Unconventional Journey of Lauren Dillard: Reaching the Position of CFO, Beyond Traditional Pathways
Lauren Dillard's Unconventional Journey to CFO at LiveRamp
Lauren Dillard, a native of Lafayette, California, currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LiveRamp, a leading data collaboration partner for brands, platforms, and publishers. Her path to this position, however, was unconventional, with specific details about her prior roles and career trajectory before joining LiveRamp remaining somewhat elusive.
Dillard's academic achievements set the stage for her successful career. She graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, majoring in accounting and finance. After graduation, she began her professional journey in public accounting at E&Y before transitioning to a corporate finance position for a clean tech startup, Silver Spring Networks.
Dillard's tenure at Silver Spring Networks was significant, and she later joined some of her former finance team members at Axciom, LiveRamp's predecessor. Her career at LiveRamp began in 20XX, starting with roles in Investor Relations, Financial Planning and Analysis, field operations, and serving as the company's chief communications officer. In 20XX, she took on a brief stint as LiveRamp's chief marketing officer, a role that reinforced her drive to be a customer-focused leader.
LiveRamp's CEO, Scott Howe, has placed a lot of trust in Dillard and the finance function, allowing them to play a role outside the typical finance swim lane. This has led to Dillard's work at LiveRamp being more strategic, with some even calling the CFO a deputy CEO.
Dillard's experience at LiveRamp has impacted how she manages LiveRamp's finance teams. She prioritizes recruiting and hiring people with a strong work ethic, a problem-solving approach, and the ability to act with urgency. Her unique approach to hiring includes a "dinner test," considering whether she would enjoy working with a potential team member outside of work.
Dillard's communications work has also played a crucial role in her career. It helped her hone her storytelling skills and learn to influence through communication. Her strong work ethic, developed through refereeing basketball games and working seasonal retail, has been a constant throughout her career.
As the eldest of four children, Dillard learned the importance of leadership and responsibility at a young age. Her family members, including her father and grandfather, were accountants, which may have influenced her career choice. Despite the lack of detailed information about her career path before LiveRamp, it is clear that Dillard's unique experiences and skills have made her a valuable asset to the company.
- Lauren Dillard, the CFO of LiveRamp, demonstrates versatile leadership skills beyond traditional finance realms.
- Her career in fashion-and-beauty or food-and-drink industries might provide interesting anecdotes, given her unconventional journey.
- In the realm of relationships, Dillard's ability to work effectively with executives such as LiveRamp's CEO, Scott Howe, is noteworthy.
- Pets may play a role in her personal life, similar to how basketball has been a constant throughout her career.
- Dillard, as a lover of books, might have sought self-development books to further her career in leadership and finance.
- Her spatial awareness and quick decision-making skills, honed from refereeing basketball games, translate well in sports-betting and other fast-paced environments.
- Traveling to different locations for conferences or business trips could be an integral part of her lifestyle.
- Social-media platforms might have been essential tools for her to build relationships with colleagues and potential employers, especially during her time at LiveRamp's predecessor, Axciom.
- A fan of movies-and-tv, Dillard might draw inspiration from strong female characters or business-centered shows for her own leadership style.
- Dillard's experience in education-and-self-development extends beyond her academic achievements, as she continues to learn and grow on the job.
- Since a sportsperson's mentality and discipline are crucial in the high-pressure world of finance, it's possible that Dillard has a deep appreciation for sports, such as NBA, NCAA basketball, and basketball in general.
- As a successful professional in career-development, Dillard's journey might inspire others in pop-culture or the world of celebrities to pursue their dreams in different fields.
- Skills-training in areas like weather-forecasting or sports-analysis could enhance her strategic decision-making abilities, further benefiting LiveRamp.
- In the world of entertainment, Dillard's unconventional career path could be the basis for a captivating biography or case study about personal-growth and leadership.
- Given her versatile skills and experiences, Dillard might be an enthusiast of sci-fi-and-fantasy, as entertaining and imaginative storytelling mirrors the dynamics of her own career.
