From Compliance to Competitive Edge
With Caitlin Fennessy | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
October 9, 2025
Coffee, Trade, and Tech, Episode #7
In episode seven of our Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Coffee, Trade, and Tech — Jake is joined by Caitlin Fennessy to explore one of the most pressing economic challenges of the 21st century: data privacy. Together, they unpack the future of global privacy frameworks, the U.S.–EU Data Privacy Framework, and the critical intersection of AI and privacy governance.
This conversation highlights just how complex—and consequential—privacy frameworks have become, often catching businesses off guard. More than a compliance requirement, data protection is now a strategic business issue that shapes competitiveness, innovation, and trust in a rapidly evolving global economy.
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About Our Guest
Caitlin Fennessy is Vice President and Chief Knowledge Officer at the IAPP where she guides the strategic development of research, publications, communications, programming, and external affairs. The IAPP is a non-profit policy neutral professional association with over 90,000 members and a mission to define, promote, and improve the professions of privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility. Prior to joining the IAPP, Caitlin was the Privacy Shield Director at the U.S. International Trade Administration, where she spent ten years working on international privacy and cross-border data flow policy issues. Caitlin also served as an adjunct professor of international privacy law at the University of Maine School of Law and University of New Hampshire School of Law. Caitlin has a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in social policy from Northwestern University.
About Our Host
Jake E. Jennings is Chair of Technology and Trade at Basilinna. He is a seasoned government affairs leader with over three decades of experience with expertise in global trade, supply chain policy, and international markets. His career spans...read the full bio here.
About Tholos Talks
Tholos Talks is a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.
Tholos Talks is hosted by the Basilinna team and is produced by the Basilinna Institute.
Published by Basilinna Institute. All rights reserved.