Deneen DeFiore

Meet Deneen, a technology and risk management leader with deep expertise in cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and digital risk. At United Airlines, she’s helping shape what it means to lead responsibly in the age of AI. And she’s clearing things up: the biggest misconception, she says, is that AI can replace human judgment. “In reality, AI amplifies it.” At United, AI takes care of the repetitive work, but it’s ultimately, people who validate models, ensure fairness, and make the decisions that build trust and resilience.

For Deneen, the best leaders are those who step outside their lane, learn something new, and connect the dots across the business. She believes we’re headed toward a future where AI isn’t just a tool, but a powerful collaborator…and it has to be a responsible one. “The organizations that embrace Responsible AI will innovate faster and move safer,” she says. “Those that don’t build in security and transparency from the start will struggle to keep up.”

Her inspiration comes from peers in the Responsible AI community who remind her that accountability isn’t something you tack on later, but something you build from day one. That mindset has guided her work at United, where AI has helped teams shift from reactive to predictive, freeing them to focus on strategy and resilience. “AI-first thinking has opened doors we couldn’t see before,” Deneen says. “It’s helping us innovate safely, strengthen operations, and move faster with confidence.”