We were pleased to welcome Gauri Bhalerao to CHAI as part of our series highlighting how AI is being applied beyond the university. In an informal Fireside Talk discussion, she shared her career journey, from early web development through leadership roles at GE and Yum! Brands, and how those experiences shape her approach to digital transformation today. She currently serves as Vice President of IT/CIO and Security at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, which she used as a real-world example to discuss how data, AI, and agent-driven tools are being explored and implemented to improve services (including career coaching support) and strengthen retail and operational decision-making through better data collection and analytics. She also emphasized that cybersecurity, data governance, and protecting sensitive information are essential foundations for any responsible AI work.