Rima Alaily, a 1990 graduate of Appleton East High School, leads the global legal team that enables Microsoft’s cloud and AI infrastructure. She will give a keynote speech at the New North Summit June 9 in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
What do you find most challenging and/or rewarding in your career?
The most challenging part of my work is navigating complexity at scale — balancing rapid technological growth with the very real concerns and priorities of communities, governments and employees. The most rewarding part is seeing that balance come together: when we listen well, make thoughtful decisions, and build solutions that enable innovation while creating tangible benefits for people and places.
What do you think people misunderstand about data centers?
Data centers often feel abstract, but they are already woven into daily life in very tangible ways. They power everyday activities we take for granted — checking the weather, making a payment, joining a virtual meeting, accessing medical records, calling 911 or running a small business online. That immense value is delivered quietly, in the background, which can make it easy to overlook both their importance and the responsibility that comes with operating them. At the same time, people have valid questions and concerns about what it takes to deliver that value — around resources, infrastructure and local impact. My goal is to bring more transparency and understanding to this space.
How have your background and ties to Northeast Wisconsin influenced you professionally?
Northeast Wisconsin is where many of my values were formed — an understanding of hard work, humility and the importance of community. It’s a place where people expect progress to be real, tangible and rooted in trust. Coming back to Wisconsin now, in a professional capacity, feels full circle.
How can Wisconsin prepare for incoming technology changes?
AI is becoming a foundational technology that will shape how all industries function. As this technology continues to scale, it’s important that workers in Wisconsin and across the Midwest are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to unlock the power of such a tool. Expanding access to AI learning programs through colleges, universities and workforce training initiatives is an important step local leaders can take to empower the current and future generation of workers.
