Privacy isn't just about keeping secrets safe. It's tangled up with trust, business risks, how we use technology, and even questions about ethics and artificial intelligence. Chief Privacy Officers, or CPOs, are at the heart of this shift.

Last week, privacy leaders from some of the largest companies in tech, eCommerce, consumer goods, and more, gathered at the Consero CPO event in Los Angeles. Over the course of three days, we explored creative ways to solve privacy’s biggest challenges, tactics for weaving privacy into the everyday fabric of a business, and most importantly—strategies for positioning privacy as not just a problem to solve, but as a key lever for business growth.

Here’s my three main takeaways from discussions with dozens of privacy leaders.

Privacy’s scope is expanding rapidly

Privacy, and the role of the CPO, has expanded significantly in the last decade: now encompassing user trust, enterprise risks, AI ethics, and so much more. This expansion reflects a growing acknowledgment that privacy is a key piece of effective risk management—requiring deep collaboration with technical teams and a more holistic approach to data governance.

CPOs also face shorter ramp times to adapt to new privacy regulations and business needs. Unlike the 24-month lead time for GDPR, new regulations often come with only a few months of notice (think Washington’s My Health My Data Act).

Privacy leaders are facing a reality where immediate, full compliance is unlikely. Instead, they must guide their organizations in identifying a "north star" and allocating resources strategically to address areas of highest risk.

Positioning privacy as a business enabler is key

A recurring theme throughout the event was the importance of reframing privacy not as a constraint, but as a strategic enabler.

CPOs underscored the importance of seamlessly integrating privacy into business processes. This transformation is essential to shift perceptions of privacy teams from mere blockers to catalysts for innovation and growth — from the department of 'No' to the department of 'Go'.

Attendees shared diverse frameworks for evaluating and promoting privacy's positive impact on business objectives. However, there was an overwhelming agreement on the importance of understanding and addressing known risks. Attendees adamantly voiced that shouldering unjustifiable enterprise risk due to inadequate data visibility and data mapping challenges was unacceptable.

As a data governance platform built on real-time, comprehensive data discovery, we couldn’t agree more, and we’re happy to help companies rethink their data mapping approach.

Consent compliance requires a full-stack solution

On the final day of the Consero CPO forum, I moderated an insightful discussion on the importance of achieving full stack consent in today’s regulatory environment.

Panelists included John Poling of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Kelly Peterson Miranda, Chief Privacy Officer at Grindr; Steve Lau, Head of Global Privacy Programs Strategy and Operations at eBay; and Vanessa Zimmer, Vice President, at FabFitFun.

From consumer demands to regulatory guidelines and App store requirements, we explored the varied pressures that organizations face in this arena. We also tackled the delicate balance between meeting business needs, such as advertising demands, while ensuring compliance with modern consent requirements.

The consensus was clear: organizations must develop flexible, scalable consent solutions that can adapt to both global and regional requirements.