Walter L.

About Walter L.

I design and scale the operating systems that make innovation sustainable. Over 15 years leading strategic planning and business operations across Microsoft, Amazon, and global consulting, I\'ve helped organizations translate executive vision into measurable outcomes — whether launching AI products, modernizing supply chains, or advising investment funds on where the next wave of efficiency and growth will come from.My experience spans AI strategy, digital transformation, and operational design. I\'ve built and led cross-functional programs that optimized strategic resource planning, increased productivity by double-digit percentages, and delivered cumulative savings of more than $100 million. As a trusted advisor to consulting firms and investment funds, I\'ve contributed to due diligence and go-to-market analyses that have shaped multi-billion-dollar decisions in data centers, semiconductors, and enterprise software.My philosophy: innovation scales when creativity meets clarity. I focus on frameworks that bring order to ambiguity — OKRs that drive alignment, analytics that tell the real story, and systems that enable teams to move fast while staying accountable.I listen, strategize, implement — and occasionally reward the team with my legendary fish tacos.Keywords: AI Strategy | Innovation Leadership | Operational Excellence | Responsible AI | Strategic Planning | Business Transformation | Digital Strategy | Data Centers | Consulting Advisory | Cross-Functional Leadership | OKR Governance | Resource Planning

Experience

1. Director, Strategic Planning & Innovation

   Microsoft

   Oct 2021 — Present · Redmond, US

   Lead global strategic planning and operational governance for Microsoft AI, architecting systems that unify people, culture, and product execution across Copilot and Azure AI. Partner with Finance, HR, and Research leadership to align investment planning, OKR governance, and responsible-innovation frameworks with Microsoft’s long-range AI strategy.Human + AI Decision Frameworks – Designed next-generation planning models integrating human judgment with AI-assisted forecasting to bridge strategic intent and ethical execution, establishing Microsoft’s baseline for hybrid decision systems.AI Strategy & Operations – Built and operationalized unified capacity-planning and forecasting systems, improving predictive accuracy 20 %, shortening planning cycles 35 %, and scaling Copilot to 150 + countries with 89 % productivity gains.Executive Governance & Impact – Directed cross-functional OKR and QBR cadence influencing multi-billion-dollar investment decisions; delivered $ 2.4 B pre-sales pipeline while embedding Responsible AI guardrails into funding and GTM reviews.

Education

• Cornell University

  Psychology of Leadership - Executive Certificate

• Front Range Community College

  Associate's degree, Communication

  2001 — 2002

• University of Colorado Boulder

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communication and Media Studies

• NYU Stern School of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Management

  2013 — 2016

Skills

• Commercials
• Stage Lighting
• Final Draft
• Research
• Film
• Leadership Development
• Video Production
• Theatre
• Entertainment
• Stage
• Feature Films
• Post Production
• Customer Service
• Creative Direction
• Film Production
• Drama
• Dance
• Strategic Planning
• Voice Over
• Social Media
• Acting
• Brand Developement
• Video
• Pre-Production
• Social Media Marketing
• Teaching
• Art Direction
• Office 365
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Awesomeness
• Casting
• Directing
• Television
• Voice Acting
• Set Construction
• Producing
• Improvisation
• Hd Video
• Leadership