Laurent De Grauwe

Co-Founder and CEO @ Justifai | Product, Growth, AI Governance | ex-Microsoft

Driving Innovation and Growth in Tech: From Startups to Global Enterprises

Global Sales & Marketing Leader: With over 20 years of experience, I've driven transformative growth across Cloud Computing, IoT, Data and AI, and Enterprise Software.

Strategic Thinker: From Microsoft to startups, I've consistently scaled businesses of all sizes. Key achievements include:
- Achieving first $1M ARR in startups
- Growing incubation workloads to +$100M
- Transforming products into multi-billion dollar businesses

Go-To-Market Specialist: Expert in crafting and executing global GTM strategies that deliver exponential growth. I've led teams to success in small and highly matrixed organizations.

Business Developer at heart: I thrive where routes to market are yet to be defined. I am a quick learner and able to pivot based on market context.

Authentic Leader: Empowering people to accelerate business growth. Passionate coach, focusing on individual strengths and adapting leadership style for maximum effectiveness.

Sr. Director Global Field GTM & Programs 

Data Masterclass

Lead Coach and Strategic Advisor at Data Masterclass - accelerating data journeys through group coaching, 1:1 mentorship, professional events, and a learning platform. Bringing the best of Data & AI to leading European companies - real-life proven and practical.

Lead Coach

chiefdata.ai

Digital Twin of Chief Data Officer, powered by AI.

Founder

Microsoft

$10M+ NEW P&L GENERATED | $700 M+ ANNUAL REVENUE GENERATED | 80+ TEAM SATISFACTION SCORES

Spearheaded a strategic data investment initiative during Microsoft's digital transformation, securing the creation of a dedicated enterprise data team and increased budget allocation through compelling case studies presented to the CDO. Transformed data from a cost center into a profit generator, advancing business growth and solidifying data as a cornerstone for success in the AI era. Solved the challenge of rapid integration for newly acquired entities (GitHub, Nuance) by designing and deploying a novel venture integration process centered on custom "Connected Data Products."
- Generated $700M+ in annual revenue influence by leveraging executive business case practices to engage top customers globally, strengthening Microsoft's position as a trusted partner for data strategy, governance, and AI solutions.
- Achieved 80+ team satisfaction scores by fostering a thriving data team culture within Microsoft's global workforce, leading to enhanced retention rates, growth, and development.
- Generated $10M+ in new P&L by onboarding core business units onto a unified global data platform, alongside establishing a shared catalog encompassing all data services across the entire company worldwide.
- Delivered substantial savings and 70% reduction in outsourced work by implementing a centralized Data Mesh platform, boosting data scalability, discoverability, and governance, and fueling data product innovation.
- Achieved 30% increase in productivity in sales analytics related roles by establishing Federated Data Governance & DQ-by-design controls leading to the decommissioning of 3 data platforms and generating millions in savings for Microsoft.

CORE EXPERTISE: Data Strategy, Digital Transformation, Budget Allocation, Executive Engagement, Profit Generation, Data Culture, Cost Optimization, Data Governance, Data Scalability, Business Strategy, Change Management, Team Leadership

EMEA Lead, Data & AI Strategy, Governance and Analytics | AI / ML | Innovation and Transformation

$1M+ PROFIT ACHIEVED | $5B ANNUAL REVENUE GENERATED | 20%+ TIME-BACK-TO-SALES REDUCTION

Served as a trusted advisor to company leadership on data-related matters, leveraging your expertise to provide strategic guidance. Spearheaded the creation and scaling of end-to-end data enablement for Unified Support, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to budget constraints.  Transformed a cost center into a profit generator by architecting and launching a pay-per-use service for Microsoft Partners, granting access to valuable customer licensing and product usage data.

- Achieved 20%+ reduction in time-back-to-sales, 98% first-time-right, and 99% revenue accuracy by implementing top-level OKRs connected to business impact, streamlining data operations and engineering processes globally.
- Generated $5B in annual revenue through collaborative efforts with high-level business leaders to define and execute the launch of Microsoft Unified Support, a customer-centric product billed annually per consumption.
- Realized $1M+ profit within one year by developing an externally accessible portal for Partners to request custom-generated licensing summaries, enhancing partner engagement and revenue generation.
- Ensured profitable and in-demand status of a modern, versatile data platform serving both internal and external requests for 8 years, establishing trust in company data and enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Resolved 6 out of 7 enterprise-wide business issues within 12 months by fast-tracking the resolution of underlying data issues, addressing the root causes, and enhancing overall business performance.

CORE EXPERTISE: Data Management, Data Enablement, Profit Generation, Strategic Guidance, Revenue Accuracy, Partner Engagement, Data Platform, Trust, Data-driven Decision-making, Issue Resolution, Root Cause Analysis, Business Performance

Head of Data Management, Director | Data Enablement and Scaling | Profit Generation

$10M COST SAVED | 72 CENTRALIZED SHARED DATA SERVICES

Led the global data service delivery team, overseeing data operations and engineering to ensure high-quality, reliable, and timely data services across the organization. Developed comprehensive data strategies and governance frameworks, aligning data initiatives with business objectives and ensuring compliance with data quality and security standards.
- Saved $10M annually by pioneering the establishment of global data and information quality management; leveraged data engineering & operations; the initiative ensured flawless 24/7 execution of large-scale data management operations.
- Implemented innovative outsourcing principles, enabling rapid scalability with complex data solutions while preserving in-house intellectual property, compliance, and security standards, thus driving immediate business value.
- Directed a global team of Microsoft data professionals and vendor teams in data engineering and operations, ensuring efficient collaboration and synergy, which met the company's evolving data management needs on a global scale.
- Implemented a data literacy education program for company employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning and empowerment, which enhanced data-driven decision-making capabilities and drove business growth and innovation.
- Consolidated 1000+ disparate local processes into 72 centralized Shared Data Services through the application of cutting-edge technological solutions, thus enhancing scalability and delivering tangible benefits to the company.

CORE EXPERTISE: Global Data Service Delivery, Data Operations, Data Engineering, Data Strategy, Governance Frameworks, Business Alignment, Compliance, Data Quality, Security Standards, Cost Savings, Business Growth

Senior Manager, Global Data Service Delivery | Data Service Delivery | Big Data & Analytics

20+ TEAM LEADERSHIP | CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS

Led the development and execution of a comprehensive data strategy for the Central & Eastern Europe region, aligning with global business objectives. Established data governance policies, procedures, and standards to ensure data quality, security, and compliance. Oversaw the design and implementation of advanced data analytics and visualization solutions. Transformed raw data into actionable insights, driving business value and supporting data-driven decision-making.

- Integrated corporate data strategies with Central & Eastern European markets drove operational efficiency through tailored support for Sales and Marketing teams, which helped to enhance data integrity and decision-making capabilities.
- Provided accurate and timely reporting in revenue generation and CRM domains, empowering company leadership with actionable insights for informed decision-making, leading to strategic advantages and overall success for the organization.
- Led a team of 20+ data professionals spanning Central & Eastern Europe and navigated organizational change management across the area by shifting from local, geo-specific delivery to global, worldwide operations.

CORE EXPERTISE: Data Strategy, Data Governance, Data Quality, Security, Compliance, Data Analytics, Data Visualization, Operational Efficiency, Revenue Generation, Team Management, Change Management, Global Operations

Area Data Lead for Central & Eastern Europe | Data Analysis & Visualization | Big Data Technologies

Accenture

- Led a team of Accenture consultants in implementing core data management principles and procedures across Microsoft's Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, and UK regions. 
- Developed and deployed a new data consultancy practice at Accenture, successfully rolling it out across various locations in Europe and the Middle East.
- Demonstrated exceptional change management and influence skills, overcoming initial resistance to drive high early adoption rates for the new practice.
- Implemented clear success measurement metrics and delivered a strong business ROI for Microsoft.

CORE EXPERTISE: Core Data Management Principles and Procedures | Change Management | Client Collaboration | Data Strategy, Data Governance, Data Quality, Security, Compliance

Project Manager

- Delivered project management for complex Data Migration and Data Warehousing initiatives for major mobile Telcos.  Led the deployment of integrated solutions, ensuring data quality through a robust framework.
- Enabled Master Data Management (MDM) implementation with compelling use cases specifically designed to enhance Sales & Marketing efforts. This resulted in a significant boost in business ROI for our clients.

CORE EXPERTISE: Data Migration and Data Warehousing | Master Data Management (MDM) | Advanced Data Management | Complex Project Coordination

Program Manager

Lattelekom

- Delivered critical Data Warehouse and BI (OLAP) solutions ahead of schedule for Latvia's leading telecom provider. This project, built using Oracle data products, empowered the company with advanced data analysis capabilities.
- Worked closely with business stakeholders to gather, analyze, and prioritize requirements for the Data Warehouse. I then partnered effectively with data engineers and database admins to build new ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes and data quality controls for the system.

CORE EXPERTISE: Data Warehouse Development | Business Intelligence (BI) Solutions | Stakeholder Collaboration | Team Collaboration | Project Management

Data Warehouse Project Manager

CAF Riga (JOT Eesti OY)

- Optimized, maintained, and advanced a custom-built, SQL-based ERP solution for a multi-location company across Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Salo (Finland); thus ensured efficient data management and streamlined operations across the organization.
- Provided comprehensive IT support for the Tallinn office, exceeding the needs of a 100+ member team of mechanical engineers and industrial designers. Responsibilities included PC maintenance, network setup and connectivity, CAD configuration, and ongoing technical assistance.

CORE EXPERTISE: ERP System Optimization and Maintenance | Cross-Location Coordination | Technical Problem Solving | Customer Service Excellence

Software Engineer

"I have been at the forefront of data product innovation, leveraging cutting-edge AI capabilities to drive business growth and performance. My talent for identifying emerging technologies and translating them into tangible solutions has been instrumental in staying ahead of the curve.”

At the core of my leadership philosophy lies a relentless pursuit of excellence. I have led large global teams with a keen focus on inspiring and motivating them towards a common vision. One of my key strengths lies in strategic thinking. I have adeptly developed comprehensive data strategies aligned with business objectives, steering the organization towards innovation and growth. Whether it's identifying opportunities, setting clear goals, or crafting implementation plans, I've consistently demonstrated an ability to chart a course towards success.

In tackling complex business challenges, I thrive. Whether it's integrating newly acquired customers seamlessly or resolving enterprise-wide issues, my problem-solving skills shine. I possess an aptitude for identifying root causes, devising creative solutions, and driving implementation to achieve tangible results.

✓ Generated $700M+ in annual revenue influence by leveraging executive business case practices to engage top customers globally, strengthening Microsoft's position as a trusted partner for data strategy, governance, and AI solutions.
✓ Achieved 80+ of team's satisfaction score by fostering a thriving data team culture within Microsoft's global workforce, leading to enhanced retention rates, growth, and development.
✓ Generated $10M+ in new P&L by onboarding business units onto a unified global data & AI platform, alongside establishing a shared catalog encompassing all data services across the entire company worldwide.
✓ Attained $5B in annual revenue through collaborative efforts with high-level business leaders to define and execute the launch of Microsoft Unified Support, a customer-centric product billed annually per consumption.
✓ Consolidated 1000+ disparate local processes into 72 centralized Shared Data Services through the application of cutting-edge technological solutions, thus enhancing scalability, and delivering tangible benefits to the company.

Core Competencies include:  Global Data Management Services | Large-Scale Delivery Management | Data Strategy and Governance | Data Product Innovation | Digital Transformation | AI Strategy and Implementation | Operational Excellence

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Laurent De Grauwe

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