THE AI INTERVIEW
After earning an MBA at Cambridge University’ s Judge Business School, her focus sharpened. She began leading high-level technology innovation engagements for major corporate clients.
Simone reflects on a pivotal moment that occurred around a decade ago during a second stint at Accenture, when she led the development and implementation of a bespoke chatbot for a large customer.
“ This,” she continues,“ is when I decided to specialise in artificial intelligence.”
Bridging strategy and success In her current capacity, Simone is responsible for ensuring AI becomes a core growth priority. She works across customer success and data centre innovation to deliver meaningful results.
She also heads the AI Ecosystem Software team, ensuring that Lenovo’ s products align with local needs. This involves close collaboration with the Solutions and Services Group, or SSG.
Simone says:“ My ambition is to bring hands-on experience across AI architecture, software ecosystems and help turn technology into real, measurable business impact.”
As AI fuels an explosion in data across almost every industry, many organisations are struggling to deploy this data at scale or sustain it. Simone contends there exists a widening gap between the bold digital ambitions of executives and the reality of their infrastructure.
“ MY AMBITION IS TO BRING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE ACROSS AI ARCHITECTURE”
Simone Larsson, Head of Enterprise AI EMEA, Lenovo
“ While AI investment has been booming in recent years,” she goes on,“ the next phase IT leaders must prioritise is the ability to harness it at scale. This means selecting infrastructure that can handle growing data demands, operational models that embed AI across the business and governance frameworks that ensure responsible use.
“ This shift is redefining how enterprises think about technology, skills and long-term competitiveness.”
The importance of data sovereignty As AI models consume more information, the question of where that data lives has become paramount.
Simone acknowledges that conversation surrounding data sovereignty has grown louder in recent times. In the EMEA region specifically, tighter regulations and concerns over foreign legal reach are driving change, prompting organisations to localise their workloads to ensure compliance and build trust.
“ Sovereignty has become shorthand for choice and control – confidence that data is handled responsibly, transparently and within local laws,”
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