Full Name
Rhonda Powell
Job Title
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary
Company
Strada Education Foundation
Speaker Bio
Rhonda Edwards Powell is EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Strada Education Foundation, a tax-exempt organization focused on clearing the path from post-secondary education to career, particularly for those who face the greatest challenges. Powell joined Strada in January 2023 after serving for several years as chief legal officer and corporate secretary of BuzzFeed Inc., where she led the company’s legal, business affairs, compliance, and governance functions. In that role, Powell guided the company through the most high-profile events in its history, including going public via a SPAC merger in December 2021; a $300 million Convertible Note issuance in December 2021; and the acquisition of digital media companies HuffPost in February 2021 and Complex Media Inc. in December 2021.
Powell has a proven track record of dynamic, inspired leadership and business experience, helping companies successfully develop strategic goals and maintain growth in changing economic, cultural, and regulatory environments. She is a valued partner, working with corporate and business unit leads on enterprise wide corporate initiatives, and a trusted advisor to board members. A skilled developer and manager of talented, multidisciplinary teams, Powell builds departments of legal, business affairs, and compliance professionals who advise and protect companies with respect to corporate and commercial transactions, litigation, labor union and employee relations matters, regulatory compliance (including privacy and cybersecurity), intellectual property protection, strategic risk management, and corporate governance. Powell previously served as senior vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary of Complex Networks, a digital media company formed and owned as a joint venture by Hearst Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. From 2004 to 2016, served in several roles of increasing responsibility at Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (now part of Warner Discovery Inc.), including director, legal affairs; vice president, business affairs; and vice president, business and legal affairs.
Powell is nationally recognized for her commitment to, and impact on the legal community. She is the 2022 recipient of the National Association of Women Lawyers’ Arabella Babb Mansfield Award for her careerlong advocacy, and is a frequent speaker on diversity and inclusion in legal practice, corporate America, and education. In addition, Powell is a long-time board member of PowerMyLearning, Inc., a nonprofit committed to eliminating disparities in educational access and opportunity; and member of the Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Powell has a proven track record of dynamic, inspired leadership and business experience, helping companies successfully develop strategic goals and maintain growth in changing economic, cultural, and regulatory environments. She is a valued partner, working with corporate and business unit leads on enterprise wide corporate initiatives, and a trusted advisor to board members. A skilled developer and manager of talented, multidisciplinary teams, Powell builds departments of legal, business affairs, and compliance professionals who advise and protect companies with respect to corporate and commercial transactions, litigation, labor union and employee relations matters, regulatory compliance (including privacy and cybersecurity), intellectual property protection, strategic risk management, and corporate governance. Powell previously served as senior vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary of Complex Networks, a digital media company formed and owned as a joint venture by Hearst Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. From 2004 to 2016, served in several roles of increasing responsibility at Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (now part of Warner Discovery Inc.), including director, legal affairs; vice president, business affairs; and vice president, business and legal affairs.
Powell is nationally recognized for her commitment to, and impact on the legal community. She is the 2022 recipient of the National Association of Women Lawyers’ Arabella Babb Mansfield Award for her careerlong advocacy, and is a frequent speaker on diversity and inclusion in legal practice, corporate America, and education. In addition, Powell is a long-time board member of PowerMyLearning, Inc., a nonprofit committed to eliminating disparities in educational access and opportunity; and member of the Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Speaking At
