When a global consumer goods company divested its plastics-heavy packaging division last year, the move wasn’t just about cutting costs—it was about cutting carbon. This wasn’t just a business decision; it was a bold statement about priorities. In the fast-changing world of corporate strategy, ESG-driven divestitures are flipping the script, proving that letting go of the wrong assets can mean holding on to what really matters.

At Avasant’s flagship Empowering Beyond Summit 2025, a dynamic panel discussion brought together cybersecurity leaders from academia, healthcare, government, and global technology firms to explore how enterprises can responsibly adopt artificial intelligence at scale. Moderated by Jay Weinstein, Distinguished Fellow at Avasant, the panel featured George Mansoor (Chief Security Officer, California State University), Alexandra Landeggar (Global Head of Cyber Strategy & Transformation, RTX), Manju Naglapur (SVP & General Manager, Unisys), and John Caruthers (Lead Director, BISO, CVS Health). Together, they unpacked the strategic and technical imperatives shaping AI adoption ranging from governance frameworks and privacy safeguards to post-quantum preparedness and the expanding role of cybersecurity in enabling innovation. As regulatory pressures mount and AI becomes more embedded in critical systems, cybersecurity is increasingly recognized not just as a defense mechanism, but as a foundational pillar for responsible, scalable transformation.