Lighting the Path to your Agentic AI Journey with Hanah Darley | Episode #0026

2025-09-15
Posted by: Brad Groux
Category: Podcast

Can AI agents make your business faster and safer?

In this powerful episode of Start Small, Think Big, Brad Groux and Robert Groux sit down with Hanah-Marie Darley, Chief AI Officer at Geordie AI, to explore what it really means to use AI responsibly, and why governance, visibility, and trust must be the foundation of every agent-powered future.

Hanah brings a rare blend of experience to the mic: intelligence operations, threat analysis, ethical frameworks, and real-world AI deployment. And she does it all while launching a game-changing new startup, Geordie AI, a platform that helps security, IT, and risk leaders monitor and manage autonomous AI agents across their organization.

If you’re building with AI (or worried your teams already are), this episode is your flashlight.

From Intelligence to Innovation: Hanah’s Journey

The conversation kicks off with Hanah’s fascinating background: from geopolitics and behavioral science to cybersecurity and now founder life. She shares how high-stakes environments taught her the value of “smart decisions with incomplete data,” a mindset perfectly suited for navigating today’s AI landscape.

We also explore how her team built Geordie AI from the ground up, and how agentic AI not only inspired the product, but accelerated its development.

Agent Sprawl Is Real, and It’s Already Happening

As Hanah explains, AI agents are no longer hypothetical.

From GitHub Copilot and Claude to browser extensions and embedded assistants, most companies are already surrounded by early agents, and most have no clue who’s using what or how those tools are interacting with company data.

That’s where Geordie AI comes in: it gives companies observability, context, and control over how agents behave, interact, and evolve inside your business. It’s like having an AI air traffic control tower before someone crashes on the runway.

“Governance doesn’t slow innovation. It enables it.”

Tools, Frameworks amp; Real-World Lessons

Some of the most impactful takeaways include:

Why visibility is the first step to responsible AI
The problem with “hallucinations” in agentic systems
How guardrails, posture management, and human-in-the-loop systems reduce risk
Why founding teams need shared values as much as shared skills
Why agent monitoring must be proactive, not reactive
How today’s LLM-powered tools can fast-track MVPs

Hanah also shares frameworks her team uses to evaluate AI tooling, monitor behaviors, and guide policy, including why they view agents more like digital employees than software.

AI That Amplifies People, Not Replaces Them

At its heart, this episode is about balance. Hanah advocates for AI systems that augment human capability, not automate blindly.

Whether you’re a founder shipping an AI product, an exec leading a digital transformation, or a risk officer worried about the black boxes forming in your stack, Hanah’s message is clear:

“Put the brakes on, not to stop, but to go faster with control.”

Final Thoughts: Shine a Light Before You Scale

Agentic AI is coming fast, and businesses need to prepare now.

This episode shows how smart companies can go from shadow tools to shared intelligence, and how platforms like Geordie AI are making that transformation possible.

It’s a bold, thoughtful, and practical conversation with a leader at the intersection of trust, technology, and transformation.

At Digital Meld, we believe that staying curious and thinking boldly is the best way to lead through change. New SSTB episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube. Follow and subscribe to empower your AI journey

Summary

In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, hosts Brad and Robert welcome Hannah Darley, Chief AI Officer at Geordie AI. The conversation explores Hannah’s unique background in government intelligence, her transition to the tech industry, and the founding of Geordie AI. They discuss the challenges of AI adoption, the importance of understanding agentic AI, and the balance between innovation and risk management. Hannah shares insights on building a strong founding team, creating a positive company culture, and the significance of customer-centric product development. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions and personal insights from Hannah about leadership and the journey of launching Geordie AI.

Keywords

AI, agentic AI, Geordie AI, innovation, cybersecurity, risk management, startup culture, product development, team building, leadership

Takeaways

Hannah Darley has a unique background in government intelligence and data analytics.
AI adoption requires trust and visibility to be successful.
Understanding the specific problem to solve is crucial before deploying AI agents.
Agentic AI represents a shift in how businesses operate, requiring new governance frameworks.
Building a strong founding team is essential for startup success.
Diversity of thought enhances problem-solving capabilities.
The journey of launching a product involves continuous learning and adaptation.
Establishing a positive company culture fosters collaboration and innovation.
Customer-centric product development is key to addressing real business needs.
Risk management is vital when implementing AI solutions.

Titles

Navigating the Future of AI with Geordie
The Journey of AI Innovation

Sound Bites

“You can learn to be technical.”
“Eat the frog first.”
“Agents are the future of work.”

Resources

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

01:44 Hannah Darley’s Unique Background and Experience

04:08 Government Work and Its Challenges

08:53 The Vision Behind Geordie AI

11:32 Understanding Agentic AI

14:15 Balancing Risk with Agentic AI

17:18 Assembling the Geordie Team

27:22 Customer-Centric Approach to AI Solutions

30:04 Trends in Agentic AI Adoption

35:18 The Future of Decision-Making in AI

37:04 Building Partnerships with Clients

38:56 The Future of SaaS and AI Solutions

41:47 Understanding AI Adoption and Governance

45:43 The Role of Security in AI Implementation

49:31 Key Questions for AI Deployment

51:33 The Geordie Story: Illuminating Risks in AI

01:01:59 Reflections on Launching Geordie

01:05:38 The Future of AI Agents and Their Impact

01:07:36 The End

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