Lauren Reid
Global Privacy Compliance Expert
I have been an IAPP Member for over ten years; in that time, I have volunteered in several capacities. My first experience in a leadership role was as a co-chair of the Toronto KnowledgeNet. I built relationships with speakers, IAPP members, and venue hosts. I learned what topics people wanted to hear about, and worked with a great team to coordinate networking events. I am especially proud of the Women Leading Privacy Soiree, where we invited Canada’s leaders in privacy (many of whom happen to be women) about where they see the profession going. I later joined the Certification Advisory Board and am now a Training Faculty Member.
Last year, when I started my own consulting practice, I was flooded with support from my network. My main source of referrals has been people I met through IAPP Volunteering. My fellow co-chairs, Women Leading Privacy members, and speakers I helped to book for local events, have all taken an active role in helping me get my business off the ground.
IAPP Membership and the conferences certainly have their benefits – but taking an active leadership role is how you get to know people and show them who you are. Privacy is a growing community, but it is still a small world. I am not aware of any other profession that is so supportive and inclusive.