Stephen Gow

About Stephen Gow

In highly regulated industries, data isn’t just an asset, it’s a liability when it’s not properly understood, classified, and protected.My mission is to help organizations eliminate data risk by simplifying how they discover, secure, and govern their most sensitive information. Every organization has data, and every organization’s data is just as important as the next. Whether it’s a global bank or a local manufacturer, sensitive information deserves the same level of visibility, control, and protection.At PKWARE, I work with financial institutions, insurers, and other regulated enterprises to modernize their approach to data protection and compliance.By focusing on visibility, automation, and practical governance, I help leaders strengthen trust, reduce audit pressure, and achieve compliance readiness without slowing business down.With over a decade in cybersecurity and enterprise software, I’ve learned that successful data protection isn’t about the tools, it’s about aligning people, processes, and technology toward one goal: making security seamless and sustainable.I take pride in serving as a trusted advisor to teams navigating complex regulatory frameworks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GLBA, SOX, and GDPR, translating compliance requirements into operational reality.When I’m not working with clients to eliminate data risk, you’ll probably find me on the golf course, where precision, focus, and strategy matter just as much as they do in cybersecurity.If your organization is focused on reducing exposure, strengthening compliance, or simply gaining control of your data, I’d love to connect and exchange ideas.

Experience

1. Partnerships and Sales Director

   PKWARE

   Apr 2024 — Present · Milwaukee, WI, US

   At PKWARE, I help heavily regulated organizations, including leading banks, insurers, and financial services firms, eliminate data risk and achieve continuous compliance.Our solutions simplify and automate data discovery, classification, encryption, masking, and redaction, giving organizations full visibility and control of sensitive data across endpoints, servers, mainframes, and cloud environments.In my role, I advise CISOs, CIOs, CDOs, data & compliance leaders on building sustainable data protection and compliance automation strategies that reduce risk, strengthen regulatory alignment, and minimize audit preparation time.By aligning cybersecurity best practices with frameworks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, NIST, and GDPR, I help organizations automate data protection and compliance, transforming visibility and control into continuous security confidence. Turning compliance from a reactive process into a proactive advantage.Through a consultative, outcomes-based approach, I ensure organizations not only meet their compliance requirements but also drive operational efficiency, reduce cost, and increase confidence in their data protection posture, knowing their sensitive data is always and continuously protected. Core Focus Areas:Data Discovery, Classification & ProtectionEncryption, Masking & RedactionCompliance Automation & Audit ReadinessFinancial Services, Insurance, Banking, Healthcare & MoreRegulatory Framework Alignment (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, CCPA, NIST, ISO, GLBA, SOX, GDPR, FFIEC)Risk Reduction & Cybersecurity Strategy

Education

• Carthage College

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Business/Managerial Economics

  2011 — 2015

Skills

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Business
• Analytical Skills
• Leadership
• Time Management
• Data Analysis
• Social Skills
• Social Networking
• Customer Service
• Goal Oriented
• Microsoft Word
• Business Service Management
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Microsoft Office
• Organizational Structure
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Social Media
• Critical Thinking