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Episode 11 May 25, 2026 34 min

The AI Governance Roundtable: Who Owns It?

Most enterprises think they have AI governance, but they actually have a policy document. IBM’s HR AI Director and Lyra Labs’ COO reveal why 90% of organizations operate at “Governance 0.5” and share the four-part operating model that separates leaders from laggards. Learn who really owns AI governance (hint: it’s not the CTO), how to govern agentic systems without losing human oversight, and actionable frameworks for moving beyond paperwork to operational excellence.

Most enterprises do not have a working AI governance program. They have a policy.

Paul Brzozowski sits down with Kate Ashworth Brash, HR AI Director at IBM and focal point for HR and Talent on IBM’s AI Ethics Board, and Rob Saltrese, Co-Founder and COO of Lyra Labs, for an unfiltered conversation about the honest state of enterprise AI governance in 2026, and the operating model that separates organizations pulling ahead from the ones still writing the policy.

Originally published on Future of Agentic.

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Welcome to The Roundtable
  2. 2:00 From Policy to Operating Model
  3. 4:00 Honest State of AI Governance
  4. 11:00 Mature Operating Model Components
  5. 20:00 System Data People Measurement Framework
  6. 28:00 Agentic AI and Human-in-the-Loop
  7. 33:00 Lightning Round
  8. 34:30 Takeaways and Close

Guests & Hosts

Paul Brzozowski Host
Co-Founder, Olakai

Paul Brzozowski is co-founder of Olakai, where he leads the development of innovative solutions at the intersection of technology and business strategy. With deep expertise in building scalable platforms and driving product innovation, Paul brings a practical perspective to emerging technologies and their real-world applications. His work focuses on helping organizations navigate complex technical challenges while maintaining a clear vision for sustainable growth.

Kate Ashworth Brash Guest
HR AI Director, IBM

Kate Ashworth Brash is the HR AI Director at IBM, where she leads the strategic development and implementation of artificial intelligence solutions across human resources functions. With deep expertise in AI applications, organizational transformation, and workforce innovation, she drives initiatives that enhance employee experience and operational efficiency at scale. Her work bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical HR strategy, helping organizations navigate the evolving landscape of AI-powered talent management.

Rob Saltrese Guest
Co-Founder and COO, Lyra Labs

Rob Saltrese is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Lyra Labs, where he leads operational strategy and business development for the company's AI-driven solutions. With extensive experience scaling technology ventures, Rob brings deep expertise in building high-performing teams and driving operational excellence in the AI and software sectors. His work focuses on translating complex technical innovation into sustainable business models that deliver measurable impact.

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