Building a Privacy Program You Can Explain, Maintain, and Defend
Ask the Expert ft. Teresa "T" Froester-Falk
Synopsis:
This discussion will focus on what it really takes to build a defensible privacy program starting from what US regulators actually prioritize and then mapping that onto how work and influence really flow. We’ll look at the gap between the official org chart and the “real network” that drives decisions, how privacy leaders can use that network to advance enforcement-aligned priorities even without formal authority, and how to decide where to spend limited energy when you often feel like you’re the only one who cares. The conversation will connect enforcement trends to concrete choices about ownership, influence, and prioritization, so participants leave with practical ways to move their programs forward.
Problem Statement:
Building a privacy program is hard. Many privacy leaders inherit the title but not the authority, budget, or headcount to do what they know needs to be done, while executive teams still expect visible progress and results now. The challenge is to move from abstract requirements to a program the business understands, can operate day-to-day, and can defend to regulators, customers, and internal stakeholders.
Pre-Discussion Resources:
So You Got the Privacy Officer Title—Now What? https://amzn.to/3JEUC5h
The Reality of Privacy Work article https://iapp.org/news/a/the-reality-of-privacy-work
A View from DC - A Self-help book for Privacy Leaders https://iapp.org/news/a/a-view-from-dc-a-self-help-book-for-privacy-leaders
Speaker: Teresa “T” Troester-Falk
Teresa “T” Troester-Falk has over 20 years of experience turning privacy requirements into programs that work when resources are limited and timelines are real. She has led global privacy and accountability initiatives at DoubleClick (later acquired by Google), Epsilon, Nielsen, and Nymity (now part of TrustArc), and works with organizations to design practical, defensible privacy programs and evidence of compliance. She is the Founder and CEO of BlueSky Privacy and BlueSky PrivacyStack, and the author of So You Got the Privacy Officer Title—Now What?
Moderator: Janelle Hsia
Janelle Hsia is the President and Founder of Privacy SWAN Consulting working as a trainer, consultant, and trusted advisor for strategic and tactical decision-making. While she is focused on the field of privacy and data protection, Janelle Hsia is not a lawyer and brings a diverse background with strong leadership, technical, and business skills spanning 20 years in the areas of project management, IT, privacy, security, data governance, and process improvement. Janelle Hsia is also Co-Founder and Vice-President of the Institute of Operational Privacy Design.