AI in Action E561: 'Building a Creative OS: AI Agents & Workflows' with FLORA's Charlton Roberts

Today's guest is Verena Liebhart, Partner Manager, EMEA Central at ServiceNow. Founded in 2003, ServiceNow is a leading enterprise cloud platform that helps organizations automate and streamline digital workflows across IT, HR, customer service and operations. It enables businesses to improve efficiency, reduce manual processes, and enhance employee and customer experiences. ServiceNow supports large enterprises in modernizing operations and scaling digital innovation across the organization.Verena is a Partner Manager at ServiceNow, leading strategic alliances across EMEA Central with Infosys. She drives joint go-to-market execution, pipeline growth and revenue across AI, CRM and workflow transformation. With a background in customer success supporting large DACH enterprises, she brings a strong value-realization mindset focused on measurable impact. With over 10 years of international experience, Verena builds high-performing partnerships grounded in trust, accountability and shared growth.In the episode, Verena discusses 0:00 Her Travel-driven career building perspective, growth and global mindset4:41 Building meaningful connections through genuine interest and effort7:11 Advice to understand promotion systems, build relationships and actively own your career10:37 Why confidence and authenticity make gender a strength, not a limitation12:47 Valuing curiosity, questioning norms and seeking the right fit drive growth17:29 Focus on growth, building foundations and future opportunities

Today's guest is Puneet Kukreja, Partner at EY, Resilient Nation Leader & Head of Cyber. EY Ireland is a leading professional services firm providing assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions services to organisations. EY helps businesses navigate transformation, manage risk and drive long-term value through innovation, technology and industry expertise. Guided by its purpose of “building a better working world”, EY supports clients across sectors including financial services, healthcare, government and technology.Puneet works at the intersection of cyber security, AI trust, operational resilience and critical infrastructure, advising boards, governments and regulated sectors on building resilient systems for an AI-driven world. With global leadership experience across healthcare, financial services and the public sector, Puneet focuses on engineering resilience into critical systems from the outset. He is the creator of the EY Cyber Leaders Index and a recognised thought leader on cyber resilience, AI governance and digital trust.In the episode, Puneet talks about:0:00 Why compounding global challenges demand confident, future-focused action2:46 As AI drives unprecedented change, organizations should adapt confidently4:00 Resilience must be engineered into core infrastructure investment6:12 How resilience must evolve beyond plans to real-world testing9:34 Why boards need crisis training and define minimum viable operations13:37 The need to focus on disruption, data risk, hygiene and preparedness16:18 How Mythos exposes technical debt, demanding urgent zero-day readiness

Today's guest is Lesley Whelan, Head of Risk and Compliance at HCS. Founded in 1994, HCS is one of Ireland’s leading managed IT services and cybersecurity providers, supporting organizations with digital transformation, cloud solutions, AI technologies and IT infrastructure. With offices across Ireland and a highly accredited team, HCS combines deep technical expertise with a customer-first approach, helping businesses strengthen security, improve operations and drive sustainable growth through innovative technology solutions.Lesley specializes in operational resilience, information security, governance and regulatory compliance across shared services, IT, managed services and cyber environments. Lesley supports organizations in strengthening governance frameworks, improving operational processes, and implementing standards such as ISO 27001 and ISO 20000. Her approach focuses on practical, outcome-driven solutions that enhance compliance, reduce risk and improve service quality across day-to-day operations.In the episode, Lesley talks about:0:00 Her career journey from IT engineering to cyber leadership3:01 Focus on cyber leadership, governance and management systems4:08 Emphasizing leadership’s role in embedding culture and security4:56 How ISO 27001 provides governance, accountability and decision clarity5:58 The need for pragmatic governance, decision-making and balanced AI adoption7:48 HCS as a managed IT partner offering cyber and advisory services9:11 Why investment in cyber requires practical testing, not just documentation11:14 Using LinkedIn, peers, events and courses to manage constant industry change12:30 Advice to embrace opportunities, stay open and learn from experienceTo find out more about all the great work happening at HCS, check out the website www.hcs.ie

Today's guest is Michael Sutherland, Manager of Applications for ServiceNow at Franciscan Health. Founded in 1875, Franciscan Health is a leading Catholic healthcare system dedicated to compassionate, patient-centred care. Serving communities across the Midwest through hospitals, clinics and specialist services, they combine clinical excellence with a commitment to dignity, stewardship and service. Guided by Franciscan values, they care for the whole person - mind, body and spirit - while supporting healthier communities.Michael is a technology and transformation leader focused on driving growth through ServiceNow, intelligent automation and AI-enabled solutions. He has led global teams, managed multimillion-dollar platforms, and delivered enterprise automation strategies with measurable impact, including $4.5M+ annual ROI and 95% automation of regulatory processes. Michael partners with executives and operational leaders to align technology with business strategy, streamline operations and lead high-performing teams through complex change.In the episode, Michael talks about:0:00 His journey from finance to automation, ServiceNow, management, strategy and business value3:14 An overview of his role managing extensive ServiceNow across departments5:11 Overseeing ServiceNow architecture, governance and development6:30 Replacing custom major incident processes with out-of-the-box ServiceNow functionality8:29 His excitement about leveraging AI in ServiceNow for automated fulfilment11:10 Planning AI-driven automation to auto-detect and repair medical devices13:38 Drive measurable outcomes, link team work to value and celebrate success16:17 Planning modest internal team growth, relying on expert partners for projects

Today's guest is Charlton Roberts, Chief Technology Officer at FLORA. Founded in 2024, FLORA is an applied AI company building a unified creative platform for professionals. It brings together over 50 leading text, image and video AI models into a single “infinite canvas,” allowing teams to ideate, iterate and produce creative work within one seamless workflow.Designed for designers, agencies and content teams, FLORA combines generative AI with collaborative tools and scalable workflows, enabling users to rapidly explore ideas, maintain consistent output, and automate complex creative processes. At its core, FLORA aims to redefine how creative work is done - transforming fragmented AI tools into an integrated environment that enhances human creativity and accelerates production from concept to final output.In the episode, Charlton talks about:His journey from aspiring actor to building AI tools for creativesFLORA as an AI creative canvas turning ideas into production-ready outputsThe need to differentiate beyond easily copied features in a crowded AI spaceHow FLORA stands out with intuitive canvas and AI-driven creative workflowsAdopting AI agents reshapes workflows, emphasizing structure and iterationHiring values AI use skills and fundamental understandingTheir fun, high-autonomy team focused on impactful AI creativityTo find out more about all the great work happening at FLORA, check out the website www.flora.ai

Today's guest is Stéphanie Paul, ServiceNow Consultant at Thales. Founded in 2000, Thales Group is a French multinational technology company that specializes in aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital identity solutions, serving governments, critical infrastructure operators and industrial clients worldwide. Thales designs and delivers advanced systems in areas such as avionics, radar, communications, space and secure information systems, with a strong focus on innovation and mission-critical technologies.For over 10 years, Stéphanie has led IT Service Management (ITSM) transformations at scale within complex international organizations. Stéphanie helps enterprises evolve ServiceNow from a ticketing platform into a true governance and operating model enabler. Stéphanie operates at the intersection of strategy and delivery: designing target operating models, building robust ITSM governance frameworks, structuring CMDB/CSDM architecture and driving adoption across large, distributed environments.In the episode, Stéphanie discusses:0:00 Her journey to becoming a people-first ITSM leader driving standardised ServiceNow transformation2:51 How excessive customization harms scalability, upgrades and long-term support4:16 Overcoming change resistance, balancing priorities and avoiding over customization6:52 Being people and culture-focused and building governance for lasting impact10:08 Encouraging women in IT, including to learn, certify, build confidence and network12:25 ITSM will evolve as foundational platform and strong data enables AI integration15:35 Plans to strengthen ITSM foundation, deepen AI expertise and improve customer impactTo find out more about all the great work happening at Thales, check out the website www.thalesgroup.com

Today's guest is Karl Kilmurray, Chief Information Security Officer at Dublin Bus. Founded in 1987, Dublin Bus is Ireland’s largest public transport provider, delivering bus services across the Greater Dublin Area. Carrying over 140 million passengers annually, Dublin Bus' services include high-frequency city routes, commuter services and night services, supporting the social, economic and environmental needs of Dublin through safe, reliable and increasingly sustainable transport.Karl leads the cyber security programme and team at Dublin Bus, overseeing governance, risk management and compliance across the enterprise security function, as well as the cyber security budget and key initiatives. Prior to Dublin Bus, Karl worked at IBM as a cyber security engineer and cyber compliance manager. He also worked with Ekco, where he delivered CISO-as-a-Service support to state and semi-state organisations, and conducted NIS-D assessments for essential services and critical infrastructure providers.In the episode, Karl talks about:0:00 His journey from programming to cybersecurity, ethical hacking, compliance and consulting4:03 Seeing that public sector has fewer resources vs private sector with more oversight5:21 How NIS2 expands cybersecurity rules, enforcement and team growth6:50 Dublin Bus’ advanced cybersecurity with a growing team facing new threats8:25 An insight into his role from team building, operations, training and future threats10:54 A look at Dublin Bus upgrading GPS, Wi-Fi, CCTV, electric and connected systems14:19 How team building enables managing daily tasks and learning simultaneously15:52 How AI introduces cybersecurity risks, requiring balance of innovation and security18:11 Seeing the CISO role evolving, demanding, with team growth and specialisationTo find out more about all the great work happening at Dublin Bus, check out the website www.dublinbus.ie

Today's guest is Jason Scanlon, Chief Information Security Officer & Head IT GRC at Numata Business IT. Founded in 2004, Numata is a global managed IT services provider helping small and medium-sized businesses align technology with their goals. They deliver enterprise-grade solutions, including cybersecurity, cloud services and strategic IT advisory, through a subscription model. With an international presence, Numata enables organisations to improve efficiency, reduce risk and scale effectively using smart, reliable technology.Jason is an IT Leader with over 20 years of experience across consultancy, computer services and managed services. He specialises in complex systems troubleshooting, logical problem solving and network administration. He has designed, implemented and supported network infrastructure, and has worked with multinationals and government bodies on large-scale deployments and consultancy. He later progressed to IT Manager, leading IT functions, developing strategic roadmaps and aligning technology with business goals.In the episode, Jason discusses:0:00 His career background from IT professional to service desk to CISO3:26 Why MSPs must differentiate through measurable business outcomes, not just IT support4:49 GRC is evolving, but governance gaps remain biggest organisational weakness6:43 How AI will aid cyber defence, but requires controlled adoption9:47 How AI vendor surge requires risk-based decisions and strong governance11:19 The need to focus on gradual cybersecurity maturity before pursuing ISO certification14:03 Why success as a CISO needs collaboration and strong supportTo find out more about all the great work happening at Numata Business IT, check out the website www.numata.co 

Today's guest is Geraldine Powderly, CISO and VP at SkySpecs. Founded in 2012, SkySpecs is transforming how renewable energy assets are managed. Its platform combines autonomous drone inspections, advanced analytics and financial intelligence to deliver unified insights across the asset lifecycle. Serving wind and solar operators worldwide, SkySpecs helps organizations maximize performance, reduce downtime and optimize maintenance decisions through data-driven asset management and AI-powered solutions.Geraldine leads enterprise cybersecurity and IT strategy at SkySpecs, aligning cyber risk, AI governance and business growth across a global, multi-product organization. She has built and scaled risk-based security programs, embedded governance aligned to ISO 42001, and elevated maturity across SOC 2 and ISO 27001. A trusted executive advisor, Geraldine brings over two decades of leadership experience, including fintech CISO roles. She is also a recognized voice on AI risk, cyber resilience and security-driven innovation.In the episode, Geraldine discusses:Her career journey from software to cybersecurity leadershipHer passion for mentoring women in male-dominated fieldsWhy women’s technical contributions are often unknowingly underestimatedEncouraging women to embrace opportunities despite self-doubtThe importance of managing AI in cybersecurity through basicsAs AI adds complexity, the basics still matterThe need for documenting decisions amid rapidly evolving AI risksStaying current by training her entire team in AI literacyEducating herself with conferences, webinars and peer storiesTo find out more about all the great work happening at SkySpecs, check out the website www.skyspecs.com

Today's guest is Jane Corr, Head of Cyber Security at CIE (Córas Iompair Éireann). Founded in 1945, CIE is Ireland’s state-owned public transport group, providing rail and bus services nationwide through its operating companies Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. Headquartered in Dublin, the group plays a central role in connecting communities, supporting economic activity and delivering sustainable mobility, carrying hundreds of millions of passenger journeys across Ireland each year.Jane is an accomplished Information Security and IT leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering results. Known for her “can-do” attitude and strong customer focus, Jane brings a structured approach to solving complex challenges. Her expertise spans information security, technology risk, programme delivery, IT operations and data centre management within large organisations. She is also highly experienced in presenting to Boards and executive leadership.In the episode, Jane discusses:0:00 Her journey from Infrastructure leader to cybersecurity2:55 Why cyber leaders must communicate concisely and confidently5:36 Her broad CSO role including AI, regulation, talent and influence7:14 Advice to start with strategy, align people, roadmap and governance8:55 The need to embed cyber as accessible service, balance risk and compliance11:52 How cyber is maturing toward measurable, compliance-driven continuous improvementTo find out more about all the great work happening at CIE (Córas Iompair Éireann), check out the website www.cie.ie.