I became a full-time privacy professional at AOL on Steve Case’s birthday in 1998. I had been working on trust and safety issues, online content and conduct policies, that sort of thing. Before moving to AOL, I led a government affairs team for a software industry trade association. I served as AOL’s Global Privacy Leader for many years, building a mature privacy program, launching multiple privacy policies, and addressing the privacy issues of acquiring several companies. I continued to build and lead the team as we rebranded and then were acquired by Verizon, and when we acquired Yahoo the Yahoo privacy team joined my team. We worked through integrating companies, technology, and privacy programs and teams. I later joined the company’s Global Public Policy team as Vice President, Global Privacy and Trust to help the company address privacy challenges in its strategy and planning and represent the company externally on privacy issues. I have been a frequent speaker at conferences and symposia, and I served as board chair of the Network Advertising Initiative, a self-regulatory organization, from 2013-22. Most recently, I headed Global Privacy Operations on the Amazon Ads privacy team.
I believe the study of history makes us more effective professionals and citizens. I am keenly interested in the challenge of getting people to be interested in history. I’ve been a docent at the National Museum of American History since 1992 (I’d love to see you on one of my tours!). I served as a board officer for years with Cultural Tourism DC, and as board chair at Oatlands Historic House and Garden, and I was a board officer with the Edwin Washington Project/Diversity Fairs of Virginia.
I studied history and government at Clark University and received an M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University. I wanted to be a university professor for a time and did a lot of doctoral work in political science at GW, but was “all but dissertation” at the end. Why didn’t I finish my dissertation? It’s complicated, but I’ll tell you this much: I wish I’d had a coach at the time.
I am accredited by the International Coaching Federation as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). I did my coaching training at CoachU, and I am a Core Essentials Graduate (CEG). I have been a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) since 2005.
