KBKAST

In this episode, we sit down with Rajesh Ganesan, CEO of ManageEngine, as he explores the complexities of AI anxiety within organisations and the global challenges of balancing cybersecurity, privacy, and rapid technological change. Rajesh discusses the uneven pace of AI adoption among businesses of different sizes, the critical role of regulation and capital investment by region, and the growing necessity for upskilling in an evolving digital environment. He highlights the persistent anxiety surrounding job displacement, the shift in workforce requirements, and emphasises the importance of resilience and adaptability. Rajesh concludes by stressing the need for businesses to keep customer needs at the centre and to use technology as an enabler to solve real problems in an age defined by both opportunity and uncertainty. Rajesh Ganesan is the CEO of ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corp. and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions. With over two decades of experience at the company, he plays a pivotal role in shaping ManageEngine’s strategy, direction, and product management while also serving as a key evangelist for the brand. Beyond strategy, his day-to-day work involves being a mentor and coach to teams across various business functions. With deep institutional knowledge and market insight, he helps them navigate decisions with clarity and perspective, ensuring they are equipped to handle the challenges of today’s IT market.

In this bonus episode, KB sits down with CJ Moses, CISO at Amazon, Hart Rossman, VP of Global Security Services at AWS, and Mark Ryland, Director, AWS Security. Together they discuss the realities of “planetary scale security,” AI-powered defenses, and the shifting mindset that’s driving organizations to adopt automation and agentic technologies faster than ever before. CJ Moses, CISO, Amazon CJ Moses, CISO at Amazon, leads security engineering and operations across the company. His mission is to enable Amazon businesses by making the benefits of security the path of least resistance. CJ joined Amazon in December 2007, holding various roles including Consumer CISO and AWS CISO, before becoming CISO of Amazon in September 2023. Before Amazon, CJ led the technical analysis of computer and network intrusion efforts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Division and served as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). CJ led several computer intrusion investigations seen as foundational to the security industry today. CJ holds degrees in Computer Science and Criminal Justice and is an active SRO GT America GT2 Race car driver. Hart Rossman, VP of Global Security Services, AWS Hart Rossman is the VP of Global Security Services at AWS. He leads a team of geographically distributed AWS builders who help customers realise the benefits of planetary-scale security solutions in the cloud, with a focus on innovating with internal teams and partners. Prior to AWS, he was VP & CTO of Cyber Security Services & Solutions at SAIC. Mark Ryland, Director, AWS Security Mark Ryland is a Director, AWS Security, reporting to the CISO of AWS, and engaging with a variety of external and internal stakeholders on behalf of the AWS Security leadership team. Externally, he focuses on public policy initiatives and public sector regulators and customers on issues related to cloud and AI security. Internally, he works with AWS service teams by channelling the perspectives of external stakeholders to influence their plans and priorities. In addition, Ryland works with industry partners to enhance the security of the broader information technology ecosystem as Amazon’s representative on the governing board of the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), as well as in industry groups focusing on the security and reliability of cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems such as the Frontier Model Forum (FMF) and the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI).Ryland has more than 34 years of experience in the technology industry across a wide range of leadership roles in information security, software engineering, distributed systems, technical standardisation, and public policy. Most recently he founded and ran AWS’s Office of the CISO from 2018 to 2023, a team with which he still collaborates closely on a variety of matters. Prior to that, he was the Director of Solutions Architecture and Professional Services for the AWS Worldwide Public Sector team, founding the team in 2011 and growing it to a large global organisation through early 2018. Before joining AWS, Ryland worked for Microsoft for 13 years in two different stints (1991-2000 and 2008-2011) in multiple roles including Lead Program Manager for COM/DCOM, and founder and Director, Standards Strategy Group. In between work at Microsoft, he was co-founder and CTO of two start-ups, and served as vice president and director of the Washington DC office of a public policy think tank.

In this episode, we sit down with Amberley Brady, founder at Realfoodprice, as she explores the urgent issue of food security as a national security crisis in Australia. Amberley discusses the four pillars of food security—availability, access, utilization, and stability—emphasising how fragile supply chains, economic shocks, climate events, and cyber incidents threaten the nation’s access to safe and affordable food. She recounts the disruptions experienced during COVID-19 and highlights the risks of over-reliance on large supermarket conglomerates and lack of support for local farmers. The conversation covers the need for greater policy coordination, strategic food reserves, improved data transparency, and the integration of technology to strengthen domestic resilience. Amberley urges for accountability, innovation, and collaboration between government, industry, and the tech community to ensure that access to nutritious food remains a right, not a privilege, for all Australians. Amberley, an astute industry professional with extensive experience in public policy, founded Realfoodprice in 2024 in response to identified structural inefficiencies within Australia’s food supply chain. Recognizing the critical need for market transparency, she established this data-driven platform to address the competitive imbalance affecting both producers and consumers. Through rigorous market analysis and comparative price assessment, Amberley developed a methodology to clearly communicate authentic food value throughout the supply chain. Her strategic initiative to “un-supermarket” represents a paradigm shift in how agricultural commodities are valued and traded within the Australian market. Realfoodprice exemplifies Amberley’s innovative approach to economic challenges, leveraging data analytics to foster equitable commercial relationships between farming communities and end consumers. The platform serves as both an advocacy tool and a practical market mechanism designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Australia’s agricultural sector and strengthen national economic resilience. Under Amberley’s leadership, Realfoodprice continues to advance data transparency as an essential component in creating a more competitive and balanced food system for all stakeholders.

In this bonus episode, KB sits down with Jenny Tsai-Smith, SVP, Overall Database Product Management at Oracle, Rand Waldron, VP at Oracle, and Arman Ashouriha, Head of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at Vodafone. Together they discuss Oracle’s move towards supporting modern workloads and their AI play, Oracle’s position in the public and private sector, and Vodafone’s journey to modernisation on Oracle Cloud. Jenny Tsai-Smith, SVP, Overall Database Product Management, Oracle Since joining Oracle in 1993, Jenny Tsai-Smith has held leadership roles spanning technical support, content development, education delivery, plus Oracle Cloud acceleration of startups and scientific research. As the leader for database product management, Jenny works with release and development management to take products and services from design through development to production. Her team runs the customer advisory board, drives technology adoption partners, performs field enablement, assists with migrations to Oracle Database, and works directly with a wide range of customers. She meets regularly with customers, partners, press, and analysts to better understand existing and emerging data management requirements, and to discuss how database innovations can be applied to solve real-world challenges. Rand Waldron, VP at Oracle Rand Waldron is vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure product development, responsible for the Global Government Sector team and leading the strategy, development and deployment of Oracle’s National Security Region product line. Prior to joining Oracle in 2018, he was Deputy Assistant Director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responsible for the FBI’s enterprise software and data—including investigative and intelligence analytics, records and evidence management, large scale custom software development and business operations systems. Prior to the FBI, Waldron served at the U.S. Department of Justice. Arman Ashouriha, Head of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at Vodafone As the Head of the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at Vodafone, Arman Ashouriha leads the strategic effort to modernize and migrate thousands of key systems to a dedicated region within the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Arman is continually driving towards platform support, system modernization, and scaling crucial operations across complex, high-stakes infrastructure environments.

In this episode, we sit down with David Bloxham, CEO of GCS Recruitment Specialist, as he unpacks the impact of AI on the changing face of work and the tech talent landscape. David shares his perspective on how AI-driven disruption differs from previous waves like cloud and mobile transformations, highlighting the rapid decline in traditional software engineering and process-driven roles as automation takes hold. He explores the challenges and opportunities for jobseekers at all levels, emphasizing the need to specialize within industry verticals, build adaptable skill sets, and nurture strong professional networks. David also provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of technical and functional roles, the linkage between AI and cybersecurity investment, and the importance of human connection in recruitment practices as organisations and candidates adapt to a more automated future. David Bloxham is the CEO of GCS Recruitment Specialists, where he has been a key player since 1996, with a brief hiatus from 2004 to 2008. Starting as a fresh graduate, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a manager in 1999, a director in 2004, and the MD in 2008. In 2017, he led a management buyout with nGAGE. David is passionate about recruitment, strategic leadership, and making a positive impact. He is also the host of the GCS Leaders Series Podcast, where he engages with industry thought leaders to share insights and drive conversations around innovation and excellence.