3344: Reimagining Cyber Infrastructure Without Compromising User Experience
What does modern cybersecurity look like when you're leading a federally regulated financial institution serving Canadians from coast to coast? In this episode, recorded at Cisco Live last month, I sat down with Shawn Spurko, VP of Information and Cybersecurity at Innovation Federal Credit Union. Based in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, but now operating across the country, Shawn Spurko has played a key role in building a security posture that treats laptops as offices and supports a workforce no longer tethered to physical locations. Shawn Spurkoshares his journey from service desk and web design to becoming a cybersecurity leader, and offers a refreshingly grounded view of how to approach regulation, zero trust, and digital maturity. He explains how Innovation CU’s move from a provincial to a federal charter transformed their compliance obligations and how solutions like Cisco Secure Access enabled them to scale security seamlessly for a hybrid workforce. We explore why transparent, user-friendly security is no longer optional and how mature implementations of SWG, ZTNA, DLP, and management tunnels are quietly solving problems before users even notice them. Shawn Spurkoalso opens up about the practical realities of working with tools that are constantly evolving, and how his team reviews every new feature not just for capability but for how it maps to regulatory controls like Canada’s OSFI B-13. This episode is a masterclass in modern cyber strategy, but it’s also a reminder that the goal isn't complexity, it’s making things work, everywhere, all the time. So, as the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift and regulators tighten expectations, how are you designing systems that work for both users and auditors? And what lessons can we all learn from financial services as we navigate this new world of anywhere access?
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3343: How Unilever Is Using AI to Rethink Everyday Essentials
In today’s episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Alberto Prado, Head of Digital and Partnerships for R&D at Unilever, to explore how one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies is reimagining innovation using AI. And not just in theory or in labs. This is technology already transforming the stuff most of us use every single day. From Dove body wash to Knorr stock cubes, Unilever products reach more than 3.4 billion people globally. That scale makes their R&D choices deeply relevant to how we live. What stood out in this conversation is how deeply integrated AI has become across their research efforts. This isn’t about one flashy pilot project. Unilever currently runs over 400 AI initiatives across areas like microbiome science, biotechnology, and next-generation materials. Each one is focused on improving product performance, making items more sustainable, or creating personalized experiences for consumers. Alberto shared how Unilever’s decades-long microbiome research is being accelerated through machine learning and high-performance computing. With over 30 terabytes of data and more than 100 patents, the company now holds one of the largest collections of human microbiome data in the world. That insight has directly influenced products like Dove and Vaseline and has led to innovations like the POND’S Microbiome Analyzer, which offers personalized skincare recommendations within an hour. In the field of biotechnology, Unilever is working with partners like Arzeda to create enzymes that outperform traditional cleaning agents, all while being more sustainable. A great example is the breakthrough behind RhamnoClean technology in Sunlight dishwashing liquid. By mimicking natural fermentation processes, Unilever can now produce bio-based surfactants that clean effectively, reduce water use, and are kinder to the planet. We also discussed how AI-driven virtual testing is replacing thousands of physical prototypes. This shift is helping Unilever rapidly develop new products like the Wonder Wash laundry detergent and Knorr’s Zero Salt Cube. Alberto explained how digital models can simulate everything from stain removal in different wash cycles to how a cube holds together without salt, long before any physical version is made. And then there’s the R&D Assistant, Unilever’s own AI-powered co-pilot built in partnership with Microsoft. It connects over 150,000 scientific documents from across a century of research, letting scientists query insights in natural language. For Unilever’s 5,000 researchers, it’s not just a time saver. It’s changing how they discover, collaborate, and innovate. This episode is a window into how legacy companies can drive transformation from within. Innovation isn’t just happening in new industries or through startup culture. Sometimes it’s happening inside a washing machine cycle or a bottle of shampoo. So the question is, what can other large-scale enterprises learn from the way Unilever is scaling AI across its entire product development ecosystem?
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3342: Qualys CEO On Risk, AI, And The Future Of Digital Defense
What does it take to build a $100 billion cybersecurity company in today’s cloud-first, AI-infused world? And how do you balance relentless technological change with the practical realities of compliance, risk, and leadership? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Sumedh Thakar, CEO of Qualys, during his visit to the UK for the company’s QSC conference. From starting out as one of Qualys’ first engineers to leading the company through a new era of risk-centric cybersecurity, Sumedh brings a unique blend of technical insight and lived experience. We discuss why compliance remains such a challenge for enterprises, how the conversation is shifting from attack surfaces to risk surfaces, and why many businesses are overwhelmed by security signals but underwhelmed by strategic clarity. Sumedh shares his view on the growing importance of the Risk Operations Center (ROC) and how AI is complicating risk profiles in new and unpredictable ways. He also reflects on the future of cloud security and why the market remains wide open for innovation, even as it becomes more crowded. Beyond the tech, Sumedh opens up about his personal journey from Pune to Silicon Valley, how a threatened farm purchase changed his life, and why leadership is ultimately a game of time, trust, and communication. He leaves us with a powerful book recommendation, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, which he credits with transforming his leadership style and helping him build stronger relationships across the board. Are we thinking about risk in the right way or simply throwing money at the latest acronyms? And how do you build a meaningful legacy in cybersecurity without losing sight of the human side? Join the conversation and let me know what resonated with you most.
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3341: Lessons from the Coursera 2025 Global Skills Report
Are we preparing people as quickly as we’re preparing machines? That’s the uncomfortable question at the heart of Coursera’s 2025 Global Skills Report, and the starting point for my conversation with Nikolaz Foucaud, Coursera’s Managing Director for EMEA. As the UK jumps more than 20 spots in global skills rankings and countries like Singapore and Denmark widen the gap with lifelong learning cultures, we explore why mindset may be as important as access when it comes to reskilling for an AI-driven economy. Nikolaz explains how the newly introduced AI Maturity Index reflects the growing urgency around workforce readiness and why governments and employers need to stop thinking in degrees and start investing in micro-credentials that reflect what learners and businesses actually need. We also unpack the gender gap in AI learning, the alarming lack of growth in cybersecurity skills, and why economic pressure often drives the highest levels of completion and success. As institutions, employers, and individuals try to catch up with the pace of technological change, what will it take to build a learning culture that keeps momentum? And are we measuring the right things when we talk about readiness? Let me know what you think.
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3340: How Criteo Is Using AI to Redesign the Future of Retail Experiences
What happens when AI moves from experimental tool to everyday shopping assistant? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Liva Ralaivola, Head of the Criteo AI Lab, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we discover, compare, and purchase products online. Speaking to me from the south of France, Liva shares insights from Criteo’s latest consumer research, revealing that 91 percent of shoppers expect AI-personalised recommendations within the next two years. We explore why that shift is happening so quickly, what it means for retailers, and the challenges of balancing innovation with transparency. From price comparisons to budget planning and dynamic creative generation, shoppers are already using AI tools in ways that few could have predicted even a year ago. We also discuss the complexity of integrating AI into retail environments, where business constraints, stock levels, and customer expectations vary dramatically. Liva highlights how Criteo is tailoring deep learning models to improve relevance, optimise campaigns, and support ethical outcomes. He also explains why AI is not yet plug-and-play, and why collaboration between AI specialists and business teams is key to unlocking real value. Looking ahead, Liva shares his thoughts on how data may evolve into a kind of personal currency, with users controlling what they share and how much personalisation they receive. From AI wallets to loyalty programs driven by interaction history, the landscape is changing fast—and businesses need to be ready. So what’s your take? Are consumers ready to control their own data in exchange for more relevant experiences? And how should retailers rethink personalisation in an age of growing privacy expectations? Let me know your thoughts and join the conversation.
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