Digital Sovereignty in Practice
A Fireside Chat with Lisa Monaco

The Aspen Institute Germany and Microsoft will host a live conversation in Berlin with Lisa Monaco, President of Microsoft Global Affairs, and John Reyels, Director for Digitalisation, Cyberdefence, Digital and Data Policy at the German Federal Foreign Office to discuss digital sovereignty as a security, resilience, and governance challenge, highlighting the intersection of democratic values, economic competitiveness, and national security in an era of geopolitical fragmentation and rapid technological change.

The event will examine how to operationalize digital sovereignty: ensuring security while sustaining growth and innovation across the transatlantic space. As geopolitical fragmentation deepens and technological competition intensifies, the transatlantic partners face a shared but increasingly complex challenge: how to advance digital sovereignty while preserving the openness, innovation, and economic dynamism that underpin their prosperity.

As President of Microsoft Global Affairs, Lisa Monaco leads the company’s global policy work and engagement with governments and international organizations around the world. In this role, she is responsible for advancing Microsoft’s global policy and trust agenda—championing responsible leadership on technology policy, including national security and cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, and AI governance—while strengthening strategic partnerships with governments and international institutions.

Lisa joined Microsoft in 2025 after serving as the 39th Deputy Attorney General of the United States (2021–2025), the Department of Justice’s second‑ranking official and Chief Operating Officer. She oversaw the Department’s law enforcement, litigation, policy, and national security work and was responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of a 115,000‑employee Cabinet department.

In her more than 25‑year career in government, Lisa has held several senior national security positions, including White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor (2013–2017), where she advised the President and coordinated the U.S. government’s response to a wide range of security threats—including terrorist attacks, cyber incidents, and pandemics. She also served as Assistant Attorney General for National Security, the first woman to hold the position, and as Chief of Staff of the FBI.

The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany.