6 hours ago

AI, Risk, and Readiness (AUDIO)

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In this episode of Under the Surface, I sit down with Chris Cathers — founder of Grit Meets Growth — to talk about what leaders are really facing as AI moves from curiosity to operational reality.

We dig into how organizations are approaching AI adoption, the difference between public and private models, and why data governance, guardrails, and leadership discipline matter more than ever. Chris brings a grounded perspective shaped by his background in cybersecurity and his work with executive teams who want to move fast without creating unnecessary risk.

We also explore organizational change, employee adoption, and why AI should be used to make people better — not replace them.

If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader trying to balance innovation, security, and long-term readiness, this episode is for you.

Guest Introduction:

Chris Cathers is a founder, executive coach, and community builder who works with successful leaders who know there’s more possible than their current results. With a background in cybersecurity and risk management, and as the force behind Grit Meets Growth, Chris helps organizations navigate change, build resilient leadership, and adopt new technologies with clarity and discipline.

Key Takeaways:

AI should make your people better — not replace them.
Leaders need guardrails, governance, and clear use cases before scaling AI.
Data is the real risk, and data strategy must come before deployment.
Public AI and private AI are very different — and leaders need to understand both.
Organizational change management is critical for successful AI adoption.

Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro – Welcome to Under the Surface

1:00 Guest Introduction – Meet Chris Cathers

2:10 Why AI Is the Conversation Leaders Can’t Ignore

5:30 Enterprise vs Mid-Market AI Adoption

8:00 Public AI vs Private AI

11:30 Solving the Right Problems with AI

15:00 Organizational Change and Employee Adoption

18:30 Using AI to Make People Better

22:00 AI as a General-Purpose Business Tool

25:30 Infrastructure, Power, and the Future of AI

28:00 Data, Security, and Governance

31:30 Closing Thoughts

Keywords:

Paul Zyla, Chris Cathers, Under the Surface Podcast, AI leadership, artificial intelligence business, cybersecurity leadership, executive decision making, business risk management, data governance, AI adoption, private AI, public AI, leadership podcast, technology strategy