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Commvault’s Chief Legal & Compliance Officer: “I love the Purpose of Protecting the World’s Data”

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Our latest “Women in Leadership” interview is with Danielle Sheer, Chief Legal Officer at Commvault. Danielle is a graduate of The George Washington University and holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your role as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT)

A: I lead the company’s global legal, compliance, and real estate teams and our governance, commercial, intellectual property, and privacy programs.

Q: What are the top 3 things you enjoy most about your role?

A: Product, Purpose, People. I’ve been in the data protection industry for most of my professional career. I enjoy how data protection technology Venn diagrams with cyber security technology but is its own critical category of business continuity. (See the latest on Commvault’s latest Threatwise announcement.) This kind of technology is cutting-edge and cool. I love the purpose of protecting the world’s data. I’m challenged by the complexity of global data privacy regulations and how those regulations clash with cultures and technology itself. And I love the people I get to work with: smart, creative, passionate – people that want to be teammates, that say to each other and mean it: You got this, keep going, I’ve got your back.

Q: What are the main industry differences between pre- and post- COVID-19 for your company?

A: We have a campus on 55 acres in New Jersey. Pre-COVID, employees who lived and worked in the U.S. were in that office during regular office hours. When we made employment offers, it was assumed you moved to New Jersey to work for Commvault. Even our CEO moved to New Jersey when he assumed the role in 2019! Post-COVID, our people moved all over the country and the world for various personal reasons, and of course, we all learned to work together remotely. We also recruited the best talent for us, without imposing geographical requirements. The result has been that we focus on team collaboration, supporting each other wherever we live, and investing in hybrid productivity. The diversity of talent we’ve been able to recruit and retain probably would never have happened if it hadn’t been for needing to find ways to be flexible during COVID.

Q: Which resources do you use to keep up with industry news?

A: I subscribe to outside counsel alerts, let them stack up, and then set aside a few hours to read through them in one sitting. I like to group topics together, so I read a few firms’ viewpoints on a single subject; I find that very interesting.  I read Law360 daily, flip through the headlines on American Lawyer, and thumb through the Wall Street Journal paper version (ahem, someone is still buying paper newspapers, and it’s me). I am also a member of TechGC. and my community of GC peers is a rich source of industry news and trends that I have come to rely on.

Q: As you moved up in your career, how did you overcome obstacles that came your way? Any examples?

A: So many obstacles are generated by people – conflicting personalities, trust failures, and team fractures. That adds a lot of noise to our lives. When that happens, and it will, I relentlessly focus on what I’m charged to deliver. If I’m the goalie on the team, I’m required to block the goal. Sure, I can also see the field and might have advice to help our team play better together and win. But that’s not what my first job is. My first job is to protect the goal. So, unless you’re the CEO (or coach, in this analogy), eyes on your own page. I promise it makes life so much easier. Focus on what you’re accountable for. Play your role and play it to the best of your ability. 

Q: What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

A: Trust, by Hernan Diaz. Exceptional.

Q: What’s the most used app on your phone?

A: The Focus setting! I am healthier, happier, and more productive when I’m not a slave to my cell phone: those e-mail, text, and phone alerts. I want to control my day, not let it control me. I use the Focus setting to communicate to others that I’ve got Focus on and when I’m ready, I’ll spend time catching up on all those alerts.

Connect with Danielle.

GoTo’s CMO: COVID-19 Completely Changed my Career

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We continue our “Women in Leadership” series with GoTo’s CMO, Jamie Domenici.  Jamie is a huge advocate for women’s empowerment within the workplace, having worked hard to ensure women have a voice at the table.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your role at GoTo.

A: As GoTo’s Chief Marketing Officer, I oversee our global marketing organization, driving our go-to-market strategy and eCommerce growth business. In addition to my role as CMO, I serve as the Executive Sponsor for WE@GoTo – GoTo’s employee resource group advocating for and empowering women+ in the workplace.

Q: Have you felt as if you have faced any challenges being a female leader in the workplace? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

A: In my 20+ years working in the tech industry, there have been many times I have felt underrepresented as a woman. Early in my career, I remember being the only woman in an elevator full of men each morning on my way to my desk. This underrepresentation inspired me to advocate for women in the tech industry to ensure they have a voice at the table. At my previous employer, I was a diversity sponsor for our Customer Success organization and championed equal pay and closing the gender pay gap. At GoTo, I have continued to be an advocate for women by investing in career coaching for hundreds of women leaders across our company.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from a co-worker, teacher, or mentor?

A: A female mentor of mine once told me that when things don’t go your way, you are half at fault for why they didn’t go as planned. She shared this with me when I was going through a challenging work experience, and I felt I was being overlooked for a promotion. Her advice taught me that I have just as must control over the outcome of situations as do the external factors involved. Instead of blaming others or sulking for what went wrong, I ask myself what I could have done differently to obtain the desired outcome.

Q: Do you personally feel the pandemic helped or hurt your career?

A: COVID-19 completely changed my career. Before the pandemic, I worked a typical 9 to 5 job where I was expected to be in the office most, if not all, days of the week. The rapid shift to remote work resulting from the pandemic proved to be a game-changer in how I stay productive and engaged in my career. This newfound appreciation for remote-centric work led me to move to a company that valued flexibility for myself and my customers. I don’t see myself returning to the 9 to 5 or taking part in a daily commute anytime soon, and am grateful to work for a remote-first company like GoTo. I have loved staying connected to my family while being even more productive “at work” – both possible thanks to our new, remote-centric workplace culture.

Q: If you were to have chosen another career path, what would it have been?

A: For much of my life, I have wanted to venture into politics, most specifically local politics in Burlingame, California, my current hometown, and the place I was born and raised. I even studied politics in college with the hopes of one day becoming the Mayor of Burlingame. I’ve also always had a passion for owning my small business and would love to be a florist operating my own flower shop. 

Q: What are you passionate about outside of the office?

A: At work, I’m a full-time CMO. At home, I’m a full-time Soccer Mom and very proud of it. As a former athlete, I now enjoy cheering my daughters on from the sidelines more than being on the court myself. When I’m not shuffling back and forth from one practice to another, I like to spend as many weekends as possible relaxing with friends and family on Lake Tahoe.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

A: Burlingame, California! I was born and raised here and never want to leave the San Francisco Bay Area.

Connect with Jamie.

Women in Leadership: Dara Brenner, Chief Product Officer, CentralSquare Technologies

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The Mindfull Marketing team is excited to share our latest interview with Dara Brenner (Dara Brenner | CentralSquare), Chief Product Officer at CentralSquare Technologies. As an integral member of the leadership team, Dara is known for delivering innovative and disruptive technology solutions that deliver world-class customer experiences. CentralSquare Technologies is the largest independent public sector software provider that powers all aspects of managing local government to build smarter and safer communities. Dara shares insight on her role and how she enjoys mentoring and coaching her Product Management team. 

Please tell us a bit about your role as Chief Product Officer. 

As the Chief Product Officer at CentralSquare, I am super proud to lead a team of Product Management professionals creating the best solutions to help make our communities smarter, safer, and more connected.

What do you find to be most challenging in your role? 

I have been in Product Management for over two decades. Yet, this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to work in a field where what we do every day impacts the communities in which my family and friends live, as well as the people who keep us safe every day. I can’t think of a more fulfilling way to apply the skills and leadership experience I’ve gained throughout my career.

Can you tell us a little bit about Central Square Technologies and your mission to help the public sector? 

CentralSquare’s mission is to provide the broadest, most intelligent, and most unified public sector software suite to power all aspects of managing local government. We are constantly innovating with new solutions in partnership with the communities we serve. More than 8,000 customers trust CentralSquare, which translates to more than 375,000 sworn officers in the US and Canada. In fact, our software supports three-quarters of US citizens daily.

Any recent developments you would like to share? 

Two developments have significantly shaped my six months here at CentralSquare:

  • We executed a Product Lifecycle process where we announced the End of Life for a set of solutions, and customers are excited about their modernization options. Without this, they would have continued using decades-old products, and now they can take advantage of new technology that will help them better support their communities.
  • We are undergoing an agile transformation that will allow for greater visibility, provide additional career opportunities, and help CentralSquare move faster to meet customers’ needs.

What drives you? 

Beyond what’s outlined above, I love leveraging technology to solve customers’ business problems. Also, I consider myself very lucky to help coach, mentor, and grow the next executive leaders of Product Management.

What keeps you up at night? 

It’s probably working through the next big idea that pops into my head and trying to determine if it’s crazy or viable.

Outside of your career, what are you enthusiastic about? 

My family is definitely what I am most enthusiastic about, but beyond that, I’m a huge sports fan, and I also love spending time with family and friends at the lake.

Favorite place to travel?

I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica (soon, I hope!). I love to travel to experience the people, food, and culture. However, my favorite place, and one that I’m hoping to revisit soon, is Australia. I was just blown away by the beauty of the country and the people.