112-Talking Innovation with Walter Haydock, Founder and CEO, StackAware

In this episode of Talking Innovation, I sit down with Walter Haydock, founder and CEO of Stack Aware, to explore the fast-evolving world of AI governance, cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance. Walter shares how his background in Marine Corps intelligence, counterterrorism, and government risk management shaped his approach to building a more quantitative, actionable way to assess and manage enterprise risk. The conversation covers why so many organizations still rely on outdated, “heat map” style risk assessments, how AI introduces new accountability challenges through its probabilistic nature, and why logging, monitoring, and human oversight matter more than ever. Walter also explains how Stack Aware helps AI-powered companies—especially in regulated industries—prepare for ISO 42001 certification, perform technical assessments, and build practical governance programs that close the gap between policy and reality. We also discuss the realities of AI adoption inside enterprises, the rise of employee-led tool usage, the tension between innovation and regulation, and what businesses need to do to stay competitive in a world where AI is no longer optional. It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful discussion about risk, responsibility, and what it takes to govern AI well in the real world. I hope you enjoy it!