CIO & CISO Think Tank

Geeta Pyne is Senior Managing Director and Chief Architect at TIAA, where she leads the enterprise architecture vision and drives technology strategy across the organization. She specializes in large-scale digital transformation, modern enterprise architecture, and AI-driven operating models that integrate autonomous systems, platforms, and human collaboration. Geeta partners closely with CIOs and executive leaders to translate business strategy into scalable technology solutions, modernizing legacy platforms and accelerating innovation through cloud, composable architectures, and AI-native capabilities. Her work focuses on helping organizations move from isolated AI pilots to secure, governed, enterprise-scale intelligent systems. In addition to her role at TIAA, Geeta advises startups and industry organizations and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of technology leaders. She began her career as a research scientist in satellite image processing and holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering, Science & Technology.

Innovative thought leader and influential IT executive with over 20 years experience in the SMB, Midsize and Enterprise markets. Extremely effective communicator, delivering CIO/CTO level leadership, with the ability to build and manage high functioning teams. Excellent relationships manager, with a keen instinct for leveraging technology to generate revenue and new lines of business. Product and project manager, with an impeccable track record of successful deployments across multiple business types. Wide breadth of experience and skill in software and hardware solutions; capable and consistent in delivering the solutions that fit needs and future growth. Strategic planner with a clear understanding of the cloud, managing the digital transformation of data and traditional infrastructure transitions to IaaS, SaaS and PaaS solutions.

Bob Fabien Zinga is a cybersecurity executive, U.S. Navy Commander, professor, and leadership coach with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology, national security, and business. As an Information Warfare Commanding Officer in the U.S. Navy, he has led large-scale cybersecurity and digital defense initiatives, overseeing global teams, multimillion-dollar programs, and mission-critical operations. A trusted advisor on cyber risk, governance, and resilience, Bob has helped organizations strengthen security programs, support IPO and acquisition readiness, and drive business growth through secure innovation. He is also a Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach and a recognized thought leader, ranked among the top LinkedIn voices globally for leadership and risk. Through his work in cybersecurity and executive coaching, Bob is passionate about developing leaders and building resilient, future-ready organizations.

Mani is currently serving as executive vice president and chief risk officer. He oversees the Bank’s risk management, compliance, model risk, market risk, member and counterparty credit, and related governance frameworks. He has over 20 years of experience in risk management, internal audit, banking, capital markets, and technology. Before joining the Bank, Mr. Massoomi was the head of operational and enterprise risk at SoFi in San Francisco. Prior to his tenure at SoFi, he was the audit executive for the domestic and international asset management and enterprise risk management functions at TIAA. His experience also includes positions at Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, Millennium Management Hedge Fund, General Motors, and Morgan Stanley. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Financial Services Auditor, and Certified Investment and Derivatives Auditor, and holds a Certification in Risk Management Assurance. He received his B.S. from Tufts University and has completed post-graduate work at the Wharton School and Cornell University.

Manjeet Singh loves two things: AI and Fitness. By day, he is Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce AI, building next generation AI platforms. He has previously led product teams at ServiceNow and high growth startups. Beyond tech, he is a fitness coach and a long-term practitioner of health and fitness. He runs a nonprofit community, Agile Fitness, with over 300,000 members. He writes and speaks about AI and fitness, believing the best systems, human or artificial, are built to improve continuously.

Dewayne Walton, J.D., MBA is Senior Vice President of Technology Governance within the Chief Technology Office at Wells Fargo, where he leads initiatives focused on digital risk, accessibility, and enterprise technology governance. With extensive experience across financial services and healthcare, Dewayne specializes in regulatory compliance, risk management, and building inclusive, accessible digital platforms at scale. At Wells Fargo, he has led accessibility governance initiatives, introduced accessibility controls into the software development lifecycle, and managed global teams delivering compliant and user-centered digital experiences. His work has strengthened operational controls, improved regulatory outcomes, and advanced enterprise technology strategies. With academic credentials in law and business, Dewayne brings a strategic and collaborative approach to helping organizations navigate complex regulatory environments while driving responsible digital innovation.

• Accomplished Technology executive with over 20 years experience leading portfolio / program / release / project management operations in both high-growth startups and large enterprise software companies with documented success in critical roles. • Built a business value driven, high performing, cross-functional PMO with geographically distributed PMO/TPM teams. • Specializes in driving business value by aligning all levels of leadership and cross-functional teams through the implementation of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) based framework and tools. • Recognized for improving customer satisfaction by standardizing processes, procedures and removing inefficiencies to eliminate downtime. • Increased productivity by fundamentally re-architected how Product Development teams and people align and collaborate at all levels. • Experienced public speaker, reporting to C-level executives with solid strategy and presentation skills. • FDIC and OCC presence and presentations for National Bank Charter for Technology.

Apurva S. Meher is Senior Director and Head of Software Engineering for Intelligent Vehicles and MES at Ford Motor Company, where he leads product development, software engineering, and cross-functional program execution for advanced automotive technologies. With over 15 years of experience across software engineering, technical program management, and operations, Apurva combines data-driven decision-making with a customer-focused approach to deliver high-impact solutions. Previously, he held leadership roles at Apple and Meta, driving software design, algorithm development, and agile program delivery at scale. Apurva is skilled in aligning engineering initiatives with strategic business objectives, optimizing processes, and building high-performing teams that innovate while ensuring quality and operational excellence. Known for his technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and stakeholder collaboration, he has successfully delivered enterprise-level product modules, managed complex software programs, and contributed to transformative projects across multiple industries.

DineshKumar Lakshmanan is Senior Director of Engineering at IPSY, leading the Core Services Engineering organization and overseeing mission-critical platforms including subscription management, commerce infrastructure, inventory, personalization, and ERP integrations. He drives technology transformation, platform modernization, and global team growth across onshore, nearshore, and offshore models. DineshKumar has led high-impact initiatives such as the seamless integration of BoxyCharm and a company-wide operational efficiency program, achieving $2M+ in cloud cost savings through Kubernetes, serverless infrastructure, and auto-scaling strategies. Previously at PayPal, he scaled the global payments platform to support 120M+ daily transactions and implemented enterprise-wide data governance and architectural standardization. Known for architecting scalable, high-volume platforms and building high-performing engineering teams, Dinesh aligns technology strategy with business objectives, drives operational excellence, and delivers measurable ROI while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and resilience.

Ramnath is responsible for driving Fortinet's SASE business for SD-WAN, SSPM and SASE. He has a long experience of over 9 years in the SD-WAN space and was very close to SASE product planning at a competitor. He started his career in engineering as a Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer, moved to Technical Marketing Engineer (TME) and now to Products. Because of his engineering background, he is also comfortable talking technical details. He is passionate about technology and always jokes that “SD-WAN runs in his blood!”. He did his Masters in Telecommunications at the University of Colorado at Boulder, but after graduating he moved to California and has made Silicon Valley his home for the past 14 years.

Stephen Chen is an entrepreneurial technologist with a demonstrated track record of developing innovative solutions that strategically align business objectives with cutting-edge technology. His expertise spans a range of domains, including data science, software engineering, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. With a rich background encompassing defense, commercial, and nonprofit sectors, Stephen brings a diverse skill set and operational excellence to the table. His unique blend of experience instills the discipline of large organizations into startups while reintroducing the agility of startups to larger enterprises. In addition to his corporate endeavors, Stephen has garnered significant exposure in board and advisory roles, particularly in the nonprofit and educational sectors. He has served as a board member and currently holds an advisory position for Here To Serve, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families facing childhood cancer. Stephen maintains an active involvement in local schools, exemplified by his advisory council for the cyber security program at California State University, Chico.

Sanny Liao is co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Fable Security. She was previously the Head of Data Science at Abnormal Security, building its core detection platform, and the first Data Science hire at TellApart, shaping its bidding algorithms and scaling it to $100M+ ARR. She holds a PhD from UC Berkeley.

Gopal Bhat is an award-winning technology leader with experience in leading four startups through product and technology build, with successful exits through IPO and unicorn acquisition exits. Gopal’s recent success was building a Marketplace for Sports Card collectibles and leading it through successful acquisition by Fanatics. Gopal’s prior success involves starting a Gartner recognized technology transformation methodology and selling that to IBM, CTO at startups, and CIO at Rakuten. Prior to Rakuten, Gopal held similar leadership roles at Ebates (acquired by Rakuten) and AVG (IPO exit) – an antivirus company where he helped start-up level companies grow their technology teams and evolve application platforms to scale for hundreds of millions of customers. He held senior technology architecture leadership roles at Electronic Arts and Ebay in the past and holds MBA from San Jose State University.

Gopal Bhat is an award-winning technology leader with experience in leading four startups through product and technology build, with successful exits through IPO and unicorn acquisition exits. Gopal’s recent success was building a Marketplace for Sports Card collectibles and leading it through successful acquisition by Fanatics. Gopal’s prior success involves starting a Gartner recognized technology transformation methodology and selling that to IBM, CTO at startups, and CIO at Rakuten. Prior to Rakuten, Gopal held similar leadership roles at Ebates (acquired by Rakuten) and AVG (IPO exit) – an antivirus company where he helped start-up level companies grow their technology teams and evolve application platforms to scale for hundreds of millions of customers. He held senior technology architecture leadership roles at Electronic Arts and Ebay in the past and holds MBA from San Jose State University.

Sravani Mitra is Senior Director of Program and Portfolio Management at Visa Commercial Solutions, leading strategy, planning, and execution across product development and transformation initiatives. She specializes in enterprise transformation, portfolio management, and organizational design, creating scalable processes, data-driven methodologies, and frameworks that enhance business agility and performance. Sravani has led large-scale initiatives across financial services, healthcare, consumer products, and manufacturing, including enterprise-wide digital transformation, process re-engineering, and big data programs delivering measurable business impact. She has architected governance frameworks for risk mitigation across a $30B organization, established global change and portfolio management offices, and secured multi-million-dollar innovation funding to drive strategic growth. Known for her value-driven, outcome-focused approach, Sravani helps organizations assess maturity, manage dependencies and risks, and implement pragmatic, tailored strategies that sustain long-term benefits while optimizing flow, quality, and performance.

John Jankowski is a technology and cybersecurity executive with over 20 years of experience delivering enterprise IT solutions. As Head of Information Technology at endpoint Clinical, he oversees IT strategy, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and SaaS operations, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory compliance. John has led enterprise application implementations, cloud migrations, and process optimizations while maintaining standards including PCI, SOX, GDPR, and GxP. Known for building high-performing teams and driving innovation, he combines strategic thinking with strong communication and problem-solving skills to create secure, scalable, and efficient technology environments.

With a career dedicated to strategic leadership and fortifying organizations against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber risks, Chirag is a trusted steward of security, driving innovation and excellence in the realm of information security. Chirag brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the forefront of cybersecurity. With a career spanning over 24 years, he has earned a reputation as a strategic leader, adept at navigating the complexities of modern technology and safeguarding organizations against emerging threats. Key Milestones: Throughout his career, Chirag has left an indelible mark on the cybersecurity landscape, spearheading initiatives that redefine the boundaries of possibility in safeguarding digital assets. From designing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies to orchestrating robust security operations efforts, Chirag has consistently demonstrated a commitment to protecting organizational assets and fostering a culture of security. Leadership Philosophy: At the core of Chirag's leadership philosophy lies a deep-seated belief in the power of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. He understands that effective cybersecurity is not merely a technological challenge but a cultural imperative that requires the collective effort of stakeholders across the organization. Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, Chirag envisions a future where organizations embrace cybersecurity as a strategic priority, embedding security into the fabric of their operations and culture. By leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, Chirag seeks to revolutionize the way organizations detect, mitigate, and respond to cyber threats. Chirag envisions a future where organizations embrace cybersecurity not as a barrier, but as an enabler of growth and innovation. Current Role and Responsibilities: As the Global Information Security Officer & DPO at Model N, Chirag’s primary objective is to spearhead the development and implementation of comprehensive security strategies that harmonize with business goals and objectives. Chirag’s responsibilities encompass a broad spectrum of security programs, including security compliance management, risk management, incident response, security awareness training and data privacy management. Deeply involved in the security community, Chirag actively contributes to various associations and organizations, including active participation in a data protection organization and a security compliance organization. In these roles, he plays a key part in shaping strategic guidelines for data security, compliance, and privacy. His educational foundation encompasses a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, a Master’s in Cyber Security Leadership and Security Operations, along with pertinent security credentials.

Nils Puhlmann is a seasoned technology and security executive with extensive experience as CISO, CSO, and CTO across leading global companies. Formerly at Twilio and Zynga, Nils brings deep expertise in cloud security, risk management, and technology strategy. As a co-founder of the Cloud Security Alliance, he has been instrumental in shaping industry standards and best practices for secure cloud adoption. Known for building and leading high-performing security teams, Nils advises organizations on cybersecurity strategy, compliance, and governance while driving innovation in secure technology deployments. His leadership spans enterprise-scale transformations, cloud initiatives, and global security programs, helping organizations mitigate risk and achieve strategic objectives.

Mr. Zalewski currently provides CISO, security consulting and security advisory services. These include: • International cybersecurity advisor and trainer. • Executive advisory board member for security startups, providing guidance on security market direction and product requirements. • CISO advisory board member for venture capital firms internationally. • vCISO for companies requiring temporary or part-time CISO expertise. Services also include guidance and solutions to address incident response, security program design, security assessment, security due-diligence, vendor/supplier due-diligence, security architecture review, board reporting and other key security leadership requirements. Operational experience in Healthcare, Utilities and International Retail verticals. Key Strengths: •Organizational Management •Strategic Planning & Execution •Enterprise Security Architecture/Strategy •Executive and BOD Security Governance/Reporting •Cybersecurity Incident Response •Security Risk & Compliance Management Additionally, I co-hosts the CISOSeries Defense-in-Depth Podcasts and am a frequent speaker and panel moderator at industry events.