Edge of Excellence: Empowering People to Shape the Future

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls, passwords, and software updates. It’s about people.

In this episode of Edge of Excellence, hosts Jess DeForge and Bryon Beilman sit down with expert Russell Poovey to explore the often-overlooked human side of security. From phishing attacks and insider threats to leadership accountability and employee training, this conversation highlights why culture and behavior are just as critical as technology.

Russell shares real-world stories from the field, explains how modern phishing attacks work, and offers practical, actionable steps leaders can take to strengthen their organization’s security posture. The key takeaway? Cybersecurity is a company-wide responsibility, and building a strong security culture can prevent costly mistakes before they happen 

Key Takeaways

• Cybersecurity starts with people, not just tools or systems
• Human behavior is often the biggest security risk and the biggest opportunity
• Leadership must model good security habits for teams to follow
• Phishing attacks are more sophisticated (and convincing) than ever
• Creating a “report first, no shame” culture is essential
• Regular training and phishing simulations empower employees
• Incentives can positively reinforce strong security behaviors
• Proper offboarding and account management reduce insider threats
• Remote work introduces new security risks that must be addressed
• A strong security culture can prevent downtime, financial loss, and reputational damage

Learn More

Want help building a security-first culture at your organization?
Visit iuvotech.com to learn how iuvo helps businesses strengthen cybersecurity through people, process, and technology.

As remote and hybrid work models become the norm, leaders are facing a new challenge: How do you build a strong, connected, high-trust culture when your team is distributed?

In this episode of Edge of Excellence, hosts Jess DeForge and Bryon Beilman sit down with Matt Freake, Vice President of Client Services at iuvo, to unpack what great culture looks like in remote environments and how leaders can foster collaboration, communication, and genuine human connection no matter where their teams are logging in from.
 

This conversation explores:

• Why culture shouldn’t shift just because the workplace does
• The role of trust and transparency in avoiding micromanagement
• How to build psychological safety and open communication
• Best practices for remote collaboration and knowledge sharing
• How onboarding, mentorship, and community rituals accelerate connection
• Why modeling work–life balance matters and how it impacts business outcomes
   

Matt also shares the systems iuvo uses to strengthen distributed teamwork, including Slack, Teams, SharePoint, Viva, structured onboarding, cultural mentors, virtual events, and intentional in-person gatherings.
 

Whether you're a people manager, HR leader, executive, or anyone navigating the future of work, this episode delivers a grounded, human-centered guide to building collaborative, resilient, and connected teams.

🎧 Listen in to learn why strong culture is not only possible in remote teams, it can be a powerful advantage.

In this episode of Edge of Excellence, we sit down with Ed Perkins, Principal Consultant, vCIO, and the architect behind iuvo’s secure, self-hosted AI platform, to unpack what AI adoption really looks like inside modern businesses.

Instead of adding to the noise, this conversation cuts straight through the hype. Ed breaks down the biggest misconceptions leaders have about AI, why companies feel so much pressure to “do something” quickly, and how hype from major vendors and industry success stories fuels both overconfidence and fear. He also explains why some organizations are rushing in blindly, while others are pretending AI doesn’t exist, despite the fact that employees are almost certainly using it already.

Drawing from real client experiences and decades of supporting data-intensive industries, Ed offers a clear, practical roadmap for leaders. He covers:

• How to tell the difference between hype and real opportunity
• Why leadership alignment and culture matter more than tools
• The risks of ungoverned AI use, including accidental data exposure, hallucinations, and unexpected access to sensitive information
• Why an AI policy is the essential first step
• How private/self-hosted AI environments (like iuvo Secure AI) protect IP and reduce risk
• What leaders should understand about Copilot, SharePoint permissions, and data governance
• How AI can speed up decision-making and free teams to focus on higher-value work
• How fast AI is evolving, and why strategies must stay flexible

Ed also shares practical advice for leaders who are curious about AI but don’t know where to start.

Whether you're hesitant about AI, excited but overwhelmed, or trying to build a responsible long-term strategy, this episode gives you the grounded, candid clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

What will it take for businesses to stay competitive, secure, and resilient heading into 2026? In this episode of Edge of Excellence, Empowering People to Shape the Future, we break down the future of IT and what leaders need to know to make smarter, future-ready decisions.

For years, IT was viewed as a cost center, a support function that “kept the lights on.” But today, IT drives growth, innovation, customer experience, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.

The organizations that win in 2026 will be the ones that treat IT as a strategic asset, not an afterthought.

In this episode, we explore:

• How IT has shifted from back-office function to a business growth engine
• Why leaders must rethink how they evaluate technology investments
• The most important technology trends shaping the next year
• How to separate hype from what actually creates value
• The growing importance of security, governance, and operational visibility
• How to close the gap between leadership vision and IT execution

Key Trends Discussed

- Cloud maturity & optimization
- AI implementation that aligns with strategic goals
- Evolving cybersecurity threats
- Data visibility for smarter decision-making
- Practical Steps for Leaders
- Evaluate your current IT posture
- Strengthen resilience and security culture
- Build foundations before adopting “shiny” new tools
- Partner with experts who help translate strategy to execution

The bottom line:
Technology is no longer optional or operational; it’s the backbone of business growth.

The leaders who understand this shift will be the ones who scale, adapt, and outperform in 2026 and beyond.

🌐 Learn more about how iuvo empowers organizations →  www.iuvotech.com