layer=’true’]

Download Transcript (pdf)

Byline: Hosted by Jo Peterson · ClearTech Loop 

How a CISO operationalizes AI inside banking without slowing the business — or inviting regulators to the party 

In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Parrish Gunnels, veteran CISO in financial services, to unpack how regulated organizations can embrace AI responsibly — with guardrails that allow innovation, not block it. 

Parrish has led cybersecurity and risk functions across banks and high-risk environments. His philosophy: AI isn’t forbidden — but it must be governed with discipline and intent. 

If you work in a regulated industry and are tired of the two-option playbook (“turn AI off” or “pray nothing breaks”), this conversation gives you the third — and only sustainable — path. 

What We Discuss

• Moving from “shut it down” to structured AI enablement 
• How to tie AI decisions to revenue, uptime, and regulatory trust 
• Why risk appetite must be financial, not emotional 
• The danger of “policy without practice” 
• Human-in-the-loop as a long-term control — not a temporary one 
• Why paved roads beat prohibition (and stop Shadow AI) 
• The 90-day maturity plan for responsible AI deployment 

“There isn’t a great model for ROI in security…
I think of it as downtime, reputational risk, cost to the organization
if we can’t take in revenue and the cost of fines per record.” 

— Parrish gunnels

Key Insights

Banks don’t measure “risk” in adjectives. 
They measure it in lost deposits, stalled transactions, and regulator attention. 

Episode Highlights

• AI can’t sit in a sandbox forever — it must tie to business outcomes 

• Blocking AI isn’t a strategy; governing it is 

• Shadow AI is a cultural failure, not a user failure 

• Human oversight is a control, not a crutch 

• Start small — prove value — expand responsibly 

About Parrish Gunnels

CISO | Financial Services & Regulated Environments 

Parrish has more than 25 years in cybersecurity leadership, including senior roles building and running security programs in banking and technology environments. He advises emerging security companies on product direction and real-world enterprise needs. 

The 90-Day Responsible AI Playbook

Parrish’s operating model for early-stage maturity: 

• Define allowed use cases first — not tools 
• Set data boundaries before pilots begin 
• Keep humans in the loop for validation 
• Train employees — don’t assume they know the rules 
• Measure business impact (time-to-resolution, productivity) 
• Prove control to regulators & the board 

Join the Loop

The future of cybersecurity belongs to leaders who can balance risk, innovation, and trust — without defaulting to fear or speed-at-all-costs:  ADD LINK 

Stay close — we’re digging in. 

See you in the Loop. — Jo 

Listen · Watch · Subscribe 

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the player above
📺 Watch on YouTube
📰 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop for more straight-talk from the CISO front lines