Episode 1: The Risky Business of Global Expansion

Welcome to the first episode of Privacy Minds, the podcast where privacy gets practical. 

Hosted by Melise Blakeslee, Founder and CEO of Achieved Compliance, and Paula Bruening, Director of Global Privacy Policy, this episode explores how the concept of “risk” in data privacy is evolving in today’s chaotic, uncertain world.

With rapid developments in AI, shifting global regulations and reduced federal support for science and research, organizations now face new complexities in managing legal compliance—they face operational, financial and even criminal risks tied to international data protection.

Melise and Paula dive into the realities organizations must consider today:

• The growing burden of administrative compliance 
• Cross-border data transfer complexities and localization of laws
• Varied legal standards for handling data of minors
• And the serious implications of noncompliance—from fines to personal liability

The episode also introduces Achieved Compliance’s Global Matrix, a proprietary tool that tracks data privacy requirements and risk exposure across 200+ countries. Paula shares insights from leading this initiative and highlights how organizations can use it to identify risks, increase efficiencies and make more informed decisions about global operations.

Whether you're a DPO, legal counsel or business leader trying to keep pace with rapid national or international changes, this episode offers grounded insights from over 50 years of experience.  

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Website (https://www.achievedcompliance.com)