalable, cost-effective technical strategies-Translated complex business requirements into actionable technical plans with clear milestones-Managed program scope, schedules, dependencies, and risks to ensure timely infrastructure deployments-Developed cost-efficiency analytics and championed a cost-conscious engineering culture, saving over $550K annually on cloud infrastructure-Provided expertise in cloud infrastructure, assessing gaps and balancing product vs. technology trade-offs-Communicated progress and insights effectively to stakeholders and leadership, tailoring messages for diverse audiences-Advocated for scalable, long-term solutions through strategic planning and hands-on collaboration with technical teams-Built internal Generative AI projects to reduce costs and enhance engagement delivery-Proactively took on new challenges, including hands-on data analysis to drive informed decision-making.

Education

• Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies

  Graduate Certificate, Lean & Agile practices

• Morgan State University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Creative Writing

  2016 — 2018

• Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies

  Master of Technology - MTech, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

  2020 — 2023

• University of Maryland Baltimore County

  Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Biochemistry

  2012 — 2014