CIO & CISO Think Tank

Michelle Foley is an experienced, results-oriented Program Manager at Truist with a proven record of program execution and partnership with Services and Product Engineering to solve complex problems and improve business outcomes. An MBA and PMP-certified professional with expertise in AWS, Azure, and Cybersecurity, she is committed to finding creative, sustainable solutions through collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in Engineering, Business Operations, and Services. Michelle demonstrates a growth mindset in the face of uncertainty and a deep passion for customer advocacy and inclusive leadership. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, she leverages her technical background and strategic leadership to drive impactful results across global environments.

With over 34 years of experience in information security and executive leadership, Ian Schneller has built a career advancing strategic cybersecurity and resilience across government, defense, finance, and healthcare sectors. His background includes three tenures as a large enterprise Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and recognition as the first CISO ever to win the national ORBIE Award. Most recently, he served as CISO for HCSC and as a Board Director on the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Association Cybersecurity Subcommittee (2021–2025), strengthening protections for a system that supports healthcare for one in three Americans. During this time, Ian also partnered with other senior executives at HCSC to create an organizational wide artifical intelligence governance process (of which he served too) to ensure fair, transparent, and secure use of artifical intelligence. Ian also served as a fiduciary Board Director for Medecision and as Board Chair for “Dallas CISO Inspire”, bringing together more than 30 regional CISOs to upliŌ collective cyber defenses. In prior private-sector roles, Ian partnered with the Federal Government to shape national cybersecurity policy, including co-founding the Analysis and Resilience Center, a public-private partnership dedicated to protecting the United States from catastrophic foreign cyber attacks. A retired U.S. Air Force officer with nearly 24 years of service as a cyber defender, cyber attacker, and senior intelligence officer, Ian has advised the U.S. Congress on cybersecurity priorities and led major initiatives to secure critical infrastructure from cyber attacks and to enhance the nation’s most sensitive intelligence capabilities.

George Kanyotu is the AVP of Global Infrastructure Services at GM Financial, leading the organization’s efforts to deliver efficient, secure, and compliant IT infrastructure across the business. With over a decade at GM Financial, he provides strategic leadership to three key teams: Global Infrastructure Governance, IT Asset Management, and Global Vulnerability Remediation. George drives technology planning, aligns infrastructure initiatives with corporate goals, and ensures the organization stays ahead of industry best practices. He partners with senior leadership to anticipate organizational needs, implement scalable solutions, and maintain operational stability, security, and compliance across GM Financial’s global operations.

Dorai Babu is a strategic and visionary Senior Cybersecurity Executive (CISO) with over 25 years of experience shaping and leading global security programs. Dedicated to protecting enterprise assets while enabling business innovation, he has focused his career on building and maturing cybersecurity functions within Fortune 100 organizations and highly regulated industries, including finance, healthcare, and energy. Dorai has a proven track record of aligning security initiatives with key business priorities to support digital transformation, creating defense-in-depth strategies across cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. A CISSP, CISM, CISA, and GCISO, he ensures full compliance with frameworks such as SOX, HIPAA, HITRUST, GDPR, and CCPA, while maturing risk governance under NIST, ISO, and SOC standards. He is adept at communicating complex security risks to boards and regulators to drive informed decision-making and is passionate about building high-performing global teams and embedding a "security-first" culture that empowers the entire organization.

Mubeen Ahmed is a technology executive and Vice President of Software Engineering at Gartner, where he leads platform engineering across AI Products & Insights, Identity and Client Engagement as core digital products serving clients worldwide. With over two decades of experience spanning FinTech, EdTech, Non-profit, Telecom, and global consulting, Mubeen has built and led global engineering organizations giving him a firsthand understanding of how cultural fluency and human connection drive results in technology. Throughout his career, Mubeen has led cross-functional teams through complex transformations at organizations including Guild Education, Blucora (TaxAct), W.W. Grainger, and Accenture. Mubeen holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a US Patent holder. Based in Dallas, he is passionate about the intersection of technology leadership and emotional intelligence and believes that the leaders who will shape the next era of innovation are the ones who lead with empathy, curiosity, and courage.

Eric Poon is the Chief Information and Technology Officer at Resolute Grid, where he established a robust IT governance framework aligning technology initiatives with business goals. Throughout a distinguished career in planning, staffing, budgeting, technology, and operations, he has maintained a focus on quality and performance improvement. Eric previously served in the Office of the CTO at a Fortune 500 company, leading strategic analysis and global IT execution, and held leadership roles at Peloton and Tesla. During his tenure at these firms, he assisted with the greenfield build of several factories and transformed the global supply chain to deliver technology for new manufacturing lines in record time. An expert in cross-functional team building, organizational development, and infrastructure, Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Santa Clara University and specializes in IT strategy, IoT solutions, and global supply chain excellence.

Manu Cyriac is a seasoned technology executive with close to 15 years in digital transformation, software engineering, and technology optimization. He has a proven track record of driving innovation and efficiency for some of the most well-respected brands in the industry. As Head of Digital Product and Software Engineering at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Manu has played a pivotal role in scaling digital platforms, optimizing technology investments, and enhancing customer experiences. His leadership has been instrumental in driving traffic and growth through digital channels by incorporating innovative digital strategies. Previously, Manu held key leadership positions at various Fortune 500 companies worldwide, successfully leading several business transformation programs and strategic initiatives.

Martin Bliss is a seasoned Technology Executive and the former Global Chief of Architecture at Hilti North America, where he led a 50-person organization across three continents. With over 20 years of experience spanning construction tech, healthcare, and finance, Martin is a "builder-first" leader who transitioned from hands-on engineering to the C-suite. At Hilti, he modernized the Profis Engineering platform, driving a 30% growth in hardware sales while slashing infrastructure costs by 45%. A specialist in AI Governance and Safety-Critical Systems, Martin is a vocal advocate for engineering discipline in an era of rapid AI adoption. He famously transformed architecture from an "approval gate" into a "decision-enablement engine," scaling teams in Europe and India through his innovative Architect Academy. Whether chairing Architectural Review Boards or drawing leadership lessons from systems failures like Boeing 737 MAX, Martin excels at translating complex technical debt into high-impact business strategy.

Srikanth Edula is a visionary Senior Executive and Transformation Leader specializing in the intersection of enterprise architecture, digital engineering, and organizational strategy. Currently serving as SVP and Chief Architect at Accommodations Plus International, Srikanth is dedicated to building "Target State" visions that move organizations from legacy complexity to cloud-native agility. With a deep background in highly regulated sectors - specifically Healthcare and Financial Services - he has established a reputation for maturing Enterprise Architecture (EA) practices from the ground up. His leadership is defined by a "servant leadership" philosophy, focused on fostering high-performing global teams and cultivating top-tier technical talent.

Michael Anderson is the Chief Information Security Officer at Dallas College and a transformational executive with over 27 years of experience across Government, Education, and the Fortune 500. A rare triple-threat leader, Michael has served as a CTO, CISO, and CPO, managing technology for Texas’s second-largest K-12 district and one of the largest counties in the U.S. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and a CISSP recognized for turning underperforming IT operations into world-class service delivery engines. Beyond the server room, Michael is a 2024 Who’s Who Inductee and an elite mindset coach. As the founder of Your Thought Life Mindset Consulting and host of a top-tier self-development podcast, he bridges the gap between high-stakes cybersecurity and human peak performance. Whether securing multimillion-dollar portfolios or mentoring the next generation as an Adjunct Professor, Michael’s leadership is defined by a unique fusion of technical governance, AI strategy, and the psychological resilience required to lead in a digital age.

Arvind Murali is the Global SVP of Data & AI at iOPEX Technologies, where he orchestrates intelligence for Fortune 500 enterprise transformations. With an MBA from MIT Sloan, Arvind is a "Consulting P&L Guru" who bridges the gap between complex data ecosystems and measurable business outcomes. He leads a unified competency across five pillars - Envision, Engineer, Enforce, Engage, and Execute - turning Agentic AI and Data Governance into strategic competitive advantages. A seasoned advisor to CXOs and VC-backed startups, Arvind specializes in monetizing data and streamlining operations through his "Information, Intelligence, and Interaction" framework. Whether building scalable architectures on Azure and AWS or mentoring entrepreneurs on go-to-market strategies, his focus remains on "byte-sized" programs that drive P&L impact. A prominent thought leader and podcast host, Arvind is dedicated to helping organizations save money, innovate at scale, and evolve into AI-ready enterprises.

Fern Johnson is a dynamic global leader and IT executive with extensive experience leading infrastructure, technology operations, end-user services, and delivery within a fast-paced Fortune 50 consumer packaged goods organization. As the former CTO at PepsiCo and a NACD.DC certified board member, she leverages broad international and cross-functional experience gained as an impactful and respected leader with technical knowledge, integrity, inclusiveness, collaboration, and quality. Fern is a TEDx speaker, STEM advocate, and podcast host who inspires and leads diverse teams, organizations, and partners to define and deliver business value against a strategic, transformative vision. She is recognized for her ability to maintain consistent execution and efficiency at world-class scope and scale, ensuring global transformation through leadership that prioritizes both technical excellence and organizational value.

Jodi Watkins is responsible for client delivery and direction to our Fortune 500 companies. Determine and formulate policies and business strategies and provide overall direction for specialized recruitment teams. Plan, direct, and coordinate sales activities at the highest level of management. Prudently manage the organization’s goals and initiatives in Field Services, IT, Professional Services, MSP vendor relations. Company-wide committee facilitation including planning, production and staff. Assures that the organization and its mission, programs, and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image. Promotes a culture that reflects the organization’s values, encourages good performance, and rewards productivity. Actively advocates for the organization, its beliefs, and its programmatic efforts. Acts as a liaison between the organization and the community, building relationships with peer organizations when appropriate. Oversees design, delivery, and quality of MSP programs and services. Collaborate to define and articulate the organization’s vision and to develop strategies for achieving that vision.

Nick Sims is a business-facing technology executive who connects strategy and investment to commercial growth and execution at scale. Throughout his career, he has been embedded within $1B–$2B business units, partnering directly with Presidents and C-suite leaders at Abbott, Whirlpool, Schwab, Best Buy, and Target. His work spans healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and retail, with a consistent focus on translating strategy into execution to ensure technology moves the business. Most recently the Head of Tech for Structural Heart at Abbott, Nick built and managed an enterprise GenAI pipeline, advancing five pilots and delivering three production implementations. He has led $20M+ portfolios and unlocked $4M+ in annual savings through AI-driven insights and predictive analytics. Beyond planning, Nick maintains deep technical proficiency; he designed and deployed his own multi-agent AI operating system that runs in production daily. He specializes in enterprise AI strategy, ERP and CRM modernization, and commercial platform strategy tied directly to revenue and customer experience.

Lovelie Moore is a cybersecurity executive with over 15 years of experience leading security strategy, risk governance, and operations across government and financial services. Currently the Business Information Security Officer at Toyota Financial Services, she aligns cybersecurity programs with business strategy to ensure resilience across complex digital ecosystems. Throughout her career, Lovelie has built security programs from the ground up, including establishing SOCs and leading threat detection initiatives. She previously served as a Chief Information Security Officer and was an Information Professional Officer in the United States Navy. An accomplished researcher and author, she wrote My Vulnerabilities Are PATCHED, a leadership framework focused on human accountability. Her doctoral research explored gamification in cybersecurity training. Lovelie remains dedicated to developing future leaders and advancing the strategic role of cybersecurity within the enterprise.

Georgeo Pulikkathara is a CIO and CISO with over 35 years of IT and cybersecurity leadership experience across the banking, healthcare, and defense sectors. He currently provides advisory services through his firm, GXP Security, following executive roles at Dovenmuehle Mortgage, DataStax, and a 15-year tenure at Microsoft. A Colonel (O-6) in the US Army Reserve, Georgeo has served for 25 years as a Cyber Operations Officer. His distinguished military career includes two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He maintains an active DoD Top Secret SCI clearance. Georgeo holds a BBA from the University of Houston and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is currently a PhD candidate in Cybersecurity at National University (expected 2028), where he maintains a 3.95 GPA as a member of the Dean’s List and Honor Society.

Bryan Head is the VP of Sales at Scrunch, where he leads revenue strategy and sales execution, focused on helping brands win in AI-driven discovery and digital experiences. Over the course of his career, Bryan has held senior sales leadership roles at leading SaaS and technology companies, including Salesforce and Evergage, with a track record of building high-performing teams and driving growth in dynamic markets. He brings a practical, frontline perspective on how emerging technologies are reshaping customer engagement, go-to-market strategy, and competitive advantage.

Nikita Tiffany is the Executive Vice President at GTN Solutions, a WBENC-certified Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE/WOSB). She specializes in scaling teams and spearheading strategic recruitment and project-staffing initiatives designed to maximize partner value while reducing hiring costs. With a focus on managed services across IT, Data Centers, and Electrical Services, Nikita is an expert in providing staffing and recruitment solutions that help organizations grow efficiently without inflating budgets.

Harrison Sherwin is a Product Education Specialist at Akeyless with 12 years of experience in cloud engineering and technical enablement. He has held technical training and enablement leadership roles at Akeyless, Zoom, AWS, and VMware, and is known for translating complex cloud and security concepts into practical learning experiences for customers and technical teams.

Saqib E. Awan is the Founder and Managing Director of Gtm Capital, a specialized financial services firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under his leadership, the company has established a lean and efficient presence in the industry, operating with a dedicated team of 6–10 professionals. Currently, Gtm Capital maintains a strong financial trajectory, generating between $1M and $5M in annual revenue.

Ben is the Chief Revenue Officer at Arcade.dev. He is a perennial builder who has helped shape several category-defining developer-focused infrastructure companies, including JBoss (acquired by Red Hat), MongoDB, ScaleFT (acquired by Okta), ngrok, and Weaviate. He was the first employee at JBoss, scaling the business from $0 to $65M in four years, and later served as MongoDB’s first VP of Sales.

Highly accomplished Software Engineering Executive with over 20 years of experience in Fortune 100 companies, leading cross-functional teams to drive innovative, high-quality software solutions that deliver exceptional business results. - Experienced in driving platform modernization initiatives, engineering and operational excellence, development of data strategies, implementation & operations of data platforms, developing Data as a service (DaaS) products, and migrating legacy systems to modern technology platforms. - Proficient in driving the definition of end-state architecture, employing design thinking to deliver secure, resilient, performant, and scalable technology applications and solutions that solve material customer and business problems. - Proven ability to partner with senior leadership, stakeholders, customers, product leaders, and vendors to track and define success criteria, provide thought leadership, define roadmaps, plans, and strategies to mitigate risks to business, and drive improvements in time, quality, and objectives.