In this inspiring episode, Privacy Pros Academy mentee Hiten Dani shares his journey from facing a major health crisis and career setback to building a thriving career in privacy. Learn how he overcame self-doubt, rebuilt his confidence, and gained multiple job offers.

Hiten reveals:

• Why he chose to pivot into privacy after 20+ years in cybersecurity
• The mindset shifts and practical strategies that made his transformation possible
• The power of mentorship and hands-on training to accelerate success in privacy
• How he regained his identity and became a trusted expert

If you’ve ever thought a career pivot was beyond reach, this episode will show you how to turn challenges into opportunities. Join host Jamal Ahmed, global privacy expert and founder of the Privacy Pros Academy, for actionable insights to help you start or advance your career in privacy.

🔗 Ready to invest in your future? Discover how the Privacy Pros Accelerator Program can help you launch your dream career here.

He held significant certifications including CISA, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer, and ISO 22301 BCM Lead Implementer. Yet despite these achievements, a year ago, he found himself at a crossroads, ready for meaningful change. Today, he's the professional that business leaders turn to for reducing risk, enhancing compliance, and building privacy-first cultures in their organisations. He's become known for his ability to create robust privacy programs with limited resources and forge strong, trust-based relationships across organisations. Through his training with Privacy Pros Academy, he's added CIPP/E certification to his toolkit and has recently completed the AIGP program.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Hiten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiten-dani-2b8a7b1a/

In this insightful episode, Jake Ottenwaelder, founder of Integrative Privacy, shares his journey from cybersecurity expert to privacy engineering.

In this value-packed episode, you'll discover:

• Why every organization needs a privacy engineer and what makes this role crucial for genuine privacy compliance
• Key qualities Jake looks for when hiring privacy engineers
• Tips for successfully pivoting careers between cybersecurity and privacy
• Plus how you can overcome common challenges in privacy implementation and stakeholder buy-in

Starting his career in cybersecurity, he has worked with startups, large companies, and government organizations to improve data protection and process automation. Jake is now the founder of Integrative Privacy, a Fractional Privacy Engineering Company, where he takes a holistic approach to ensure organizations achieve genuine privacy compliance rather than just checking boxes."

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-ottenwaelder/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

Do you want to secure a six-figure privacy role and become a leader in AI governance? In this power-packed episode, Jamal Ahmed reveals the exact blueprint that helped him become a globally recognized authority – and how you can do the same.

Key Highlights:

• The five-step career success framework that's transforming privacy professionals into industry leaders
• Why AI governance is the hottest skill in privacy
• Special guest Tracy shares her journey and insights on AI's impact in healthcare

Discover Why Now Is Your Moment:

Major companies like Amazon are actively seeking professionals who understand both privacy and AI governance, offering premium salaries of £120k+.

But here's the exciting part – the field is still new enough that YOU can position yourself as an early expert!

💡 The Episode Also Covers:

• How to build credibility without years of experience
• The exact steps to transition from any background into privacy & AI governance
• Why 2024 is the perfect timing to establish yourself in this field

Only 5 spots remaining in our exclusive AIGP certification program!

With 20 ambitious professionals already enrolled, this is your last chance to join them before prices return to normal on Monday, December 2nd at midnight.

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your privacy career and become an AI governance leader.

In this episode, Jamal sits down with Veronica Canton, a seasoned privacy expert, to uncover the secrets to supercharge your privacy career through strategic networking.

Veronica shares her personal journey of overcoming obstacles and building a thriving network that has propelled her career to new heights.

Discover:

• Practical tips on cultivating meaningful connections
• The best ways to leverage platforms like LinkedIn, and contribute value to the privacy community.
• How to build a strong support system
• Secrets to increase your visibility and open doors to endless opportunities

Veronica and Jamal also dive into the power of mentorship, both as a mentor and mentee, and how it can accelerate your growth in the industry.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your privacy career to the next level, don't miss this chance to hear from two industry leaders on the transformative impact of networking done right.

She is a distinguished legal professional with extensive expertise in privacy law and data protection. Veronica has established herself as a leading authority in navigating the complex intersection of law, technology, and privacy rights. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States and Europe, Certified Information Privacy Manager and Fellow of Information Privacy. Veronica recently launched The Canton Privacy, Tech, & AI Report, a monthly LinkedIn newsletter where she shares practical tips on data privacy, tech, and AI. She is also a member of the Latinas in Cyber Advisory Board.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Veronica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacanton/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

Join award-winning privacy expert Jamal Ahmed as he interviews Veronica Canton, Senior Principal Legal Counsel specialising in Privacy and ESG at an AI technology company.

In this value-packed episode, Veronica shares:

• Her inspiring journey from general practice attorney to privacy specialist
• She reveals how she overcame the common "no experience" hurdle
• And the eight essential skills every privacy professional should develop

You don't want to miss the episode!

She is a distinguished legal professional with extensive expertise in privacy law and data protection. Veronica has established herself as a leading authority in navigating the complex intersection of law, technology, and privacy rights. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States and Europe, Certified Information Privacy Manager and Fellow of Information Privacy. Veronica recently launched The Canton Privacy, Tech, & AI Report, a monthly LinkedIn newsletter where she shares practical tips on data privacy, tech, and AI. She is also a member of the Latinas in Cyber Advisory Board.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Veronica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacanton/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

In this episode of the Privacy Pros Podcast, we’re joined by Onur Korocu, an award-winning privacy expert and managing partner at GovanID. Together, Jamal and Onur explore the intersection of AI and privacy, uncovering the major challenges and opportunities for privacy professionals.

They discuss:

• The growing influence of AI and how privacy professionals must adapt.
• The top challenges and ethical concerns around AI-driven technologies.

What you'll learn:

• How you can gain the skills that will make you stand out and indispensable to businesses.
• How to support innovation without compromising safeguards or digital rights.
• How Onur combined her background in cybersecurity and law to become a leading voice in privacy.

Tune in to hear Onur’s inspiring story and predictions for the future of privacy in an AI-driven world!

She also advises TerzionDX, a Microsoft partner focusing on AI, robotics, and security infrastructure.

Onur has written for prestigious magazines like Harvard Business Review and Tomorrow Magazine and shared her expertise as a lecturer for the Cyber Security Masters program at universities in Istanbul and London.

Onur is a Women in Tech world ambassador, board member, and IAPP Ireland Chapter Chair. Her notable award nominations include GRC Role Model of the Year, Technology Consulting Leader, and Cyber Women of the Year.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Onur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onurkorucu/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

In this episode of the Privacy Pros Academy podcast, Jamal Ahmed interviews career coach Natalie Fisher, who shares practical advice on how to confidently land six figure opportunities.

They discuss:

• How to overcome self-limiting beliefs
• Strategies for moving from mid-level to senior privacy roles
• Effective salary negotiation techniques for privacy professionals
• Tips to reignite your career when you're feeling stuck
• The importance of networking and soft skills in advancing your privacy career

Whether you're a rising privacy pro or an experienced professional looking to level up, this episode will help you to showcase your value and confidently pursue six-figure opportunities.

Through her coaching company, she helps professionals from all industries land six figure jobs, get promoted, increase their salary and create the confidence to smash their career goals.

Sign up to Natalie's 3 Day Training here.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-fisher-/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

Feeling overwhelmed by the CIPP/E exam?

You're not alone!

In this inspiring episode, Mahnoor Rahman, a lawyer turned privacy pro, shares her journey to passing the CIPP/E exam and how she overcame her fear of failure.

We discuss:

• Mahnoor's initial struggles with IAPP materials.
• How Mahnoor's search for a mentor and support led her to the Privacy Pros Academy.
• How fear of failure almost held her back.
• And practical tips for you to take action and get certified in record time.

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Mahnoor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahnoor-rahman-00bab54a/

In this episode of the Privacy Pros Podcast, Jamal Ahmed welcomes Ani Filipova, a seasoned banking executive turned change advisor. Ani shares her journey of overcoming numerous rejections to eventually becoming a COO.

Ani also sheds light on her career transition, focusing on personal growth, family, and a portfolio career.

The conversation unfolds into practical tips for navigating fear and uncertainty, understanding one's strengths, and aligning career choices with personal values.

Jamal also shares his deeply personal story of loss and how it shaped his purpose and led to the founding of the Privacy Pros Academy.

This is an episode you can't afford to miss!

She was involved in the original setup and ongoing management of three banks including Citibank Bulgaria. Between 2015 and 2021, she was the Regional Chief Operating Officer for Citibank Treasury and Trade Solutions in Asia, a $2 Billion business covering 16 countries including India and China focused on transformation, digitisation and culture change.

In April 2021, Ani quit her job and re-balanced her life around three key areas: herself, family and a portfolio career. 

Today she is a change advisor, investor, career coach, guest lecturer,  and a keynote speaker. Her podcast “Change is possible” is a leading podcast that will help you navigate through trials and help you get unstuck and on to the job you love.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Ani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anifilipova/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program

In this episode of the Privacy Pros Academy podcast, Jamal Ahmed interviews Priya Bhadwaj, a data privacy expert with over a decade of experience

You'll discover:

• The most challenging pillar of data governance and how to overcome it.
• How to transform people from privacy risks to privacy champions.
• The secrets to building credibility and influence as a Privacy Pro
• What you need to successfully find the perfect privacy job for you

This is the episode that will supercharge your career!

Priya holds a certificate in Data Privacy and Technology from Harvard Business University, CIPM from IAPP and is a top Data Privacy voice on LinkedIn.

Follow Jamal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjahmed/

Follow Priya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-bhardwaj-1b293340/

Ready to become a World Class Privacy Expert? Book your call to join the World's Leading Privacy Program