In Conversation with Gaurav Kapoor, CEO and Co-Founder, MetricStream

MetricStream is the global market leader in integrated risk management and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) solutions. The company is at the forefront of risk innovation, offering AI-driven GRC solutions that enable businesses to manage risks more simply and effectively. MetricStream’s globally acclaimed ConnectedGRC, powered by its cloud, cognitive, and continuous strategy, empowers organizations to break down silos, enabling a holistic and collaborative approach to enterprise-wide governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) processes. 

In this interview, Gaurav shares his insights on how the escalating complexities of the risk landscape are shaping GRC, what organizations must do to stay ahead of risks, and how MetricStream is helping organizations thrive in the face of uncertainty.

1. 2025 is dubbed as the Year of Regulatory Shift with several changes and challenges expected to reshape governance, risk and compliance. What, according to you, are the top challenges for businesses this year?

One of the most significant challenges in 2025 will stem from the surge of regulatory activity over the past 2 years. Globally, regulators have engaged in near-record levels of rulemaking, especially in critical areas like AI, cybersecurity, critical third parties, and corporate governance. Businesses must integrate regulations such as the EU AI Act, DORA, NIS2, the updated DOJ Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, and the FCA and PRA rules for Critical Third Parties into their GRC frameworks.

Another challenge lies in managing the growing complexity of digital and AI governance. As AI technologies proliferate, organizations must navigate ethical dilemmas, transparency requirements, and data protection mandates while addressing risks such as algorithmic biases and unintended consequences.

Finally, the interconnected risk landscape remains a persistent hurdle. From nation-state attacks and IoT vulnerabilities to climate events and geopolitical risks, businesses must prioritize resilience—strengthening defenses against sophisticated attacks, safeguarding supply chains, and preparing for potential disruptions.

2. As a GRC expert, what strategy would you recommend for businesses to stay ahead of these challenges? 

To stay ahead, businesses must prioritize a proactive and connected approach to GRC to build resilience. This involves staying current with regulatory changes and embedding flexibility into their risk management frameworks. 

Key strategies include leveraging technology to automate compliance processes, utilizing AI and machine learning for real-time insights, and building a robust organizational compliance culture. Additionally, boards and C-suites should regularly review the company’s GRC posture to ensure alignment with evolving business goals and regulatory requirements.

Implementing AI-powered tools for automation and predictive insights is a critical strategy. Upskilling employees is equally important. Bridging the gap between business and technology ensures teams can effectively interpret and act on regulatory changes. Additionally, cultivating a forward-looking risk culture across the organization can empower teams to embrace and thrive on risk rather than simply managing it.

Finally, a strong commitment to data accuracy and taxonomy will underpin all these efforts, ensuring businesses can make informed, compliant decisions.

3. How do you see AI’s role in improving or enhancing GRC processes? 

AI has become a transformative force in GRC, with the power to significantly improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. Its role in GRC processes can be broadly categorized into automation, augmentation, and insight generation.

AI simplifies tedious, manual tasks like analyzing large datasets, policy reviews, and compliance assessments. For example, MetricStream uses AI-driven solutions to process and analyze thousands of third-party risk questionnaires, saving time while ensuring accuracy.

AI enhances the capabilities of GRC teams by providing intelligent recommendations and real-time insights. It helps identify hidden risks, streamline decision-making, and enable cross-functional collaboration between the three lines of defense.

Also, most important is that AI fosters connected risk management by breaking down silos between operational, cyber, and enterprise risks. It facilitates a comprehensive risk assessment approach, offering predictive analytics and scenario planning to preempt potential disruptions.

As organizations increasingly adopt AI, ‘GRC for AI’ is important. Ensuring ethical, secure, and regulatory-compliant usage will safeguard reputation and business continuity. The synergy between humans and AI, leveraging each other’s strengths, is the key to a resilient and proactive GRC ecosystem in 2025.

4. How does MetricStream help organizations thrive on risk? Elaborate on some of the top technologies/solutions/tools MetricStream. Give examples/case scenarios.

At MetricStream, we aim to simplify the lives of everyone practicing GRC—whether on the front line or in the first, second, or third lines of defense. We empower organizations to manage risk and embrace it as an advantage and a driver of growth. For organizations to succeed, they must view risk strategically—as a competitive advantage and business driver rather than a reactive cost center. 

MetricStream’s ConnectedGRC solutions are powered by AI at their core, enabling organizations to address risks, compliance, audits, and other GRC needs with unprecedented efficiency and agility. These solutions quickly process vast and complex data sets to detect emerging risks and vulnerabilities, while real-time transaction monitoring helps identify anomalies or potential compliance issues. 

By offering products that are easy to use and intelligent insights that are simple to access, we remove obstacles so businesses can calculate the risks they’re willing to take and improve performance with confidence. 

For instance, a global provider of financial markets data and infrastructure unified its risk framework across three major businesses, replacing manual processes with an integrated approach. Today, they connect the dots between regulations, policies, and risks to strengthen operational resilience and respond swiftly to disruptions. Similarly, a global leader in digital services and technological consulting, with over 300,000 employees, uses MetricStream to assess the impact of risks across 10,000 accounts and 60,000 projects globally, driving revenue and performance.

By helping organizations embrace risk strategically, MetricStream enables them to thrive on risk, unlocking growth and resilience in an ever-changing world.

5. What is your advice for the C-suite? Elaborate on the GRC focus areas for the Board and C-Suite.

For the C-suite, 2025 presents an opportunity to reshape GRC as a driver of business success. A primary focus should be on fostering a culture that views risk as an enabler of growth, not just a challenge to manage.

Boards and executives must prioritize resilience by integrating risk management across the enterprise. Embracing a connected GRC approach ensures a unified view of risks, enabling more strategic decision-making. For instance, AI-driven continuous risk assessments can enhance agility in addressing disruptions.

Cybersecurity must remain a top priority, with CISOs reporting directly to the board or heads of risk. The evolving role of the CISO requires effective communication of cyber risks in business terms, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Upskilling leadership teams is another critical area. Executives must understand technology’s impact on business while fostering collaboration between technical and business functions.

Finally, strategically leveraging AI is essential. Beyond automation, AI provides actionable insights that enhance compliance, performance, and decision-making.

The ability to thrive on risk, driven by bold, proactive strategies, will define the C-suite’s success in navigating 2025’s challenges and beyond.