Theodotou is Executive Director a US non-profit organisation convening government, industry, academia and think tanks to operationalise Artificial Intelligence in national security, defence and space manufacturing.
During her recent visit to Cyprus for a series of workshops on “AI Leadership for Executives,” she gave GOLD an exclusive interview.
Dr. Marina Theodotou enters GOLD’s Nicosia office and proffers a confident handshake. The conversation immediately starts to flow about the current state of the world, with multiple wars exerting pressure on normality, even in Cyprus, causing travel delays and the complete stoppage of flights to the Middle East. Indeed, we transition so smoothly from topic to topic, from her own career to evolving technology and innovation in Cyprus, that I feel as if I’m chatting with an old friend.
This is only Theodotou’s second interview with GOLD. In 2014, she spoke to us about what was then the fledgling startup scene in Cyprus (and she still remembers details of the creative photoshoot, which was quite advanced at the time). Back then, she was actively involved in it as the first Director of Operations and Development of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA – now Invest Cyprus) but has since transitioned into the defence sector and, in particular, the use of artificial intelligence. Our discussion could hardly have taken place at a more appropriate time, with the US/Israel-Iran conflict in its second month and the four-year war between Russia and Ukraine continuing with no end in sight.
So, how did this drastic change – from CIPA to US defence – come about?
“That time in Cyprus was a formative period for me, both professionally and personally,” Theodotou says. “I had started my career in banking but when I returned to the United States in 2013, I found myself at a crossroads. I realised that my professional identity had evolved, so I was asking myself, ‘What am I now?’”
Eventually she discovered the common thread that had run through the various posts she had held previously: she had always focused on organisational change and leadership. She was accepted at a competitive doctoral programme on organisational change and leadership at the University of Southern California that matched her interests and experience. Her doctorate led her to be hired by the United States Department of War in 2017, six months ahead of graduation. After six very busy years at the Department of Defense she was called to serve at the Pentagon. During her 18-month tenure there, she dug into into defence innovation, including unmanned systems and artificial intelligence and the importance for leaders to embrace it.
“My work now sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, national security and strategic innovation, she says. “I previously served at the Pentagon as Executive Director of the Defense Innovation Board, advising senior leadership on emerging technologies and modernisation strategies.” She has since transitioned from her role at the Pentagon and remains active
in strategic advisory and educational engagements with defence stakeholders across NATO,
the EU and government ministries. “I currently serve as Executive Director of the Center for Frontier AI Security, where I focus on helping governments, defence organisations and industry leaders develop AI fluency, strategy and interoperability,” she explains.
Embracing the change
In various parts of the world right now, AI is being used to help warring parties carry out more targeted strikes and “mitigate the inevitable effects” of any strike. As in every sector, the importance of AI to defence is its ability to carry out the mundane tasks, allowing leaders in that area to think more strategically and focus on the details. Models like Anthropic AI and Palantir are processing large sets of data, satellite imaging and electronic communications to help leadership make quicker and more targeted strikes. As Theodotou notes, as reported by Defense One, “the US military leverages AI to process tremendously large amounts of data and translate them into intelligence, simulate battlefield scenarios, identify, analyse and prioritise targets, match targets to weaponry and provide recommendations for action.”
Of course, advanced technologies are multifaceted: they bear significant risks and are susceptible to significant threats. “This is why it is imperative to be prepared and assess both the risks associated with AI as well as the organisational readiness to address them. Leaders that understand AI will have the added benefit,” she says. “Those who adopt an ‘AI first’ approach will be better able to deal with threats, as they will be better prepared with systems in place to react accordingly.”
Gripped by the discussion, I can’t help wondering how Theodotou feels as a woman so deeply involved in what is still such a male-dominated field. In response to my question, she recalls a piece of advice that she was given during her earlier Manhattan finance career by a higher-ranking official at Bank of America: “If there is no place at the table for you, you have to make a place for yourself.” She has not only carried it with her into the defence industry but teaches the same philosophy to the younger women that she mentors in the context of her volunteer work.
Cyprus is shifting its image into an AI innovation hub
As our discussion winds down, we return to the subject of Cyprus.
“I didn’t recognise the skyline of Limassol!” she says, before telling GOLD how she is deeply involved in executive leader education, teaching AI Leadership in Defence in collaboration with The Cyprus Institute and the Ministry of Defence, with upcoming executive programmes at institutions such as the European Security and Defence College and the NATO Defence College. She was, therefore, especially pleased by the presence of government officials from over seven ministries in Cyprus, including the Ministry of Defence, at her recent workshops, demonstating the growing interest in AI leadership as an essential part of developing the island’s AI fluency capabilities.
She recognises that there remains more to be done if Cyprus is to continue on its growth trajectory and become more established in this area but, with a beaming smile, she acknowledges the “incredible progress” already made by the state in developing its tech sector and, now, the growing defence sector.
She ends our conversation on a truly positive note: “Cyprus can become a connecting node for AI across technologies, capabilities and institutions,” which sounds a lot like “Cyprus can become an AI innovation hub.”
Given that this is exactly what she told us 14 years ago, I can’t help thinking that Marina Theodotou has always been way ahead of her time: always thinking ahead and now inspiring governments and institutions to do the same.
This interview first appeared in the April edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.
