Speaker Profile

Rhonda Powell
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary / BuzzFeed Inc.

As general counsel and corporate secretary for BuzzFeed, Inc., Rhonda Powell leads a team of professional and administrative staff that supports all areas of the company’s rapidly growing digital media business. In her role, Ms. Powell provides both strategic and legal guidance to the organization on corporate and commercial transactional matters, compliance, employment and labor relations, risk management, and intellectual property use and protection.

Ms. Powell joined BuzzFeed in September 2018 from Complex Networks, where she served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Complex Networks, Ms. Powell held various roles over 12 years with Scripps Networks (now part of Discovery Communications), including Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs. Ms. Powell’s legal career began with several years of law firm practice, including practice in the corporate department of Proskauer Rose LLP.

Ms. Powell is a graduate of Harvard University (magna cum laude) and The University of Michigan School of Law, where she was named a Clarence Darrow Merit Scholar. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of two nonprofit organizations focused on the learning, development and support of children, and is a mentor to several young lawyers, other young professionals, and students.