Description:

As AI investment accelerates, data security and governance have never been more critical. In this webinar, Faisal Akkawi, Northwestern MS in Information Systems (MSIS) Faculty Director, sits down with guest speaker Travis Villanueva, AT&T Director of Cybersecurity, to examine how large enterprises and complex organizations can move from AI hype to day-to-day business operations and real-world impact. They’ll discuss the critical role of IT in protecting data privacy, preventing leaks, designing reliable cloud architectures, and ensuring that AI initiatives are both successful and secure. You will gain insights into how IT leaders safeguard data, build resilient infrastructure, and transform emerging AI capabilities into practical business value.

This event is part of the Northwestern University SPS Thought Leadership Series, a program of online events featuring a wide range of compelling topics and thoughtfully led conversations throughout the 2025-26 academic year.

Featured Speakers:

Moderator: Faisal Akkawi, PhD - MSIS Faculty Director, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

Guest Speaker: Travis J. Villanueva, MBA - Director of Cybersecurity, AT&T