Cyber threats aren’t a matter of “if”—they’re a matter of “when.” In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mike Gowen, Chief Revenue Officer at Celerity, to explore how sales, cybersecurity and AI are converging—and what executives must do to stay ahead.&nbsp; With over 25 years in tech sales, Mike shares how executive conversations have shifted from product education to strategic enablement. He breaks down the shift toward operational resilience, the urgency of quantum readiness, and the real risks of poor AI implementation.&nbsp;&nbsp; Mike’s leadership insights—shaped by his experience in team sports—offer a fresh take on adaptability, teamwork and transformation. Whether you're a CRO, CIO or business leader, this episode delivers actionable strategies and relatable stories to help you navigate tech-driven change.&nbsp; Chapters&nbsp; 00:00 – Rapid fire kick-off: Meet Mike Gowen&nbsp;01:20 – The evolution of sales, technology, cyber and the C-Suite roles that drive the business&nbsp;03:30 – Protection to recovery: Preparing customers for inevitable cyber threats&nbsp;09:05 – Evaluating technology from table stakes to Quantum&nbsp;11:15 – Intersecting IT and operations to deliver value&nbsp;14:20 – AI: Real ways to use it for value, real missteps you must avoid&nbsp;18:44 – Common myths around cyber and AI&nbsp;20:18 – Partnerships, privacy and a multidiscipline approach to cyber&nbsp;26:55 – Developing high-performing teams with a coach’s mindset&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.&nbsp;

Mike Gowen brings extensive leadership experience and a proven track record in delivering business growth.
Since joining Celerity in February 2023, he has led the company’s revenue strategy, focusing on driving
growth, transformation, and profitability.
Mike’s career spans leadership roles across both large corporates and SMEs, including digital transformation
partner Flow, Daisy, and Dimension Data. He has consistently developed and executed successful revenue
strategies, leveraging his expertise in sales, marketing, and business development to deliver measurable
results.
As CRO, Mike oversees revenue generation and customer acquisition, ensuring Celerity’s continued
expansion and market leadership in its next phase of growth.

Mike Gowen

Chief Revenue Officer, Celerity

Mike Gowen, CRO at Celerity, joins Ann Funai to break down how sales, cybersecurity and AI are converging—and what execs need to do about it. From cyber resilience and quantum readiness to avoiding AI adoption pitfalls, Mike shares real-world strategies and actionable plans for building resilience, enabling transformation and leading with trust. 

AI & cyber resilience: What every C-Suite must know

Information is everywhere. For businesses, information is everything. The roles of CIOs, CTOs and other transformative leaders have evolved to impact all areas of business, from employee experience and digital labor to product development and the customer experience. Hosted by Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platforms Transformation at IBM, Transformers the podcast takes you behind the scenes and screens of these transformative leaders, exploring their real-world challenges, inspiring lessons, and best practices. From personal transformations to the transformative influences around them, Ann and her guests explore what it is to be transformers. Tune in every other Wednesday at 7am EST.

Transformers Podcast

In this powerful episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Dr. Michelle Barry, PhD, CEO and co-founder of CTI LifeHealth to explore how her team is revolutionizing healthcare for underserved communities across the globe. From rural Africa to rural Alabama, Michelle shares how CTI’s modular digital health ecosystem bridges the gap between lifestyle and clinical care starting with the patient, not the institution.&nbsp; With a background in sociocultural and medical anthropology, Michelle brings a unique lens to innovation and transformation, emphasizing cultural responsiveness, data sovereignty and the importance of listening loudly. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about health equity, AI tech for good and the future of global wellness.&nbsp; Chapters&nbsp; 00:00 — Cold open question&nbsp;00:57 — Meet Michelle Barry and CTI Life Health, a digital health ecosystem&nbsp;01:52 — Built in Africa, by Africa, for Africa: A patient-first view of digital healthcare&nbsp;03:38 — Listening loudly: Designing responsive tech for a cultural fit&nbsp;07:04 — Building trust and individual agency in the face of resistance to AI&nbsp;&nbsp;10:00 — Empowering patients with data ownership and sovereignty&nbsp;12:28 — Designing for the edges: Scaling healthcare with empathy for all&nbsp;16:03 — Bridging institutional and community health at a solutions level&nbsp;25:48 — Body hacking and improving whole-person wellness&nbsp;28:45 — Bridging gaps to the basics: Indigenous wisdom, community connectivity and leapfrogging legacy systems for best-in-class tech in emerging countries&nbsp;31:25 — Partnerships Over Competition: Building Ecosystems&nbsp;34:33 — Healing through creativity&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

CEO & Co-Founder, CTI-LifeHealth | Medical & Sociocultural Anthropologist | Top 20 Women in Biohacking Globally | Expert in Ethical AI, Health Equity, and Global Health Systems  | IBM Gold Partner

Dr. Michelle Barry is a medical and sociocultural anthropologist and the CEO and Co-Founder of CTI-LifeHealth, a global digital health ecosystem company advancing ethical, AI-powered care for underserved populations. With operations in Africa and the U.S., her work bridges high-tech innovation with human-centered design, enabling more equitable access to care through culturally responsive tools like VIMA — an AI-powered virtual medical assistant.

Under her leadership, CTI-LifeHealth has become a gold-level IBM partner, collaborating to set new standards for “AI for Good” in digital health. Dr. Barry brings a rare perspective to AI ethics — one grounded in decades of fieldwork with vulnerable communities and a deep understanding of how technology can either reinforce or rewire systemic inequities.

Her current initiatives with IBM focus on redefining responsible AI through risk mapping, resilience anchoring, and reciprocal design, helping to ensure that digital innovation uplifts rather than exploits.

She is now offering insight into how healthcare AI can scale ethically, practically, and globally — with real accountability and social impact.



Michelle Barry

CEO & Co-Founder CTI LifeHealth

Dr. Michelle Barry, PhD, CEO and co-founder of CTI LifeHealth, sits down with Ann Funai to share how her team is transforming healthcare for underserved communities—from rural Africa to rural America. Learn how CTI’s digital health ecosystem bridges lifestyle and clinical care, and why cultural responsiveness, data sovereignty and “listening loudly” are key to real innovation. 

Data Sovereignty & AI: Scaling Health Equity with Digital Innovation

In this special episode of Transformers, we flip the script on host Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platform Transformation at IBM, as she becomes the guest of her own show. Interviewed by show producer Amanda Downie, Ann shares what keeps her up at night—and what gets her out of bed in the morning.&nbsp; Through a candid, funny and deeply human conversation, Ann reflects on leadership, transformation, psychological safety and the power of assuming positive intent. From “speeding tickets” in innovation to rogue curls and pineapple pizza, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the mindset of a modern enterprise leader.&nbsp; Chapters&nbsp; 00:00 – What keeps Ann up at night, and what motivates her every day?&nbsp;03:18 – Prioritization, psychological safety and learning from work-place speeding tickets&nbsp;08:05 – Future leaders listen up: What is the CIO role really like? And what advice would Ann give her younger self?&nbsp;12:20 – Authenticity can stay; buzzwords and rogue curls need to go&nbsp;&nbsp;17:43 – Data storytelling, cognitive bias and drawing out unexpected insights&nbsp;24:12 – Honest conversations and hysterical analogies: Go-to advice for bringing calm to the chaos&nbsp;28:24 – Time for rapid fire questions!&nbsp;35:14 – Final reflections&nbsp;&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Amanda Downie

Inbound Content Lead, AI Productivity & IBM Consulting, IBM

Ann Funai flips roles in this special episode, sharing what keeps her up at night—and what drives her forward each day. From change and transformation to trust, empathy and pineapple pizza, it’s a candid look at the human side of modern enterprise leadership.

Assume positive intent: Leadership lessons for CIOs

In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Barbra Sainsurin, GCMO of Anthropologie Group, to explore the fast-paced world of B2C marketing—from real-time insights and AI tools to building cross-functional trust and cultural relevance. From her days at Under Armour to leading transformation at Anthropologie, Barbra shares how she combines data, curiosity and heart to drive purposeful change. With warmth, vulnerability and an unapologetically customer-obsessed mindset, Barbra reveals what it takes to lead with impact and thrive in modern retail.&nbsp; Chapters&nbsp; 00:00 – Barbra Sainsurin on her leadership style&nbsp;02:25 – B2C vs B2B: 3 key marketing transformation differences&nbsp;08:35 – Why cross-functional insights drive marketing success&nbsp;12:30 – Translating marketing for stakeholders&nbsp;15:20 – Ditch the jargon: Embrace curiosity in communication&nbsp;&nbsp;19:47 – What it means to be a tech-savvy marketer: The evolution of data-driven marketing&nbsp;27:04 – Buy vs. Build: Scaling omnichannel experiences&nbsp;30:22 – 3 keys to building high-impact marketing teams&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Barbra Sainsurin is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Anthropologie Group, a global lifestyle brand which specializes in apparel, accessories, intimates, home furniture, décor, beauty, and garden. Barbra oversees all marketing and technology, site experience and design, analytics, affiliate marketing, paid social, brand partnerships, influencer marketing and social media across Anthropologie, Anthropologie Home, Anthropologie Weddings, and Terrain.
 
Before joining Anthropologie, Barbra served as the Senior Director of Global Personalization at Under Armour, where she spent five years leading consumer engagement, global marketing innovation, and performance marketing. At Under Armour, Barbra was responsible for the strategy, planning, and execution of digital marketing strategies for the North American DTC channels. Prior to Under Armour, Barbra spent significant time honing her digital marketing expertise at influential organizations such as American Express, Ogilvy, MTV Networks, Gannett and Marriott.
 
Barbra received her Master of Science in Integrated Marketing from New York University, and her Bachelor of Science from Columbia University.

Barbra Sainsurin

GCMO, Anthropologie Group

Barbra Sainsurin, GCMO of Anthropologie Group, joins Ann Funai to discuss B2C marketing, AI tools and customer-centric leadership. From Under Armour to Anthropologie, she shares how data, curiosity and empathy drive transformation in modern retail marketing.

Inside B2C Marketing with Barbra Sainsurin of Anthropologie Group

What happens when a tech leader trades private equity and pro sports for public service? In this episode of Transformers, Frank Sweeney, CIO of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, shares how his unconventional career path led him to one of the most purpose-driven roles in government.&nbsp; Frank discusses how his team is using AI not to replace humans—but to empower them. From reducing administrative burden for field workers to improving outcomes for families and children, Frank explains how ethical, human-centered AI is transforming child welfare in Arizona.&nbsp; Whether you're a CIO, CTO, or tech strategist, this episode offers a powerful look at how emerging technologies can serve people—not just processes.&nbsp; 00:01	 An unconventional path towards a purpose-driven career&nbsp;&nbsp;05:54	 The “big three” responsibilities of a (public sector) CIO&nbsp;&nbsp;08:52	 AI as a tool—not a solution—to support purpose-driven work&nbsp;12:05	 Balancing innovative solutions with risk management and compliance&nbsp;&nbsp;15:25	 AI can't replace our instincts: Why you still need humans in the loop&nbsp;18:54	 Maintaining data privacy and security when in the field&nbsp;21:41	 How technology can help caregivers reduce stress and avoid burnout&nbsp;24:10	 Leading a purpose-driven life&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.&nbsp;

Frank Sweeney

CIO, Arizona Department of Child Safety

Frank Sweeney, CIO of Arizona DCS, shares how AI is empowering caregivers—not replacing them—in this episode on ethical, human-centered innovation in child welfare.

AI for good, with Frank Sweeney, CIO, Arizona DCS

What does it really take to transform a legacy institution into a digital-first, human-centered enterprise? Drawing from decades of experience, Amala Duggirala, Head of Digital Data and Technology at USAA, breaks down the four dimensions of transformation—technology, product, business value and culture—and shares how to scale innovation without losing sight of compliance, quality or people.&nbsp; 0:01 – Get to know Amala Duggirala&nbsp;2:12 – The four types of transformation&nbsp;7:34 – Move like a startup, scale like an E(nterprise)&nbsp;12:35 – Want to win with AI? Get your foundations right.&nbsp;16:25 – How USAA delivers on the full spectrum of financial needs&nbsp;19:06 – Transformation lessons from around the world&nbsp;22:30 – Turning point of a transformation: Words vs. actions&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.&nbsp;

Amala Duggirala currently serves as the Head of Digitial Data and Technology of USAA. She is responsible for USAA’s technology transformation, which will position the association for a strong second century. Amala leads and inspires over 6,000 employees and thousands of contractors across technology, data and security disciplines supporting the Enterprise, while keeping a sharp eye on risk management and fiscal discipline. 

Amala Duggirala

Head of Digital Data and Technology, USAA

Amala Duggirala, Head of Digital Data and Technology at USAA, breaks down the four dimensions of transformation and shares how to scale innovation 

Transforming legacy at scale, with Amala Duggirala, USAA

How is private equity–backed FalconStor reinventing itself in the age of AI? Ann sits down with CEO Todd Brooks and CTO Ron Morita to explore the company’s evolution beyond legacy hardware, its embrace of artificial intelligence, and how it’s driving growth through cutting-edge technology and human ingenuity.&nbsp; 0:01 – The hybrid cloud world&nbsp;1:53 – How FalconStor transformed to survive&nbsp;4:42 – The CTO role: Partnerships, products and roadmaps to success&nbsp;8:57 – CEOs and CTOs working together&nbsp;11:13 – A handbook for partnerships&nbsp;16:45 – Bridging hardware, software and the hybrid cloud worlds&nbsp;21:45 – Infusing AI for sales and customer support&nbsp;29:46 – What drives you and your decision-making?&nbsp; The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.&nbsp;

Ron is a hands-on engineering leader with strong business acumen. He has advised VCs, startups and mid-sized enterprises on investments, product strategy and digital transformation. Ron creates product strategies and roadmaps that maintains both strategic focus and drives near term revenue. He applies customer-centric design thinking, agile philosophy and engineering practice to deliver market leading products. He has deep technical expertise in Cloud, SaaS, Cyber Security, Data Protection, Networking, Storage, Systems and Virtualization. Ron was VP of Engineering at EMC Data Domain, NetApp, Newbridge Networks, HiFive Networks and ComMira. He graduated from Princeton University and completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program.

Ron Morita

CTO, Falconstor

Todd Brooks is Falconstor’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Falconstor, Mr. Brooks was the Chief Operating Officer at Aurea Software, and CEO of Update Software, a publicly traded company in Europe. Previously, Mr. Brooks was the Chief Operating Officer at Trilogy where he was responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the firm’s Automotive, Financial Services and Telecom, Technology & Media business units. Earlier in his career, Mr. Brooks co-founded and managed two technology consulting firms, including eFuel, an early innovator and leader in logistics optimization software for the automotive industry. In addition, Mr. Brooks held leadership roles at FedEx. Mr. Brooks earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, and currently serves on the Advisory Board at Virginia Tech’s Apex Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Todd Brooks

CEO, Falconstor

How is private equity–backed FalconStor reinventing itself in the age of AI? Ann sits down with CEO Todd Brooks and CTO Ron Morita to explore the company’s evolution.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 2

AI & cyber resilience: What every C-Suite must know

Data Sovereignty & AI: Scaling Health Equity with Digital Innovation

Assume positive intent: Leadership lessons for CIOs

Inside B2C Marketing with Barbra Sainsurin of Anthropologie Group

AI for good, with Frank Sweeney, CIO, Arizona DCS

Transforming legacy at scale, with Amala Duggirala, USAA

FalconStor's tech transformation with CEO Todd Brooks & CTO Ron Morita

About The Show

Transformers Podcast

Ann Funai

CIO & VP of Business Platform Transformation, IBM