Hewlett Packard Vice President and CPO Scott Taylor, CIPP/US, received the IAPP’s 2016 Vanguard Award today at the 2016 Global Privacy Summit in Washington.
“For those of you who know me, you know that I hate being the center of attention,” Taylor said upon accepting the award. “First of all, it’s an amazing honor, and I truly, truly appreciate it,” he said. “[But] as I think about the award, I appreciate getting it, but so many people deserve it.”
The Vanguard Award recognizes privacy professionals with a true commitment to outstanding, consistent leadership in their respective communities. For previous Vanguard winner, Jennifer Stoddart of Nymity, bestowing “the beloved” Taylor with this year’s award was a no-brainer.
“This year’s recipient has been recognized as a leader for years,” she said. Taylor “has over the years continually demonstrated privacy awareness and education” and “has shown courage by taking the position that has not yet garnered a popular position.” Taylor’s desire to “ask things not even ‘the nasty regulators’ were asking” coupled with his “conviction to go beyond the letter or the law” meant that he “took an ethical approach long before that term became possible,” she added.
Taylor, who currently serves on the IAPP’s Executive Board, used his acceptance speech to reflect on his 28-year journey at HP, including memories of a number of professional milestones, such as serving on the company’s first-ever website launch team in 1993 and navigating a high-profile breach, as a way to acknowledge the people who shaped and influenced his career.
“Barb [Lawler], what she created and her journey was my introduction to privacy,” he said, acknowledging his predecessor, author of the company’s privacy program and its first Chief Privacy Officer. Calling her a “true visionary,” Taylor said, “Barb is truly the first person I have to thank for my success in privacy.”
Taylor further recognized the wisdom of the Information Accountability Foundation’s Marty Abrams when reminiscing on a 2006 “trial by fire … privacy scandal” as integral to his success. Abrams is “not only my closest friend, but a mentor,” he said, someone who taught him that privacy was “not just focused on liability” but also relied heavily on “social responsibility.”
He also took a moment to acknowledge those in the trenches with him at HP.
“As you build out a program … unless your senior executives support you, it’s just a good idea that’s going to die,” Taylor continued, thanking two company executives who accompanied him to accept the award. “Finally, you don’t get anything done if you don’t have an incredible team to work together and to work with,” Taylor said, praising their “courage to really think about [privacy] a different way,” while focusing not just compliance efforts, but embracing the ethics behind their work.
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