Regain Control of Business Risks, Your Leadership Habits, and Being Present – Alla Valente – BSW #398
Alla is a principal analyst at Forrester. Her research interests include governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), third-party risk management (TPRM), and contract lifecycle management (CLM), and Alla’s current research focuses on enterprise risk management (ERM), AI risk, and risk management frameworks. Alla helps Forrester’s security & risk clients establish strategy, adopt best practices, and select technology. Alla’s work has enjoyed wide exposure in the media, including in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and she speaks frequently at risk and executive conferences.
Matt Alderman
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