Job Search Status
Open to workDesired start date: 2 weeks notice
Open To Work
BEATE SISSENICH
New York,NY
Work Preference
Summary
AI governance specialist and data strategy executive with twelve years of experience leading large-scale data science organizations, building governance frameworks, and deploying AI systems across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Certified IAPP AI Governance Professional (AIGP) with deep expertise in AI risk management, ethical standards, conformity assessment frameworks, and human-in-the-loop requirements. Prior to industry, served nearly a decade as Assistant Professor at Indiana University and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cornell University, providing direct familiarity with the governance structures, faculty culture, and decision-making dynamics of research universities. As VP of Data Science, Identity and Analytics at Nielsen Media, managed an $18M annual data partnership portfolio with university partners requiring governance frameworks that enabled responsible AI and data use across institutional boundaries. Built AI and data literacy infrastructure serving a practitioner community of 500+. Combines technical depth, including three U.S. patents in data methodology, with the organizational credibility and executive communication skills to lead AI adoption strategies that earn sustained institutional trust.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Data Science, Identity and Analytics
Nielsen Media
New York, NY
01.2020 - 01.2026
- Led team of 5 managers and 20 individual contributors on data science and AI initiatives spanning measurement methodology, identity graph development, and data philanthropy. Translated strategic priorities into executable plans with clear milestones, accountability structures, and resource allocation. Maintained organizational standards for technical excellence and ensured compliance with regional and international requirements.
- Governed machine-learning-based demographic modeling for identity graph at scale, establishing quality standards, precision/recall evaluation frameworks, and model validation protocols across 26-country deployment.
- Developed governance frameworks and multi-stakeholder agreements enabling $18M annual data philanthropy program with universities and think tanks, including data use policies, access controls, ethical review processes, and accountability structures for proprietary data assets.
- Built AI and data literacy infrastructure serving 500+ practitioners via 6 virtual conferences and 180+ curated presentations, standardizing knowledge-sharing systems, best practices, and responsible use documentation across a distributed global organization.
- Directed annual strategic roadmaps, generating $40M+ in revenue through coordinated AI product development, governance integration, and international deployment across identity graph and media behavior machine-learning solutions.
- Built and scaled global data science team of 25 professionals across North America and India; recruited 30+ new hires within six months, achieving strong retention through mentorship and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Director, Data Science, Digital Content Measurement
Nielsen Media
New York, NY
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Supervised team of 4 managers and 24 data science professionals. Coordinated cross-functional teams of engineers and product managers for technology modernization and process improvement. Collaborated across engineering, commercial, and regional teams to maintain quality assurance and post-launch support for international AI product operations.
- Led migration of 100,000+ lines of legacy code and 20+ production processes to modern architecture, establishing standardized deployment protocols, QA frameworks, and audit procedures that reduced cycle times and improved data quality.
- Directed end-to-end execution of global AI product launches, designing standardized deployment processes and post-launch support systems to accelerate international rollout while maintaining methodological integrity.
Manager, Digital Measurement
Nielsen Media
New York, NY
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Directed team of 5 contributors, maintaining alignment of analytics initiatives with business objectives. Led cross-functional technical teams in design and implementation of measurement solutions across agile and waterfall environments.
- Launched mobile panel measurement across 6 countries, coordinating technical, commercial and external stakeholders to deliver on-time market entries with consistent quality standards.
- Delivered pro-bono consulting to the UN World Food Programme, designing validated mobile survey methods to assess food insecurity, demonstrating commitment to applying data science in service of public-interest missions.
Assistant Professor, Political Science
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
01.2003 - 01.2012
- Designed and taught 21 undergraduate and 5 graduate courses, reaching over 800 students.
- Authored 10+ peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and a monograph.
Lecturer in Comparative Politics and International Relations
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Designed and taught five undergraduate courses reaching 200 students.
Doctoral Field Research
Cornell University
Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Ireland
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Conducted 160 in-depth interviews with civil servants, labor and employer leaders, and NGO representatives to analyze governance and policy implementation frameworks across prospective EU member states.
- Synthesized complex qualitative data into scholarly publications advancing expertise in comparative institutional analysis.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Political Science
Cornell University
Ithaca, NYMaster of Arts - Politics
Brandeis University
Waltham, MABachelor of Arts - Political Science, Judaic Studies, Eastern European Studies
Freie Universität
Berlin, GermanySkills
- AI Governance & Risk Management
- Operational AI Strategy
- AI Literacy & Training Programs
- Institutional Decision Support
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Enterprise Data Governance
- Responsible AI & Ethical Data Practices
- Privacy & Information Security
- Causal Inference & Experimentation
- Data Quality & Compliance
- Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement
- Multi-Year Strategic Roadmapping
Certification
IAPP AI Governance Professional Certification 5/2026
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
French
Professional Working
German
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Vice President, Data Science, Identity and Analytics
Nielsen Media
01.2020 - 01.2026
Director, Data Science, Digital Content Measurement
Nielsen Media
01.2016 - 01.2020
Manager, Digital Measurement
Nielsen Media
01.2013 - 01.2016
Assistant Professor, Political Science
Indiana University
01.2003 - 01.2012
Lecturer in Comparative Politics and International Relations
Rutgers University
01.2002 - 01.2003
Doctoral Field Research
Cornell University
01.1999 - 01.2002
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Judaic Studies, Eastern European Studies
Freie Universität
Master of Arts - Politics
Brandeis University
Doctor of Philosophy - Political Science
Cornell University
Selected Publications
- Building States without Society: European Union Enlargement and Social Policy Transfer to Poland and Hungary. Lanham, MD: Lexington, 2007.
- Weak States, Weak Societies: Europe’s East-West Gap,” Acta Politica 45:1-2 (April 2010), 11-40.
- Cross-National Policy Networks and the State: EU Social Policy Transfer to Poland and Hungary,” European Journal of International Relations 14:3 (September 2008), 455-487.
Patents
- M. R. Sheppard, E. Murphy, B. Sissenich, E. Wong, J. Liu, L. Daemen. Methods and Apparatus to Estimate Census Level Impressions and Unique Audience Sizes (U.S. Patents 11,308,514 B2 and 12,148,001 B2)
- M. R. Sheppard, M. Joseph, S. Kim, B. Sissenich. Estimation and Use of Nested Merge Ratios for Audience Measurement (U.S. Patent 12,229,790 B2)