This engaging and practical presentation reimagines data retention and deletion management through the lens of intentional organization. It explores the growing problem of data clutter across enterprises, highlighting how excessive data has the potential to create risk, inefficiency, and unnecessary costs. The session covers the core principles of data retention and deletion, including compliance requirements, record lifecycle management, and the potential consequences of poor data hygiene.

Attendees will learn how to assess which data truly adds value and insight, and which should be securely discarded. Finally, the presentation outlines how to design and sustain an ongoing, enterprise-wide data retention program that balances regulatory obligations with operational efficiency. With humor and actionable guidance, it inspires organizations to declutter their digital environments and build a culture of mindful data management.

Speaker: Laurel Shifrin, Vice President, Enterprise Data Governance, American Express

Laurel has spent her career in the data world, leading data architecture and data governance to maximize the value of an organization’s data and minimize risk and cost. She’s worked with both customer-facing, unstructured/semi-structured content, and back-office, highly structured data. She holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and is currently the Vice President for Data Policy & Governance within the Enterprise Data Office at American Express.