This month’s member spotlight features Kevin Gowen, CISO at Synovus. Synovus is a 130 year-old US regional bank, headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, with approximately $60 billion in assets and 246 branches. Recently I sat down with Kevin to discuss operational resilience, what he thinks financial services institutions need to prioritize in 2024, and his favorite Georgia Tech football podcast.
Kevin, thank you for taking time to talk with me. Could you briefly share your professional and academic background?
My academic training was in engineering, with B.S. and later M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. I started my professional career with IBM and moved through engineering, sales, and management roles. I joined Synovus in 1995 and have had the opportunity to work in senior roles in IT, procurement, risk, and information security. I’ve served as CISO at Synovus since 2015.
How did you get started in the IT business?
I started my professional career working as an engineer at IBM, and then moved into IBM Sales and Marketing. That’s where I developed a passion for the application of technology to solve problems and enable businesses. I made the jump from sales to practitioner when I joined Synovus in 1995.
What new IT technology are you most excited about for 2024 and why?
It hardly feels like new technology, but I’m excited about Artificial Intelligence. The applications of GenAI and Machine Learning to what we do as practitioners in security and fraud hold great promise in helping us level the playing field against threat actors. I’m certainly concerned as well about how they will be using these technologies against us as well.
What advice would you give to financial institutions about cloud computing for 2024?
First is simply to stay engaged and informed. Being part of the IBM FS Cloud Council is an important part of that effort for me. Make sure you prioritize security and manage access, understand the security posture of your cloud environment, and perform regular security reviews. Lastly, ensure that your cloud practices comply with all relevant regulations on data security and data privacy for all the countries or regions you operate in.
What activity or contribution have you made to the IBM Financial Services Cloud Council that you are most proud of and why?
The opportunity to be part of recent Council discussions – in the meeting and on the forum – has been very impactful. We’ve focused on Operational Resilience and GenAI in Banking. The Resilience topic is important across the range of critical infrastructure sectors and we’re all trying to address the same operational and regulatory concerns. Generative AI is a great area of interest, and the banking-specific focus of the Council has been highly relevant and directly useful.
Why is it important to you to be part of the Financial Services Cloud Council?
There is such high-quality engagement and discussion across a wide range of stakeholders, industries, and countries. To be part of the dialogue with other Council members, regulators, and policy around cloud, resilience, innovation with emerging technologies is a great opportunity. I feel strongly that all of us in the security community need to give back, since we’re all fighting the same threats and dealing with the same cyber risks. The Council allows for two-way discussion and the opportunity to both give and receive information and perspectives.
If someone is considering joining the IBM Financial Services Cloud online community, what would you tell them?
I find that the best source of information, feedback, and perspective comes from within the peer community. As a security practitioner we’re all fighting the same threat actors and trying to mitigate the same risks. The FS Cloud community provides a wide, deep, and rich source of topical discussions and other resources that you should take advantage of.
Lightning Round (fun questions)
Okay Kevin, now we move into the "lightning round" of fun questions to let our members get to know you better. Are you ready?
Yes, I'm ready.
If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower and why?: I’d be Superman and use the superpower of flight. I like that Superman is a normal person day-to-day but has the entire other persona. I’ve always wanted to fly, and this would be easier than getting a pilot’s license 😊
Favorite podcast? – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Georgia Tech athletics – it’s always college football season in the South!)
Favorite ice cream? – Mint chocolate chip
Current favorite app? – Kindle – I’ve been traveling a lot recently and I love to read, so having my library right there on my iPad is perfect
Book you are reading? – Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (Nike)
Go-to karaoke song? – Sweet Caroline (I can’t sing but would hope the audience would join in and cover for me 😊)
Thank you Kevin this was a great conversation. Where can members connect with you in the community?
Sure, they can go to my member profile: @Kevin Gowen
#Spotlight, #CISO, #financial-services