Senior data privacy leaders gathered at Chicago’s Navy Pier for the Enterprise Data Strategy Board Meeting, where they participated in candid, behind-the-scenes chats about running privacy programs at the nation’s largest brands.   

The two-day event included small-group discussions, case studies, and four rounds of unconferences — where members get to choose the most pressing topics and challenges they’re facing in real time and benchmark with their data strategy peers. 

The only thing missing from the Board Meeting was vendors, consultants, or agencies influencing the conversations. 

Here’s a look at what we covered:

Data Privacy Case Studies: 

• Global privacy standards: Creating a baseline to stand the test of time – led by Lisa Garrett at AT&T  
• Assessing your privacy maturity: Practical steps and lessons learned – led by Christine Szafranski and Fred Jandt at American Family Insurance  
• Data privacy and change management: Leading through organizational shifts – led by Ashley Slavik at ADM  
• Privacy compliance in website tracking: Optimizing your process – led by Sarah Stalnecker and Kelley Walsh at New Balance Athletics  
• Crafting a responsible and streamlined AI program – led by Janine Foster at Target 

Member-Led Small-Group Discussions: 

• Privacy careers: Fostering long-term growth – led by Andrew Bjerken at Marriott Vacations Worldwide  
• Wielding privacy technology for efficiency and growth – led by Ryan Scardigli at AES  
• Considering the wider impact of consumer health privacy laws – led by Melissa Parisi at Herbalife  
• Partnering with internal stakeholders to support your privacy story – led by Virginia Neiswender at Cox Enterprises  

Unconferences to Explore Top Enterprise Privacy Challenges:

On day two, Data Privacy Board members set the meeting’s agenda themselves through our Unconferences, fast-paced, peer-to-peer discussions where members suggest discussion topics, vote for their favorites, and join the conversations that interest them most.  

It means members are spending the entire time talking about the topics that are most important to them.  

Here’s a look at some of the most pressing challenges privacy leaders are facing:

• The future of data governance: Where should it sit? What level of scope for privacy?  
• Privacy risk metrics  
• Best hacks to save time and reduce your privacy workload  
• Navigating child privacy and design code laws  
• Which international regulations are messing with our programs   
• Enforcement of PIA controls  

The best on-site discussions will grow as full community conversations in the coming weeks and months as we dig deeper together.