Cyber threats aren’t a matter of “if”—they’re a matter of “when.” In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mike Gowen, Chief Revenue Officer at Celerity, to explore how sales, cybersecurity and AI are converging—and what executives must do to stay ahead. 

With over 25 years in tech sales, Mike shares how executive conversations have shifted from product education to strategic enablement. He breaks down the shift toward operational resilience, the urgency of quantum readiness, and the real risks of poor AI implementation.  

Mike’s leadership insights—shaped by his experience in team sports—offer a fresh take on adaptability, teamwork and transformation. Whether you're a CRO, CIO or business leader, this episode delivers actionable strategies and relatable stories to help you navigate tech-driven change. 

Chapters 

00:00 – Rapid fire kick-off: Meet Mike Gowen 

01:20 – The evolution of sales, technology, cyber and the C-Suite roles that drive the business 

03:30 – Protection to recovery: Preparing customers for inevitable cyber threats 

09:05 – Evaluating technology from table stakes to Quantum 

11:15 – Intersecting IT and operations to deliver value 

14:20 – AI: Real ways to use it for value, real missteps you must avoid 

18:44 – Common myths around cyber and AI 

20:18 – Partnerships, privacy and a multidiscipline approach to cyber 

26:55 – Developing high-performing teams with a coach’s mindset 

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.