From Fear to Framework: Safe AI Implementation for Businesses
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About This Episode
In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Steve Browning, VP of Data Privacy and Corporate Security at Vena, and Kaz Takemura, Managing Director of FP&A Technologies at Modelcom, to explore how finance teams can adopt AI safely and strategically.
Steve and Kaz share practical, cross-functional strategies for embedding AI into business operations, from building the right teams to creating scalable governance frameworks. They also unpack the emotional and organizational barriers to AI adoption and offer tips to drive both innovation and risk management.
Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to optimize existing implementations, learn how to move from fear to forward momentum, without compromising security or trust.
Discussed in This Episode:
- Why AI is now a non-negotiable technology
- The importance of cross-functional teams in AI governance
- How fear and job insecurity are major blockers to adoption
- The risks of shadow AI usage and how to spot it
- Guardrails that enable safe experimentation, not restriction
- Why employee education is the secret weapon of successful AI programs
Episode Resources:
- The State of Strategic Finance 2025 Report [Vena in partnership with BPM Partners]
- Excelerate Finance Summit
- Will AI Replace FP&A Jobs? The Real Impact of AI on FP&A
- Should Finance Teams Use Generative AI? How To Implement AI Securely
- The Smart CFO's Guide to AI in Finance
- How AI Can Power Finance Productivity—and Why Doing More With Less Matters
- How To Use AI for Financial Modeling and Forecasting
- 100+ AI Statistics Shaping Business in 2025
Related Episodes:
- The State of Strategic Finance 2025: AI Adoption, Collaboration and Technology Gaps
- How AI is Reshaping Work
- AI-Powered Finance: Developing Your Implementation Roadmap
- Navigating the AI-Driven Future of Business with Microsoft
- Driving Finance Innovation With AI
- AI Revolution: Unlocking FP&A Potential