Event: Journals of the Information Entrepreneur Podcast
Host: Jacqueline Stockwell
Speaking engagement: Podcast (Guest Appearance)
Date: 26 May 2026
Topic: Women in Tech, Data Security, and AI Governance
I recently joined Jacqueline Stockwell on her podcast ahead of our upcoming session at Experts Live London.
Not just to talk about technology.
But what really sits behind it.
From building a long-term career in tech, to navigating environments where you are often the only woman in the room, through to how data security and AI governance are now exposing organisational challenges in new ways.
👉 Listen to Episode 057: 35 Years of Tech – Resilience and Security with Nikki Chapple
Why Data Security and AI Governance Matter
Most of the work I do today is focused on data security, compliance, and AI governance.
But none of that exists in isolation.
It is shaped by experience. By what has worked, what has not, and how organisations have evolved over time.
The reality is that the challenges we are dealing with today are not completely new. What has changed is the pace, the scale, and the visibility.
Data is growing exponentially. Collaboration is easier than ever. And AI is accelerating how quickly information can be accessed.
This is why data security and AI governance are now so closely connected.
From a Shy Start to Finding My Voice in Tech
One of the things we talked about openly is confidence.
Early in my career, I was incredibly shy. I often found myself in technical environments where I was the only woman in the room.
That can be challenging. Not just technically, but personally.
One of the biggest challenges was not always being heard in the same way. It often felt like I had to be more prepared, more informed, and more certain before speaking.
Over time, that changed.
Not because I became someone different, but because I focused on:
- Building deep expertise
- Being clear on my values
- Preparing thoroughly
- Speaking with confidence
Confidence builds over time. It is not something you start with. It is something you develop.
Tech Careers Are About More Than Coding
There is still a perception that a career in technology is primarily about writing code.
In reality, there is far more to it than that.
A lot of what I do is:
- Working across different teams
- Understanding business challenges
- Solving complex problems
- Bringing people together
These are skills that are often transferable.
They are the skills that enable organisations to actually deliver value, not just implement technology.
How Governance Has Changed in Microsoft 365
When I started my career, technology environments looked very different.
Storage was expensive. Systems were tightly controlled. Data was carefully selected and managed.
Today, it is almost the opposite.
We have:
- Large volumes of data
- Low barriers to storing and sharing information
- Platforms like Microsoft 365 where collaboration happens at scale
The result is that many organisations now have significant amounts of unstructured and unmanaged data.
Governance has had to evolve.
It is no longer about restriction. It is about enabling organisations to work effectively while still managing risk.
And increasingly, that risk is influenced by regulation, including GDPR and the EU AI Act.
Where AI Is Exposing Hidden Data Risk
One of the key themes in the discussion is the impact of AI on data exposure.
The important point is this.
AI is not introducing completely new problems.
It is exposing existing ones.
If you already have:
- Oversharing
- Poor data hygiene
- Lack of visibility over access
AI will surface that very quickly.
In the past, data was often hidden simply because it was difficult to find.
Now, AI can locate and surface that information instantly, based on the permissions a user already has.
This is where organisations can get caught out.
They focus on adopting AI, without first understanding the condition of their data.
Why Data Security Sits at the Centre of AI Governance
This is where data security and AI governance come together in a very practical way.
You cannot approach AI without understanding your data.
That includes:
- What data you have
- Where it is stored
- Who has access to it
- How it is classified and protected
Without that, decisions around AI risk become difficult, and often reactive.
This is not a new challenge. But it is one that AI has made impossible to ignore.
Focus on Data Before You Focus on AI Tools
A common pattern I see is organisations trying to control AI directly.
But the real work sits elsewhere.
The most impactful actions are still:
- Reducing unnecessary access and permissions
- Removing redundant, obsolete, and trivial data
- Improving information architecture
- Applying consistent data classification
These are not new activities.
But they have become much more urgent.
Inclusion in Tech Is a Shared Responsibility
A key part of this conversation was also about inclusion.
Being the only woman in the room is still a reality in many technical environments.
But this is not something that should sit with women alone.
Inclusion is a shared responsibility.
Creating environments where people feel they belong, where they are heard, and where they can contribute is critical.
This is not just about culture.
It directly impacts outcomes.
Better inclusion leads to better decision-making, stronger teams, and more effective delivery.
Governance, Security, and AI: Change Takes Time
If there is one consistent theme across my career, it is this.
Meaningful change takes time.
Whether it is improving governance, strengthening data security, or adopting AI responsibly, success depends on aligning:
- People
- Processes
- Technology
There is no single tool that solves these challenges.
It is about building capability over time.
Final Thoughts
This conversation was an opportunity to connect a number of themes.
Career development.
Governance.
Data security.
AI.
They are all linked.
And they all come back to a set of fundamentals that have not really changed.
- Understand your data
- Manage risk effectively
- Create environments where people can contribute and grow
Ultimately, the organisations that succeed will be those that treat data security and AI governance as a connected challenge.
If you are working through similar challenges, whether building your career in tech or managing data risk in your organisation, I would encourage you to listen to the full episode:
👉 35 Years of Tech: Resilience and Security with Nikki Chapple
From the Journals of the Information Entrepreneur podcast, hosted by Jacqueline Stockwell 26 May 2026
Need help governing AI and protecting your data in Microsoft 365?
If you’re working through these challenges in your organisation, I can help.
Nikki Chapple is a dual Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 and Security and a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay. She helps organisations secure data, govern AI, and prepare Microsoft 365 environments for Copilot using Microsoft Purview, data security, compliance, and information governance solutions.
Learn more about her background and experience.
Nikki specialises in helping enterprises reduce data exposure, prevent data loss, and manage AI risk across Microsoft 365.
Co-host of the All Things M365 Compliance with Ryan Murphy, sharing practical insights on Microsoft 365 security, compliance, AI governance, and data protection.
📺 Watch on YouTube · 🎧 Listen on Spotify
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn