By Maximum Possibilities | November 18, 2025
As we are all aware, AI is transforming how companies make decisions, but what is really important to understand is how is reshaping risk, governance, and responsibility.
I was attending the National Association of Corporate Directors’ recent session on Big Data, Cybersecurity, and AI, the discussion centered on where opportunity meets exposure. As I listened, I couldn’t help but connect it to my own background leading IT and data strategy as CIO and CFO. Back then, our goal was clear: build reliable business intelligence. Today, the same foundation applies, except now, we’re layering AI on top of it. That opens extraordinary potential and entirely new risks.
Where Leaders Need to Focus Now
1. Know Your AI and Data Environment
Every company is using AI in some form but not everyone knows how.
Ask:
• Which AI tools are being used across the organization?
• Are employees using free or paid versions (like OpenAI’s ChatGPT)?
• What security protocols are in place for those tools?
Even small differences matter. Paid versions often include stronger privacy and data controls, while free versions may share prompts or data externally. This needs to be in the forefront of known Corporate policies of which services are allowed and banned.
2. Clarify Ownership and Stewardship
Data governance starts with one question: Who owns the data?
Ownership doesn’t mean control by IT alone: It means company-wide responsibility. Every employee who touches data is a steward of it and must be aware of the internal policies and procedures surrounding the stewardship of that data, we well as the inherit risks.
CEOs and boards should confirm:
• Who owns critical data assets?
• How is that data secured, stored, and monitored?
• Are employees trained on AI and cybersecurity risks?
3. Protect What’s Most Valuable
Financial data, customer information, pricing, and proprietary processes are still the highest-risk areas.
Revisit data access policies and confirm encryption, uptime, and recovery plans.
4. Balance Innovation and Risk
AI investments are sometimes hard to measure on ROI but consider the risk of doing nothing.
Companies that explore AI carefully are learning faster than those standing still. The key is calculated risk-taking: pilot responsibly, test outcomes, and document the decision trail.
5. Build the Human + AI Partnership
AI is not replacing people but it is amplifying them.
Leaders should ask:
• How can AI eliminate menial tasks to free up human focus?
• How can we use AI to make faster, smarter decisions without losing accountability?
Transformation always comes back to people. The real success factor in AI adoption is acceptance, training, and cultural readiness.
Final Thought
Whether you’re leading a private company, sitting on a board, or preparing for a transaction, AI is no longer optional.
It’s a leadership conversation about data integrity, governance, and long-term value.
Focus on stewardship first, and the innovation will follow.