Alexandra Ricciardi

About Alexandra Ricciardi

Over the years, I’ve built my career at the intersection of content, law, and strategy—translating complex intellectual property challenges into actionable business solutions. I’m a results-driven and solutions-oriented executive with a passion for protecting creative work while enabling innovation across global publishing, media, and education platforms.I’ve led rights management programs from the ground up—designing copyright compliance systems, driving international rights clearance workflows, and implementing digital rights tools that not only mitigate risk but also unlock new content opportunities. Whether I’m negotiating vendor contracts, tracking global licenses, or analyzing content reuse data, I stay grounded in both legal insight and operational impact. My specialties are as follows;• Intellectual Property Management• Copyright Compliance• Contract Review & Negotiation• Cross-Functional Team Leadership• Vendor Management• Rights & Permissions ClearanceMy approach is equal parts strategic and collaborative. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring cross-functional teams across borders, aligning legal, content, product, and vendor management groups to deliver scalable and forward-thinking solutions. What drives me most is creating systems that last—frameworks that protect, empower, and evolve with the business.A small section of my notable accomplishments includes;• Expanded team remit to manage all content reuse and content licensing across all Cengage Group businesses, including brand development, and content sourcing for National Geographic Learning brand.• Transitioned internal IP project management to the Rights & Permissions (R&P) vendor, reducing internal labor by 80%.• Reduced text permissions costs by 10% year-over-year through strategic rights decisions and content replacement.Technical Proficiencies;• Microsoft Office Suite | Adobe Creative Suite | LexisNexis | Westlaw | Smartsheet | Rights Management Systems | Vendor Licensing Platforms | Content Management Systems

Experience

1. Director, Content Acquisition Operations

   Cengage

   May 2025 — Present

   When I took on this role, I was tasked not just with managing a team—but with scaling one for long-term impact. I currently lead a dynamic and growing team of 18, including 10 Content Acquisition Analysts and our newly integrated Media Operations group, comprised of a Senior Manager and 7 skilled professionals.One of my proudest accomplishments has been overseeing the strategic integration of Media Operations into our broader content and product ecosystem. This move significantly enhanced our ability to deliver high-impact media research and risk analysis—ensuring stronger alignment with business objectives and tighter risk controls.In this role, I’ve centralized all global content acquisition operations, from legal and financial risk assessments to asset management and external relationship building. I report directly to the SVP of Global Content Production and have recently taken on expanded responsibility over centralized IP services.

Education

• Fairleigh Dickinson University

  ABA Paralegal

  2007 — 2008

• Rutgers University

  B.A., Political Science and History

  1999 — 2002

Skills

• Publishing
• Books
• Intellectual Property
• Academic Publishing
• Online Publishing
• Editing
• Social Media
• Digital Media
• Copyright Law
• Editorial
• Content Management
• Publications
• Ebooks
• Contract Negotiation
• Licensing
• Research
• Content Development
• Proofreading
• Content Strategy