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.