What does it actually take to lead privacy across multiple jurisdictions, cultures, and business functions — while regulations, priorities, and expectations constantly evolve?
In this episode of Practical Privacy, Orla Dormer speaks with Vicky Owens, Senior Data Privacy and Compliance Counsel at SkyShowtime, about the realities of operating as a global privacy leader inside a fast-moving international organisation.
Managing privacy at global level is rarely just about interpreting regulation correctly. The real challenge is influencing teams with different priorities, translating privacy into business language, and adapting your approach depending on who you are working with.
Vicky shares openly how some of her early approaches created friction — and why shifting from a purely “privacy-first” mindset to a more collaborative business approach became essential.
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What we cover in this episode
Rather than treating privacy as a standalone legal function, Vicky explains why global privacy leadership requires constant adaptation and relationship building. She discusses:
- Why privacy leadership becomes more complex as organisations scale globally
- The challenge of aligning teams that do not naturally think in privacy terms
- How pushing the same compliance narrative repeatedly can create resistance
- Why understanding commercial realities improves stakeholder engagement
- The importance of translating privacy requirements into practical business outcomes
- How communication style influences adoption far more than many privacy professionals expect
One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation is that privacy programmes succeed through influence and collaboration — not simply technical expertise or regulatory knowledge.
Key lessons from this episode
- Global privacy leadership is fundamentally a people challenge
- Different business teams require different communication strategies
- Privacy professionals must balance regulatory requirements with operational realities
- Stakeholder buy-in matters as much as policy design
- Flexibility and adaptability are critical leadership skills in privacy
- Trust is built through partnership, not enforcement
This episode is an honest reflection on the realities of scaling privacy leadership internationally — including the frustrations, lessons learned, and mindset shifts required to make privacy work effectively across large organisations.
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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