Episode: AI, Mental Health & the Human Side of Cybersecurity
Guest: Jameeka Green Aaron
Guest Title: Chief Information Security Officer, Headspace
Episode Summary
Jameeka Green Aaron, CISO at Headspace, joins Dr. KJ for a candid conversation on protecting mental health data, the limitations of AI in clinical settings, and why humanity must remain a non-negotiable in cybersecurity. As a Navy veteran and black woman in tech leadership, Jameeka also shares powerful insights on representation, courage, and the fight for equity in the industry.
Discussion Topics & Timestamps
- (00:00) Introduction and guest welcome
- (01:45) AI in mental health: balancing innovation with patient protection
- (08:30) Guardrails and governance: the CIA triad applied to AI
- (14:20) Why security leadership is critical in healthcare
- (21:30) Explaining security concepts to clinicians and product teams
- (24:30) Leadership, representation, and courage as a black veteran in cybersecurity
Key Takeaways
- Humanity is a non-negotiable – AI lacks empathy, context, and the ability to read nonverbal cues. In mental health, models must never instruct users to harm themselves or others—guardrails must be absolute.
- Data professionals are the linchpin of AI – Good data in, good data out. De-identification, anonymization, and clean data practices are essential before training any model on sensitive health information.
- Protecting and healing go together – Security in healthcare isn't a barrier; it's an enabler. Clinicians already understand patient privacy deeply—security leadership helps them extend that protection through technology.
Resources & Frameworks Mentioned
- HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- HITRUST – Healthcare information security certification
- CIA Triad – Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
- Headspace Ebb – AI companion that helps users navigate mental health content
- Large Language Models (LLMs) – Foundation for AI-powered tools
Notable Quotes
"Technology is about people. Everything we create is for the greater good of humanity. As a CISO, I'm here to enable innovation and protect people from the woes of that innovation."
"AI has the discernment of a mouse. It doesn't know if the data you provided is truthful or accurate."
"Protecting and healing go together."
Connect
Guest: Jameeka Green Aaron – (13) Jameeka Green Aaron, CISSP | LinkedIn
Host: Dr. Kenneth Johnson – (13) Dr. Kenneth Johnson, CISSP | LinkedIn
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