What does it really take to become a Data Protection Officer — especially if you do not come from a traditional legal or privacy background?
In this episode of Practical Privacy, Orla Dormer speaks with Naveed Malik, Group DPO, Legal & Government Affairs at Informa, about the realities of building a career in privacy leadership and the lessons learned along the way.
Many professionals assume the route to becoming a DPO is highly linear: law degree, privacy specialisation, compliance career. Naveed’s journey challenges that assumption completely.
He shares openly how transferable skills, curiosity, communication, and commercial understanding often matter just as much as technical privacy expertise when stepping into leadership roles.
🎥 Watch the full episode
🎧 Listen on your preferred platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
What we cover in this episode
Rather than focusing purely on certifications or legal qualifications, Naveed explains why successful privacy careers are often built through adaptability and practical business experience. He discusses:
- Why there is no single “correct” route into privacy leadership
- The importance of learning how businesses actually operate
- How communication skills influence credibility and trust
- Why technical privacy knowledge alone is not enough
- Building confidence when transitioning into senior leadership roles
- The value of curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning
A major theme throughout the conversation is that privacy leadership requires far more than understanding regulation. The ability to influence stakeholders, navigate complexity, and connect privacy to business outcomes becomes increasingly important at senior level.
Key lessons from this episode
- There is no perfect background for becoming a DPO
- Transferable skills can be a major advantage in privacy leadership
- Commercial awareness matters as much as regulatory knowledge
- Communication and influence are critical leadership capabilities
- Career growth in privacy is rarely linear
- Continuous learning is essential in a constantly evolving field
This episode is an honest and practical discussion about career development in privacy — particularly for professionals who may feel they do not fit the “traditional” profile of a DPO.
Follow the series
If you want more real-world conversations about privacy operations, AI governance, and scaling compliance without unnecessary complexity:
- Follow Orla Dormer on LinkedIn for updates on new episodes
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
- Follow the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
New episodes are released regularly as part of the Practical Privacy series.
🟡 If the challenges discussed in this episode resonate, you don’t have to solve them alone. Book a demo to see how organisations like Randstad and other global companies operationalise privacy and AI governance in practice, reducing complexity while aligning compliance with how their business actually works. 👉 Book your demo here