Hi! I’m Laura Clemons, a product and program leader who loves turning big ideas into results. I’ve worked with tech powerhouses like Microsoft, AWS and Disney, as well as ambitious startups to develop cloud solutions, leveraging emerging technologies, and data-driven strategies. My sweet spot? Building innovative products and services that solve tough problems while delivering meaningful impact (to the tune of $350 million+ so far).
Skillset
- Visionary Problem-Solver: I connect the dots between strategy and execution, aligning teams around clear goals.
- Data Driven Insights: I love digging into data to uncover insights and drive better decisions. Turning numbers into stories and insights into action.
- AI Innovator: Whether it’s building automation capabilities or brainstorming future use cases, I love harnessing the power of AI to make work and life smarter.
- Product Development Lifecycle Expertise: Proficient in managing end-to-end product lifecycles with experience in Agile, Scrum, and DevOps frameworks.
- User-Focused Design: Championing intuitive, customer-centric design that enhances user experiences and drives engagement.
- User Testing & Feedback Advocate: Skilled in planning and executing user testing and feedback to gather actionable input and ensure product success.
- Global Cross-Functional Collaboration: Aligning diverse teams across geographies to drive seamless execution and shared success.
- Cloud Innovator: Experienced in SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, I’ve scaled cloud products across multiple industries.
- Customer-First Mindset: Understanding and advocating for customer needs is my north star.
Passion
I’m driven by curiosity and the spark of innovation. I’m passionate about using data and AI to simplify complexity and unlock opportunities. I believe in creating a collaborative environment where bold ideas thrive, and I’m a firm believer in the power of agile and iterative approaches to build better products. My goal is always to empower teams to deliver their best work—and have fun doing it!
When I’m not knee-deep in dashboards or brainstorming product features, you’ll find me outdoors (with a smile). Whether it’s touring on my mountain bike or motorcycle, traversing a windy lake on my paddleboard, or slaying steep ski slopes, I live for adventure. I also love capturing epic moments in nature, or the progression of the many gardens I’m building with my camera. These passions keep me grounded and drive my commitment to protecting our planet.
Education
New York University: Master’s degree
At NYU’s prestigious Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), I delved into the cutting-edge intersection of technology, art, and human interaction. The program’s interdisciplinary focus gave me the freedom to explore emerging technologies, creative coding, and innovative approaches to storytelling and design.
For my master’s thesis, I developed an interactive media installation that premiered at Trenton State College and was reviewed by Leonardo Magazine; the work showcased my ability to blend technology and art to create immersive experiences. This foundation continues to inspire my work today, developing products that engage, innovate, and connect.
Fun fact: I even wrote and taught the first-ever multimedia course in the undergraduate department of film and television at NYU. Go Violets!
California College of the Arts: Bachelor’s degree
At California College of the Arts (CCA), I immersed myself in a dynamic blend of art history, cultural studies, and English literature, which shaped my ability to think critically and creatively. Beyond the classroom, I explored the art of making—creating sculptures in bronze, steel, glass, plaster, and conceptual installations. This hands-on experience honed my ability to bring abstract ideas to life, an invaluable skill that translates seamlessly into my approach to product design and innovation.
Certifications
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification, from Collabnet, now Digital.ai, equips me with the knowledge, tools and expertise to lead Agile teams and deliver customer-focused products efficiently following scrum and agile frameworks.
- LinkedIn Learning Certificates:
- Generative AI Readiness – Sept. 2023
Technical Skills
Collaboration and Communication Platforms: Proficient with Slack, Teams, WebEx, Chime and more, for fostering global team alignment.
Cloud Technologies Implementation Management: Extensive experience in SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud.
Scrum Frameworks, Agile Methodologies: CPPO certified in current practices Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Sprint planning, Retrospectives, and old-school Waterfall practices.
Data Analysis and Reporting: Proficient with tools like SQL, Azure App Insights, Power BI, AWS Quicksight, Tableau, and Grafana to deliver actionable insights.
DevOps Tools: Expertise in Azure DevOps, Atlassian JIRA, Confluence, Rally, and other internal DevOps tools at Microsoft, AWS and Cisco.
Product Management: AI prompt engineering, PowerPoint/Keynote presentations, UX/UI design tools, white boarding, project scheduling-MS Project, Asana, Workfront, Smartsheet, others.
API and Ecosystem Integration: Strong background in leading design, development, delivery roadmap for API interfaces, distributed infrastructures, and multi-device ecosystems.
Security and Compliance in DevOps: Deep experience program managing compliance implementations: cloud security, identity and access management, data privacy, others.
Let’s Get ‘Er Done