Building Trust in AI: Governance that Empowers featuring Dirce Hernandez

In this episode of Do Human Work, Nate Burke and Lior Div sit down with Dirce Hernandez, Sr. Cybersecurity GRC Manager and adjunct professor, to demystify AI governance beyond the buzzwords. From defining governance in plain language to setting practical guardrails like policies, steering groups, and human-in-the-loop reviews, Dirce shares how organizations can innovate without risking shadow AI, data leakage, or checkbox compliance. He also digs into higher ed’s adoption curve, how explainability is becoming non-negotiable with regulators, and why leadership buy-in beats tool sprawl. Plus: actionable career advice for students and pros alike, evolving certifications (CCSK and beyond), and how AI can supercharge upskilling paths without replacing human judgment. Impactful Moments 00:00 – Defining real AI governance 02:15 – Why tech alone can’t solve it 05:30 – Guardrails begin with clear policy 07:05 – The role of human-in-the-loop 09:40 – Explainability meets regulation 12:50 – Leadership buy-in before implementation 15:10 – Building trust beyond checkbox compliance 18:00 – Mentoring to close the talent gap 19:20 – AI accelerating upskilling in cybersecurity 26:10 – Certifications and GRC evolve for the AI era Interested in being a guest or want to recommend someone? Reach out to us at [email protected]