It’s that time of year again; time for the IAPP’s Global Privacy Summit. Yes, I pack up this weekend to head to Washington, DC for training, seminars and, of course, networking.
For me this means starting on Sunday by facilitating the Privacy Program Management course. As a member of the IAPP faculty I lead several of their courses, but this is the one I enjoy the most. We get a wide variety of privacy-experience across the individuals attending. From privacy newbies to Chief Privacy Officers of large enterprises all contribute to our conversations. The way the course is structured with a number of team exercises, we all get to learn from each other’s varied experiences.
After building our booth in the exhibit hall, Monday will start off for my team with the 5 minute mixer. Think of it like speed dating for privacy pros (without the inherent commitment risks). How often do you get to randomly meet another privacy person without any agendas…just to meet. I know of one newbie privacy person who sat down and met three Chief Privacy Officers from large multinational enterprises in a row. How often do you get the opportunity to speak with someone that far outside your regular interactions one-on-one.
The opening of the exhibit hall with the Welcome Party will give us all a chance to renew acquaintances and make a few new ones. It will also give us a chance to look at the new products and services in the ever-evolving privacy space, (Stop by the Privacy Ref booth for a phishing treat!)
The keynotes are also a highlight. I’ve heard Monica Lewinsky speak at another conference. She definitely provided a different perspective on her experiences that gave food for thought. I am anxious to hear what she has to say at this event.
With GDPR and the ePrivacy Regulation right around the corner, I am very excited to hear Viviane Reding and Birgit Sippel share their insights.
The other sessions look exciting as well. Hearing our colleagues share their challenges and techniques always help expand my understanding of our industry.
Will I see you in DC?