Introducing CPO Roundtable: Real Conversations with Privacy Leaders

Over the past year, I've had the privilege of engaging with fellow Chief Privacy Officers across industries and backgrounds through our Field Trips initiative, and through the many hallway and panel conversations at various events and conferences.

These interactions have been pivotal in highlighting to me the challenges and opportunities we collectively face in today's rapidly evolving landscape, and our profession as a whole.

Inspired by the intimacy and honesty of actor roundtables—those unscripted, behind-the-scenes conversations about craft, identity, and pressure—I thought: Why not bring that same format to privacy? The CPO role has evolved into one of the most complex and cross-functional positions in any modern business. It's time to pull the curtain back.

That’s what our new series ‘CPO Roundtable’ is all about.

What to expect from CPO Roundtable

In our premiere episode, I sit down with three industry leaders each with a unique perspective on this moment:

• Brandon Kerstens, VP, AGC & Chief Privacy Officer, Match Group
• Adaora Amankwah, Global Director, Data Privacy & DPO, Yum! Brands
• Kelly Peterson, Chief Privacy Officer, Grindr

Together, we get honest about what it really means to lead privacy in today’s environment—where data is a strategic asset, AI is reshaping everything, and trust is the currency that matters most.

In this episode, we unpack questions like:

• How do you earn a seat at the executive table as a CPO?
• What does it take to shift internal perceptions from "compliance enforcer" to "strategic enabler"?
• How do privacy teams unlock, not block, product innovation?
• And why are CPOs uniquely equipped to lead on AI governance?

You’ll also hear personal stories from the field—how each guest came into privacy through an unconventional path, and how that shaped the way they lead today.

Why this matters

The role of the CPO is undergoing a massive transformation. What began as a risk mitigation function has evolved into a core strategic partner to product, marketing, engineering, and executive leadership. Today’s privacy leaders are responsible not just for compliance, but for creating the conditions that allow innovation to thrive responsibly.

With CPO Roundtable, we’re spotlighting that shift by bringing you real conversations with people who are doing the work, building trust, and shaping the future of the profession.

The first episode is available now on Transcend’s website and YouTube channel.

I hope these conversations spark something in your own work and help us all push this profession forward.