Trust

Privacy is inherently based on trust. There are two types of trust that matter to privacy: systemic and interpersonal. The former allows reliance on systems such as math and technology to construct the foundations of practical privacy, while the latter is more subjective, relying on individual human commitment to a greater goal.

At Kingwood, we have taken this to heart in everything we do. We aim to strike a balance between reasonable doubt in large systems that are inherently prone to faults while maintaining a realistic faith in the steadfastness of systems such as statistics, cryptography, and privacy law.

We believe that trust must first be earned, then treasured, then protected. Our clients choose to work with us because we have worked earnestly to safeguard their trust.

We do what we say we will do, and we don’t make promises we can’t keep. We strive to be direct, even when it comes to bad news. We hire carefully and extensively vet everyone who works with and for us. We equip ourselves with a degree of autonomy and work hard to nurture a culture of ownership.

Experience

There is no substitute for experience. Talent matters, but not as much as training, education, and exposure when paired with a willingness to learn. The more complex or subjective a domain, the more true this is.

Our entire team consists of professionals who have both received extensive education (usually advanced degrees or other professional certifications) and have significant experience beyond privacy. This holistic approach allows us to speak with some degree of authority when it comes to subjective rulings such as expert determination and privacy consulting.

A big part of expertise – perhaps the biggest part – is being able to admit when we are wrong or when we don’t know the answer. This is critical for both gaining experience and building client trust.

Curiosity

At the end of the day, experience and trust only get you so far. There has to be a motivation, a reason for why you do what you do. Curiosity is the fuel that drives us forward, keeps us learning, and ultimately results in a competitive edge.

When we undertake privacy work, whether expert determination, retainer-based general consulting, a complex and creative solution to a thorny problem, or anything in between, we do so with a curious mindset. What makes this situation unique? What can we learn? What new angle can we consider that might offer an entirely different approach? By definition, we don’t do one-size-fits-all work. Every client is unique, every situation is unique, and every solution is unique.