As AI agents move from experimentation to execution, enterprises are realizing that speed and efficiency are no longer the hardest problems to solve. Accountability is.
In this CIO Talk Network conversation, host Sanjog Aul speaks with Aarti Singh, Enterprise CIO at Mahindra Group, to examine how leaders should think about responsibility, governance, and trust in an increasingly agentic AI environment.
The discussion explores:
Where leaders draw boundaries for autonomous AI agents
Why explainability matters in real enterprise decision-making
The risks introduced by third-party and black-box AI agents
How organizations should respond when autonomous systems fail
Why culture, not just controls, determines AI accountability
This episode reframes agentic AI as more than a technology choice. It is an operating model and leadership challenge that demands alignment across business, IT, risk, and governance teams.
For CIOs and enterprise leaders navigating AI adoption today, this conversation offers grounded insight into balancing innovation with responsibility.
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About CIO Talk Network (CTN)
CIO Talk Network brings senior technology and business leaders together to discuss real decisions, real risks, and real leadership responsibilities in a digital-first world.

Organizations want the speed that AI promises, but they also need judgment.
In this episode, Earl Newsome, CIO at Cummins, and Viren Shah, Chief Digital and Information Officer at AGCO, join Sanjog Aul to discuss why the CIO should help guide ethical and responsible AI adoption.

They share lessons on trust, safety, value creation, team readiness, and what leaders must do to make AI work for everyone.

Topics Covered

00:00 – Introduction
02:45 – AI pressure vs leadership responsibility
06:30 – Balancing ambition with judgment
10:55 – What responsible AI really means
15:20 – The role of human guidance
19:40 – Empowering teams while protecting the enterprise
24:30 – Rethinking how AI value is measured
29:15 – Choosing when to say yes or no
33:40 – The evolving role of the CIO
38:10 – How organizations should structure AI ownership
42:00 – What leaders want to shape in the next few years

Full transcript: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com

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About CIO Talk Network

CIO Talk Network is a global community where business and technology leaders share experiences, challenge assumptions, and learn from each other. Every episode is designed to provide clarity, context, and real value without hype.

Organizations are investing heavily in AI training and upskilling programs. Yet many still find that true capability is uneven. AI readiness is not just a list of tools or skills. It is the habit of thinking critically, questioning outputs, and learning continuously when solutions are not fixed.

In this episode of CIO Talk Network, Miro Humer, Vice President and CIO at Case Western Reserve University, joins host Sanjog Aul to explore how education systems and workplaces can work together to build real AI readiness that lasts beyond the classroom.

Topics Covered
00:00 Introduction
05:12 Why traditional training falls short
11:30 The role of curiosity and judgment
18:40 Bridging education and work environments
27:15 Who should own AI readiness
38:00 Leadership takeaways

Full Transcript and Episode Details:
https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/bridging-the-ai-readiness-gap/

About CIO Talk Network:
CIO Talk Network is a global peer-led platform where enterprise leaders share experience-based insights without pitch or fluff.

Follow CIO Talk Network:
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Website: ciotalknetwork.com

The IT function is evolving fast. It's no longer just about maintaining systems but about shaping culture, driving innovation, and aligning technology with business goals.

In this episode of CIO Talk Network, Dominic Redmond, Chief Information Officer at PageGroup Business Technology, joins host Sanjog Aul to explore how CIOs can reimagine their teams to lead with agility, business fluency, and people-first leadership in an AI-driven world.

Topics Covered:
00:00 – Introduction
06:30 – IT as cost center → value driver
14:45 – Fact, fear, and faith in IT investment
23:10 – Co-creation and cross-functional ownership
30:00 – Reskilling and navigating rapid AI adoption
38:20 – Business fluency for IT professionals
45:10 – Governance, agility, and architectural flexibility
53:00 – Leadership mindset shifts for the future

Full Transcript & Episode Details: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/reimagining-the-it-team-people-culture-leadership/

Youtube Link : https://youtu.be/9imb5Plyz50

Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/1127461008?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

About CIO Talk Network:
CIO Talk Network (CTN) is a global, peer-led platform where enterprise business and technology leaders share authentic, experience-driven insights. Hosted by Sanjog Aul, CTN sparks honest conversations that challenge conventional thinking and inspire leadership transformation.

Follow CIO Talk Network:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cio-talk-network

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• Website: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com

In an era of black swan events, economic volatility, and rapid technological change, leaders must balance growth with governance to build organizations that endure.

In this episode of CIO Talk Network, Dr. Ramesh Gopal, Chief Risk Officer for UAE & Saudi and Head of Credit Risk at CEEMEA for Deutsche Bank, joins host Sanjog Aul to share lessons from past crises, strategies for aligning agility with control, and ways to embed a risk-first mindset across the enterprise.

Topics Covered:
00:00 – Introduction
02:49 – When assumptions fail: Lessons from 2008
07:12 – Thresholds, policing, and human bias in risk
10:09 – The biggest illusion of preparedness
13:05 – Appetite, tolerance, and execution
16:54 – Bridging the GRC–business gap
20:51 – Real-time, modern risk management
24:04 – Risk in the citizen development era
27:20 – Decentralizing risk ownership
33:29 – Challenges in building a risk-aware culture
36:08 – Blueprint for future-ready risk management
40:30 – An appeal to business & tech leaders
43:16 – G² + R²: Good growth and right risk

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1109100382
Full Transcript & Episode Details: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/how-risk-aware-leaders-build-what-lasts/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/how-risk-aware-leaders-build-lasts/id1089793150?i=1000722274046

About CIO Talk Network:
CIO Talk Network (CTN) is a global, peer-led platform where enterprise business and technology leaders think out loud—without pitch or fluff. Hosted by Sanjog Aul, CTN delivers authentic, experience-driven insights that challenge conventional thinking.

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Website: ciotalknetwork.com
Guest Bio: Dr Ramesh Gopal Expert Insights and Contribution

#RiskManagement #Leadership #BusinessResilience #CIOLeadership #CTNTalks

The surge in digital transformation initiatives has brought forth many cybersecurity challenges. Businesses are under pressure to offer seamless digital experiences, which often means integrating multiple platforms and technologies. Yet, each integration point is a potential vulnerability. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, how can businesses ensure robust security without hindering the user experience or compromising the operational flow?

Guest: Prasanna Kumar Burri, Group Chief Information Officer, Dangote Industries

Guest Bio: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/contributor/prasannakumar-burri

More on this Episode: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/stitching-seamless-digital-journeys-in-a-minefield-of-threats/

More on Security: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/topics/security/

More on Digital Transformation: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/topics/digital-transformation/

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Low-code systems democratize artificial intelligence tools, allowing nontechnical staff members to produce data-driven apps independently. This movement creates questions about governance, security, and quality control even while it gives innovators agility and speed. How can companies enable low-code tool-equipped business units to provide strong security and governance? Are there best practices for juggling autonomy with control in democratized AI systems? What unanticipated difficulties might result from this move toward general AI availability?

Guest: Udit Pahwa, Chief Information Officer at Blue Star Limited

Guest Bio: Udit Pahwa

More on this Episode: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/low-code-ai-apps-enabling-innovation-ensuring-control/

More on AI & ML: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/

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Leaders today face growing pressure to move faster. They're driving digital transformation, adopting AI, and launching new business models at record speed. But when speed goes unchecked, it can cause chaos, from strategic drift to operational risk.

In this episode of CIO Talk Network, Alejandro Martinez Galindo, Chief Information Officer at Fortrea, joins host Sanjog Aul to explore how to build momentum without losing control. Drawing from real-world experience, including lessons from a fast-paced cloud ERP rollout, Alejandro shares practical ways to balance speed with structure. He discusses approaches such as multi-speed operating models, molecular organizations, democratized AI training, and business-led governance.

You'll learn how to keep innovation moving quickly while keeping it safe and sustainable.

Topics Covered:
• 00:00 – Introduction
• 02:02 – When moving too fast backfires
• 06:59 – Guardrails that build confidence
• 10:06 – Multi-speed IT and the "molecular" organization
• 14:21 – Democratizing AI and building co-intelligence
• 20:33 – Starting at the edge for safer AI experiments
• 24:46 – Governance and compliance that empower, not restrict
• 27:15 – Managing change and avoiding pilot purgatory
• 33:27 – Rethinking risk tolerance in the AI era
• 36:44 – Building new leadership muscles
• 42:36 – Pragmatic innovation that ties to real business value
• 47:18 – Final advice: innovate boldly, but with confidence

Listen on your favorite platform:
• 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://www.youtube.com/@CIOTalkNetwork
• Full Episode & Transcript: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/the-paradox-of-speed-scaling-innovation-without-losing-control

• Download Transcript (PDF): https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/.../transcript.pdf

About CIO Talk Network:
CIO Talk Network (CTN) is a global, peer-led platform where enterprise leaders share real, experience-driven insights without pitches or fluff. Hosted by Sanjog Aul, CTN helps technology and business leaders exchange ideas, challenge norms, and grow together.

Follow CTN:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cio-talk-network
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ciotalknetwork
Website: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com

Tags: #Innovation #SpeedVsControl #CIOLeadership #AI #DigitalTransformation #RiskManagement #Governance #EnterpriseIT #CTNTalks