Vandana Venkatesh

 
Professional Position
 
Vandana Venkatesh is a prominent and influential figure in the legal field, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Verizon. Her educational background and career path demonstrate a consistent commitment to excellence and leadership in law and corporate governance.

 
Educational Background
 
Vandana's academic journey began at UCLA, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in History. She furthered her education by obtaining a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Georgetown University Law Center, cementing her foundation in legal studies.

 
Early Career
 
Her professional career began as a Congressional Aide to Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), which provided her with invaluable experience in government operations. Vandana then transitioned into private practice as an Associate at Bingham McCutchen LLP. There, she honed her skills in providing counsel to internet, high-tech, and biotech startups. Her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes was further evidenced during her time as Assistant General Counsel at Genuity, an internet start-up environment, from 2000 to 2003.

 
Career at Verizon
 

Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
In July 2003, Vandana joined Verizon, where she began an illustrious career marked by various high-profile roles. As Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, she led legal functions for Verizon’s IT and Sourcing & Procurement organizations until January 2017. She was responsible for handling significant transactions and overseeing data security, outsourcing, and supply chain issues.

Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Verizon Enterprise Solutions
Her career at Verizon continued to ascend as she moved into the role of Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Verizon Enterprise Solutions from January 2017 to January 2019. Vandana managed legal functions for the Enterprise business unit, delivering solutions to global enterprises and governments, including major clients from the Fortune 500.

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Verizon Consumer Group
Vandana then served as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Verizon Consumer Group, from January 2019 to October 2022. In this position, she handled legal aspects related to Verizon’s wide range of consumer services, impacting over 100 million daily users.

Current Role
Since October 2022, Vandana has held her current role as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Verizon. She oversees all Legal and Corporate Security functions for the company, ensuring compliance and steering legal strategies to support Verizon’s business objectives.

 
Community Contribution
 
Alongside her roles at Verizon, Vandana contributes to the community by serving on the board of Bottom Line since July 2021, lending her expertise to aid the organization's mission.

 
Skills and Expertise
 
Vandana’s career is marked by a diverse set of skills, including expertise in telecommunications, privacy law, vendor management, intellectual property, and corporate governance. Her leadership roles have consistently demonstrated her ability to manage cross-functional teams, negotiate contracts, and lead mergers and acquisitions.

 
Professional Recognition
 
With a substantial following on LinkedIn and an impressive record of professional achievements, Vandana Venkatesh stands out as a leading figure in the telecommunications industry, whose career path and educational background reflect her dedication and influence in the legal domain.