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Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI
The same AI that's helping your team move faster is helping attackers move faster too. That's the tension every business leader is now living with, and it's why we made this show.
Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI is the podcast for leaders who need to make decisions about both. Each month, host Jon Waldman and expert guests break down the real-world impact of AI, cybersecurity, and emerging tech with practical guidance you can actually use.
This show is for you if you're a C-suite leader, CISO, CRO, CTO, IT director, compliance officer, or information security pro responsible for keeping your organization...
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Leading Secure Transformation in Financial Services
When trust and technology evolve together, banking leaders win. Accelerating digital change, relentless threats, and the need to keep customers’ trust, community bank tech leaders face more pressure than ever. In this episode of Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI, Jon Waldman welcomes Chris Kreul, CTO at First Bank and Trust, for an unfiltered look at what’s working and what’s failing in modern cybersecurity strategy. Hear how Chris Kreul went from reimaging call center computers during the ILOVEYOU virus days to leading an award-winning tech team. Uncover the real value of elevating cyber programs beyond box-checking, why empathy and communication are central to a security-first culture, and how AI is unlocking operational and security wins banks couldn’t even dream of five years ago. Tune in to get inspired, rethink your approach, and drive your cybersecurity maturity forward. ==== Timestamps ==== 00:03 Introduction 02:12 Chris Kreul’s cybersecurity origin story 04:34 Early lessons from ILOVEYOU and Code Red viruses 06:27 How cybersecurity thinking has evolved 08:18 Challenges in current cybersecurity approaches 10:13 Dangers of “check-the-box” security 13:22 Opportunities and what's working in security maturity 15:23 Building a strong cybersecurity culture 17:19 Empathy and human factors in security incidents 18:43 Evolution of banking technology and threat landscape 19:43 Predictions for technology and cybersecurity in the next five years 21:56 AI’s role in unlocking value and secure automation 22:44 Real-world AI use cases reducing vulnerabilities 28:04 Measuring AI’s ROI and operational impact 30:28 Lessons learned and the importance of continual learning 33:14 Episode wrap-upInnovation Without Compromising Security
Technology is transforming banking at an unprecedented pace, creating new opportunities while introducing new challenges for financial institutions. As AI, real-time payments, and digital innovation continue to reshape the industry, leaders must balance progress with the trust, security, and stability their customers expect. In this episode of Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI, Jon Waldman sits down with DJ Seeterlin, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Chesapeake Bank, to talk about the changing role of cybersecurity in financial services and what it takes to build a culture where innovation and security work together. The conversation also looks at building a lasting security culture, preparing for the next wave of technology, and the opportunities AI presents for the future of banking. Tune in to hear how innovation, cybersecurity, and strategic leadership are shaping the future of banking.