Ashley (McArthur) Dean, a Privacy Manager at Deloitte Global, is an experienced data privacy professional with a focus on privacy compliance, data governance, and project management. Ashley is also an EWF member and former Podcast co-lead for EWF’s Rising Leaders Forum. Ashley has her Master’s in Business Administration and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Information Privacy Manager (CIPM). We are thrilled to introduce our readers to Ashley Dean.
“..The policies and practice that companies are constructing by investing resources, time, and money has truly fostered an inclusive environment, I’d like to see this continue and make an impact!”
As you likely know, this is the EWF’s 20th year of building women leaders in our respective fields. What are some positive changes you have seen with regard to gender equity in tech/privacy/infosec/cybersecurity? What specifically would you like to see improve?
20 years, what a milestone! In my personal opinion, I think the general shift to initiatives such as gender equity and even more broadly related to diversity and inclusion as a whole, has been a big milestone to celebrate. I’ve met and worked with so many inspiring women who are in leadership roles within the privacy space in recent years. There’s still so much work to do however, the policies and practice that companies are constructing by investing resources, time, and money has truly fostered an inclusive environment, I’d like to see this continue and make an impact!
How did you get into privacy? What sparked your initial interest?
That’s a great question! I don’t have a very interesting story, haha. I found privacy generally interesting and it just felt natural. I first worked in Compliance and Privacy at Yale New Haven Health as a data analyst, and during that time I was exposed to the world of privacy and the complexities that are faced. Since I am the kind of person that likes to see things full circle, I then worked in Information Security to further understand the tech side and how privacy fits in. In my InfoSec role, I was able to see privacy through that tech lens which was a huge mental shift that ultimately has helped guide my privacy career and interest. Ultimately, attending IAPP’s Global Privacy Summit one year validated my interest and career focus. I was exposed to this exciting world of privacy and regulatory landscape outside of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and I knew I had to be part of it.
“There is no better time than now! It’s an excellent field to learn and grow in….and you definitely won’t be bored!
What advice do you have for young women who find themselves wanting to go into the “tech/privacy/infosec/cybersecurity” field?
There is no better time than now! It’s an excellent field to learn and grow in….and you definitely won’t be bored!
What is your everyday schedule like, and how do you manage to integrate your career with your personal life?
I’m a coffee gal, so once I have my coffee in the morning (and tackle today’s round of wordle) I’m ready to kick off my day and get to work. The saying at Deloitte is ‘Own your Career’ so just like owning my career, I manage and own my schedule for the most part. Working in a Global Privacy role at Deloitte, our team is located all over the world in different time zones so we’re able to make an impact around the clock which makes it that much easier to contribute and work a schedule that best suits me. My personal life comes first, and my career just works smoothly in parallel. Working from home every day makes balancing it all a bit easier, too!
What does the EWF mean to you? How long have you been an EWF member?
EWF to me means opportunities and a broad network of like-minded, powerful WOMEN! When I first heard of EWF in 2018 I was so intrigued, that I couldn’t wait to attend the Annual Conference in Arizona. After attending my first conference, I was in love with the community of women and the support system. The EWF Rising Leaders Forum (RLF) mentor program was also a complete game-changer for me. Through the mentorship program and various RLF discussions, my mindset grew and exposed potential that I couldn’t find in myself alone.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my ability to embrace change, change isn’t easy! I’ve worked in numerous roles before my current Global Privacy role, I even tried something entirely new along the way (retail buying, yep!). Without embracing change I wouldn’t be where I am today, period. And if you’re in privacy, you have to be able to adapt – there’s always something coming down the regulation ‘pipeline’!