Lorenzo Santavicca graduated in 2018 with a degree in international relations. Originally from Macomb, Michigan, Lorenzo has been living in Austin, Texas, and works as a lead privacy program manager for Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. Lorenzo served as ASMSU’s president for two years from 2016-18.
The following content is part of a larger series titled "Eight years of ASMSU."
As you reflect on your time as ASMSU President, what are you most proud of?
During my two terms as ASMSU President, I’m most proud of leading the organization through a divisive and difficult time for Michigan State. Between the 2016 presidential election and Nassar, students were feeling lost in the mix of their classes while also trying to make sense of reality.
Trust was at an all-time low — both with one another and with the administration. Leading ASMSU, and ultimately the student voice, through both challenges, proved to be a humbling experience and reinforced for me that organic leadership (and the power of our collective Spartan community) should never be underestimated.
In what ways did your time as president prepare or inform the work you have done since graduating?
Being a trusted leader relies on effective communication and relationships. A young professional is expected to quickly build trust among peers (sometimes with those who are much, much senior to you) and assert their capabilities to take on new responsibilities.
I credit my experience as ASMSU president in giving me a “leg up” to navigate the ambiguity and complexity of a massive organization like Google, while building my reputation as a person who cares equally about the work and the team around me.
Is there a particular Madison professor and/or class that really stands out as having been instrumental in shaping your ideas and values?
Dr. Lisa Cook was instrumental to me in my time as a student. In the classroom, Dr. Cook was constantly pushing me to think critically about the issues I was reading or writing about in my pursuit of an IR degree. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Cook was an excellent mentor and advocate when it came to my interest in serving others while staying true to my own values.
How has Madison prepared you for the work you are doing today?
I regularly lean into my knowledge of IR (and my study abroad to Brussels — shout out Professor Zierler!) to understand the international nature of privacy issues today, including data transfers and topical regulations such as the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act and General Data Protection Regulation.
In terms of how I perform my work, JMC helped refine my critical thinking and communication skills, and prepared me for my graduate studies and obtaining a Master of Science degree in Information Security and Privacy at the University of Texas at Austin.
Any advice or words of wisdom you'd like to offer JMC students?
Pursue what matters to you — personally, professionally, etc.— with the expectation that you will have to work incredibly hard. Don’t expect to be recognized, compensated or promoted for everything you do: Some level of short term investment (time and effort) will pay dividends for meeting your longer term goals. Lastly, step back as much as you step up and empower leadership in others (who may not see it in themselves).