NxtWork Member Kalinda Raina joins the Board of Radar First thanks to NxtWork Connection

Radar First—a rapidly expanding privacy incident response management company in the Vista Equity Partners portfolio—announced the appointment of NxtWork member Kalinda Raina to its board following the collective recommendation of NxtWork’s members. “We were delighted to make this introduction because Kalinda is one of the top privacy leaders in the world,” Dominique Shelton Leipzig—NxtWork co-founder stated. Kalinda’s notable contributions as VP and Chief Privacy Officer at LinkedIn have established her as a force in the industry, making her a valuable addition to Radar First’s board. This appointment demonstrates the results of NxtWork’s meaningful engagement approach—when boards are exposed to top talent, and they can meaningfully engage around substantive, business-critical ideas, everyone wins.

With this placement, RadarFirst shows its indelible commitment to diversity and innovation and sets a pathway for other technology companies wanting to diversify their leadership. When RadarFirst’s CEO identified a need for a privacy expert to Shelton Leipzig she facilitated the introduction to Kalinda Raina. “We introduced her to the CEO of RadarFirst because of her excellence in the privacy field and this is what the company needed. Period,” Christine Lawton, another NxtWork co-founder observed. NxtWork member Agnes Bundy Scanlan introduced NxtWork to Vista Equity Partners and shared “We are thrilled for RadarFirst and Kalinda. She is a brilliant business strategist, with a proven leadership track record. It is a perfect fit.”

NxtWork envisions a world where diversity in Boards of Directors and C-suites is the norm, not the exception; where diverse leadership is seen not just as a social responsibility, but as a strategic necessity. This appointment is a big step forward, but there’s still much work to do to create a culture of inclusivity in all aspects of business. The story of Radar First, NxtWork, and Kalinda Raina offers an encouraging blueprint for this journey, demonstrating how proactive, focused efforts and meaningful engagement of diverse candidates can pave the way for a future of diversity and inclusion in corporate leadership.

Radar First Pioneering Commitment to Diversity

Radar First is a company built on an ethos of inclusivity. The balanced gender composition of their staff is an example of that commitment, especially for a technology company—an industry that struggles with giving women a fair seat at the table. Equity is at the basis of Radar First’s stand, but the company also recognizes the strategic importance of a diverse board. A variety of points of view improves decision-making and the ability to foresee risks or opportunities, promotes fair representation, and sends a strong signal to employees, stakeholders, and the broader industry. With forward-thinking conversations and actions, “Kalinda is already guiding us in the right direction. Her questions are challenging our preconceptions and driving us to exceed our own expectations,” remarked Don India, CEO at Radar First.

Even for an organization that actively promotes gender balance, the task of recruiting women and minorities can be challenging. Don acknowledged NxtWork’s essential role as a bridge between organizations and qualified minority candidates saying: “NxtWork recommended four individuals for our board position, and each of them was an excellent fit.”

Women Supporting Women

Peer mentoring and sponsorship can be essential to women’s professional growth—especially for those from underrepresented backgrounds. Recruitment to board positions often happens via word of mouth and the networks to fill them are often male-dominated, effectively excluding women. Minority women, particularly first-generation professionals, often lack a priori connections to navigate complex corporate dynamics. NxtWork and other affinity groups specifically created for women can replicate the networks that are already well-established for men and enable talented women to access the opportunities they have traditionally been excluded from, leveling the playing field.

The Road Ahead

As Kalinda settles into her new role, the implications of her appointment extend far beyond Radar First. We hope it will inspire other companies—especially in the tech industry which has often been criticized for its lack of diverse leadership—to emulate Radar First’s proactive commitment to inclusivity and seek the support of affinity groups like NxtWork who can open the doors to the insight and expertise of “untraditional” board candidates. “It is exciting to see the role NxtWork can play in allowing boards to meet authorities in their fields who are our members,” NxtWork co-founder Jenny Kim commented. It’s not just about representation: it’s about leveraging a range of perspectives that can drive innovation and growth and ensure a sustainable future for organizations.