Podcasts about Public sector

As the space ecosystem continues to expand, the sector has become increasingly filled with new suppliers, manufacturers, and operators. However, while this development has led to the introduction of new technologies, it has also greatly expanded space's cyberattack surface. In this week's episode, host Maria Varmazis sits down with Jen Sovada, General Manager of Public Sector at Claroty. During the conversation, the two explore how vulnerabilities within the space supply chain can impact mission assurance. They discuss how the expanding space supply chain ecosystem has expanded the attack surface. Like what you heard? Be sure to subscribe to our free Signals and Space Briefing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our Sunday newsletter covering the intersection of cybersecurity and space. Subscribe at: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/signals-and-space Is there a topic or person you'd like to hear on our show? You can send your questions and feedback to space@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also fill our our audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJYCN2P T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing is a production of N2K CyberWire. N2K is your nexus for discovery and connection for people, technology, and ideas shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn how at n2k.com.

As the space ecosystem continues to expand, the sector has become increasingly filled with new suppliers, manufacturers, and operators. However, while this development has led to the introduction of new technologies, it has also greatly expanded space's cyberattack surface. In this week's episode, host Maria Varmazis sits down with Jen Sovada, General Manager of Public Sector at Claroty. During the conversation, the two explore how vulnerabilities within the space supply chain can impact mission assurance. They discuss how the expanding space supply chain ecosystem has expanded the attack surface. Like what you heard? Be sure to subscribe to our free Signals and Space Briefing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our Sunday newsletter covering the intersection of cybersecurity and space. Subscribe at: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/signals-and-space Is there a topic or person you'd like to hear on our show? You can send your questions and feedback to space@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also fill our our audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJYCN2P T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing is a production of N2K CyberWire. N2K is your nexus for discovery and connection for people, technology, and ideas shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn how at n2k.com.

Wir sprechen über digitale Identitäten und kommentieren die geplante Reform des Informationsfreiheitsgesetzes. Außerdem erklärt uns Dr. Christoph Erdmann, Geschäftsführer von Secusmart, welche Rolle digitale Kommunikation bei der Arbeit mit Verschlusssachen spielt.

This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Beth Howen, President of State, Local Government and Education (SLED) at NTT DATA, who helps government agencies and school systems modernize the technology touching everyday life. Beth traces her path from becoming a state CIO in Indiana at 28 through leadership roles at Capgemini, TELUS International, Atos, and the City of Indianapolis. So how did she do so much at such a young age? Beth credits it to a willingness to work outside rigid processes when they don't serve the outcome. She and Tammy dig into how AI risks compounding government's legacy-system problems if agencies automate broken workflows instead of modernizing first, and the promise of AI-powered care reaching rural and underserved communities.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Beth Howen Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Centrella is the Head of Public Policy at SecurityScorecard. In this episode, he joins host Charlie Osborne and Stephen Ward, co-founder at Brightmind Partners, former CISO, and former Special Agent with the US Secret Service, to discuss government cyber defense and what organizations can do to stay protected. SecurityScorecard's mission is to make the world a safer place by transforming the way organizations understand, mitigate, and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees, and vendors. Learn more about our sponsor at https://securityscorecard.com

In der 67. Folge von Informatik für die moderne Hausfrau spreche ich mit Julia Hodapp über das Thema Verwaltungsdigitalisierung. Wir klären, was es mit diesem aktuell etwas inflationär verwendeten Begriff auf sich hat, ebenso wie mit den sogenannten Geschäftsprozessen und Fachverfahren. Dass solche Geschäftsprozesse nicht in Stein gemeißelt, sondern häufig historisch gewachsen sind, erläutert Julia nicht nur, sondern sie gibt auch Denkanstöße, wie sich dort mit dem Digitalisieren beginnen lässt. Julia erklärt, welche besonderen Anforderungen im Kontext von Universitäten und Hochschulen bestehen und welche Abwägungen sich daraus ergeben, insbesondere auch in Bezug auf das Thema Nachhaltigkeit. Warum sowohl Julias Arbeit als Teamleiterin für Projekt- und Prozessmanagement im Bereich Digitalisierung an der TH Köln als auch Fortschritte in der Verwaltungsdigitalisierung ganz generell ohne agile Methoden undenbar wären, erfahren wir ebenfalls. Nicht zuletzt gibt Julia Einblicke in ihren Werdegang von der Historikerin zur Expertin für Verwaltungsdigitalisierung. Dabei verrät sie, wie ein Buch, das sie in ihrer Kindheit gelesen hat, ihr späteres Promotionsprojekt vorweggenommen hat. Sie spannt außerdem den Bogen von ihrer Forschung zu klugen und mutigen Habsburgerinnen bis zu ihrem heutigen Engagement für Frauen, die sie unter anderem mit einer Speakerinnendatenbank für Frauen im Public Sector und in der Digitalisierung fördert. Mehr Informationen zu Julia sowie Kontaktmöglichkeiten findet ihr auf ihrem LinkedIn-Profil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-hodapp/ Zur Plattform Amtsfunk, von der Julia erzählt hat, gelangt ihr hier: https://AMTSFUNK.de Mehr über das erwähnte Workshopkonzept zum Thema Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit erfahrt ihr hier: https://piazza-konferenz.de/2025/12/15/wirkungsanalyse-von-digitalitat-und-nachhaltigkeit-in-der-offentlichen-verwaltung/ Zum Kompetenznetzwerk Digitale Verwaltung gelangt ihr hier: https://negz.org/person/dr-julia-hodapp/ Forschungsbeiträge von Julia findet ihr auf dieser Seite: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6215-6903 In Kooperation mit der Gesellschaft für Informatik findet Rahmen des Informatik-Festivals in Dresden am 23.09.2026 ein Live-Podcast von Informatik für die moderne Hausfrau statt. Alle Infos und Tickets gibt es hier: https://informatik2026.gi.de/ Mit dem Rabattcode 10HAUSFRAU26 erhaltet ihr 10% Rabatt auf alle Laufzeittickets für das Informatik-Festival. Einlösbar ist der Code im Ticketshop auf der Festivalseite. Alle Informationen zum Podcast findet ihr auf der zugehörigen Webseite https://www.informatik-hausfrau.de. Zur Kontaktaufnahme schreibt mir gerne eine Mail an mail@informatik-hausfrau.de oder meldet euch über Social Media. Auf Instagram und Bluesky ist der Podcast unter dem Handle@informatikfrau (bzw. @informatikfrau.bsky.social) zu finden. Wenn euch dieser Podcast gefällt, abonniert ihn doch bitte und hinterlasst eine positive Bewertung oder eine kurze Rezension, um ihm zu mehr Sichtbarkeit zu verhelfen. Rezensionen könnt ihr zum Beispiel bei Apple Podcasts schreiben oder auf panoptikum.social. Falls ihr die Produktion des Podcasts finanziell unterstützen möchtet, habt ihr die Möglichkeit, dies über die Plattform Steady zu tun. Weitere Informationen dazu sind hier zu finden: https://steady.page/de/informatikfrau/ Falls ihr mir auf anderem Wege etwas 'in den Hut werfen' möchtet, ist dies (auch ohne Registrierung) über die Plattform Ko-fi möglich: https://ko-fi.com/leaschoenberger Dieser Podcast wird gefördert durch das Kulturbüro der Stadt Dortmund.

Wir sprechen über die Sicherheit von Brücken und die geplante Elterngeldreform. Außerdem erklären und Ann-Cathrin Riedel und Bernd Schlömer den Zusammenhang zwischen Haushaltsrecht und digitaler Verwaltung.

On the latest episode of Security Visionaries, host Bailey Popp sits down with Teresa Carlson, Global Head of Public Sector at Anthropic and former CEO of the General Catalyst Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and public-private collaboration. Teresa draws on nearly three decades in technology to share what it truly takes to work with government. From navigating compliance frameworks like FedRAMP to building sponsor networks that accelerate the path to authority to operate. The discussion explores how security leaders can shift from a checklist culture to an outcomes-based mindset, and why going in as a partner, not a vendor, is the defining factor for success. Teresa and Bailey also tackle the fragmented global AI regulatory landscape, the challenge of data sovereignty, and why startups bear a disproportionate burden in a world of conflicting mandates. This episode's bottom line? AI is minting a new generation of citizen developers and the opportunity has never been bigger.

Wir sprechen mit dem stellvertretenden Exekutivdirektor von Frontex, Dr. Lars Gerdes, über das europäische Grenzmanagement. Außerdem geht es um Cyber-Bedrohungen im Weltall und die Auswirkungen von Hitzewellen.

Governments are moving from discussing artificial intelligence to deploying it. But what does responsible AI look like when it is used inside large public administrations, across real services, using real people's information? In Episode 3 of Statistics in the AI Era, OECD Chief Statistician Steve MacFeely speaks with New York State Chief AI Officer Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, about the practical work of implementing AI across government while maintaining public trust. They discuss the emerging role of Chief AI Officers, AI use cases in public service delivery, code modernisation and geospatial analysis; the data governance foundations needed for AI; and how risk assessments, acceptable-use policies and human oversight can make responsible AI operational. The conversation also explores workforce impacts, the importance of upskilling and consultation, and the need for a governance model that gives agencies room to experiment while ensuring the highest-risk use cases receive extra scrutiny. Host: Steve MacFeely | Chief Statistician, Statistics and Data Directorate, OECD LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macfeely-a1a710112/ Guest: Eleonore Fournier-Tombs | Chief AI Officer, New York State LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/eleonoreft To learn more about AI governance challenges in the public sector: www.oecd.org/en/blogs/2026/07/governing-ai-and-data-in-the-public-sector-with-eleonore-fournier-tombs.html To learn more about this policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/directorates/statistics-and-data-directorate.html To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/ To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/ Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters

The Washington State Commission on African American Affairs has launched a new survey, "Black Men in the Public Sector Workforce: Experience. Barriers. Solutions.," to comprehensively document the professional experiences of African American men in government, education, public service, and the nonprofit sector. This initiative addresses a critical lack of research on their workplace realities, barriers, and necessary support, with the gathered information poised to inform future policy recommendations and cultivate more equitable professional environments. Ed Prince, Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs joins the Rhythm & News podcast to talk about the survey and its purpose. Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

Wir sprechen mit Lars Kukuk, CISO der BA, über die Balance zwischen Sicherheit und Nutzerfreundlichkeit. Außerdem und kommentieren die Nachfolge von Frank-Walter Steinmeier und beleuchten das Ergebnis einer Forsa-Umfrage unter Rathauschefs.

Have public sector organizations reached the point where AI is no longer an experiment but an operational necessity? In this episode, I welcome Carmen Taglienti, CTO of Insight Public Sector, to discuss why AI is moving beyond chatbots and pilots to become part of the everyday workflows that support government services. As budgets tighten and expectations continue to rise, public sector teams are under pressure to deliver more for citizens without increasing resources. Carmen explains why this moment represents a turning point and how AI is helping agencies rethink the way they operate. We talk about the rise of agentic AI and why the next generation of AI is focused on completing real work rather than simply answering questions. Carmen shares how governments are beginning to automate permitting, citizen inquiries, service requests, and internal processes while keeping people involved where oversight and accountability remain essential. Our conversation also looks at why trust remains one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption. Whether it is employees using AI in the workplace or citizens interacting with AI-powered public services, confidence must be earned through transparency, governance, and consistent outcomes. Carmen explains why operational security, AI governance, and established frameworks are becoming as important as the technology itself. Drawing on her experience teaching AI and cybersecurity at Northeastern University and leading AI strategy programs at Wake Forest University, Carmen also shares how higher education is preparing students for a workplace where AI will become part of almost every role. Rather than avoiding these tools, she argues that the next generation needs practical experience using them responsibly to solve real business problems. We also discuss why smaller, specialized AI deployments may prove more effective than large agency-wide platforms, how procurement teams are adapting to a rapidly changing AI market, and what successful AI adoption actually looks like inside public sector organizations. If you've been wondering what AI adoption really looks like beyond the headlines, this conversation offers practical insight into how governments are balancing innovation, compliance, security, and citizen trust while building services for the future. How do you see AI changing the relationship between governments and the citizens they serve over the next few years? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Michael Centrella is the Head of Public Policy at SecurityScorecard. In this episode, he joins host Amanda Glassner and Theresa Payton, former White House CIO and Founder and CEO of Fortalice Solutions. Together, they discuss the May 2026 breach that hit Canvas and students across the U.S. SecurityScorecard's mission is to make the world a safer place by transforming the way organizations understand, mitigate, and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees, and vendors. Learn more about our sponsor at https://securityscorecard.com

Governments are racing to deploy AI. Most have the foundations, but struggle to translate them into faster, smarter execution without losing public trust. BCG's Miguel Carrasco and Daniel Selikowitz break down what separates the countries getting this right from those still stuck — and what every leader can take from their example.You'll Learn:Why AI governance frameworks are quietly becoming the biggest barrier to AI deploymentHow to tell the difference between necessary caution and unnecessary bureaucracyHow and why some countries are already getting AI governance rightLearn More:Trust Imperative 5.0: https://on.bcg.com/3QO3fOmBCG's Latest Thinking in Public Sector: https://on.bcg.com/4f69kisMeet the ExpertsMiguel Carrasco, BCG Managing Director & Senior Partner: https://on.bcg.com/4gGH8UzDaniel Selikowitz, Managing Director & Partner: https://on.bcg.com/4oMRKTYWatch The So What from BCG on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJgyXjV5gMI9JV-GcF_D1Y6zyf1Eab_0Chapters(0:00) AI Is Already in Government. Here's Where You'll Find It.(3:12) Public vs. Private: Why the Stakes Are Different(4:40) What Leaders Are Saying Across Industries(6:15) What Role Does Fear Play in AI Adoption?(8:14) Inside Governments Deploying AI(9:55) How Are Governments Governing AI?(11:56) How Do Countries Compare on AI Adoption?(13:37) Useful Caution Vs. Unnecessary Bureaucracy in AI Implementation(15:42) Who Is Keeping Pace with AI Innovation?(16:46) What Private Sector Leaders Can Learn from Governments(19:34) What Should Leaders Do Now?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Public Servants Association (PSA) spokesperson Reuben Maleka and Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ntuthuko Mbongiseni Jomo Sibiya, about moves to cancel the registration of the Public Servants Association (PSA) and allegations of non-compliance with labour laws. The discussion also covers government’s position on undocumented workers in the workplace, focusing on enforcement of labour regulations, legal obligations for employers, and broader concerns about compliance and worker protections within South Africa’s labour system. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg-based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team brings you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 6 am to 9 am (SA Time) https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show and catch-up podcasts, visit Primedia+ here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Let’s keep the conversation going online: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Federal Tech Podcast, John Gilroy interviews Justin Fessler, Vice President of Public Sector at LogicMonitor, about the growing role of autonomous AI and observability in federal government IT operations. Fessler explains that autonomous AI is not about replacing people but about automating repetitive operational tasks, correlating complex system events, and helping IT teams make faster, better-informed decisions. Rather than allowing AI to operate without oversight, LogicMonitor focuses on keeping humans "in the loop" while AI handles time-consuming analysis and routine remediation. A central theme is the importance of complete visibility across increasingly complex federal environments. LogicMonitor's agentless monitoring technology discovers devices, cloud resources, applications, and shadow IT without requiring software agents on every endpoint. This broad visibility enables agencies to identify unmanaged assets, reduce blind spots, optimize cloud costs, and strengthen security. The discussion also highlights observability's critical role in Zero Trust. Fessler notes that agencies cannot secure or verify assets they cannot see. By discovering everything connected to the network—including servers, cloud services, IoT devices, cameras, badge readers, and physical infrastructure—LogicMonitor helps agencies build a stronger Zero Trust foundation. Gilroy and Fessler examine the challenges of managing hybrid and multi-cloud environments, emphasizing that agencies require a single operational view regardless of where workloads reside. LogicMonitor integrates information across cloud providers and third-party platforms, including ServiceNow, Splunk, Dynatrace, Datadog, and IBM Watsonx, enabling AI-driven event correlation and faster incident response. The conversation concludes with the future of autonomous IT. Fessler predicts increased automation, AI-assisted self-healing infrastructure, and significantly reduced mean time to identify and resolve incidents. Rather than replacing IT professionals, autonomous AI will eliminate repetitive work, allowing skilled personnel to focus on higher-value mission objectives while improving operational resilience, reducing alert fatigue, and delivering better digital services to citizens.         For more information, visit www.logicmonitor.com/solutions/federal-government.

Eriks heads down to the Eagle Branch of the Eagle Valley Library District for a very special tour of the Bookmobile with Tegan, Rocio, Patty and Monique, all of whom play an important role.  Recently honored as the 2026 winner for Innovation in the Public Sector, The Bookmobile is bringing library services directly to communities that have limited access to a physical library, ensuring residents across nearly 1,700 square miles can read, learn, and connect close to home. Equipped with Wi-Fi, Chromebooks, a printer, a wheelchair lift, and collections in both English and Spanish, the Bookmobile provides a full-service library experience that is tailored to the unique needs of each community it visits. In response to growing demand, the District has expanded service to additional locations, including The Community Market in Gypsum, Roundup River Ranch, and Freedom Park in Edwards, increasing access to educational resources for even more residents. By removing transportation barriers and creating welcoming, accessible spaces for lifelong learning, the Bookmobile strengthens connections, promotes equity, and enriches communities throughout Eagle County.Learn more about services and routes for the Bookmobile HERE

Public sector jobs keep on rising, even as the Government promises to slash numbers. Seasonally-adjusted Stats NZ data shows filled jobs rose 0.3 percent across the country last month - 0.7 in the past year. More than 6,000 public service roles were created in the year to May. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says lifts in Government spending on health and education have translated into jobs. "When you do look at where the Government has been prioritising its spending, it is those two sectors - when you look at that sort of public service beyond those sectors, you have had a slight decline." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Euna Solutions is a leading GovTech Software company with clients across the United States and Canada. And AI is increasingly being introduced into their suite of software products. Challenges and opportunities abound for the enterprise, its' software engineers and management as Artificial Intelligence becomes part of the GovTech software offering.

Two of WHOOP's first 100 paying customers were LeBron James and Michael Phelps. The device built to optimize elite athletic performance is now finding a second calling in national security — and the story of how it got there says as much about military institutions as it does about the technology. Todd Stiefler, VP of Enterprise and Public Sector at WHOOP, joins Dr. Arun Seraphin at Emerging Tech Horizons to explain how a consumer fitness wearable became a force readiness tool, and what's still standing in the way of adoption at scale. Learn more about WHOOP here: https://www.whoop.com/us/en/Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1 #ETI #EmergingTech #WearableTech 

Finding a needle in a haystack would seem like a minor endeavor compared to what today's federal systems managers must face. Let's take a stab at a correct farmyard analogy – the haystacks double in size every day and are moving. That sounds like an exaggeration, but recent reports show that nine million zero-day exploits are released every day. AI is putting malicious actors on steroids. Chris Townsend, Global Vice President of Public Sector at Elastic, discussed the company's role in federal cybersecurity and data management. His argument is, essentially, that cybersecurity is a data problem. If threats are viewed from that perspective, the more data you can bring into your security environment, the more effective you are at defending it. Elastic enables security operations analysts      who are responsible for detecting threats to keep up with today's tlandscape and cyber-attack velocity. Elastic's platform and tools     can reduce false positives and help federal security operations centers (SOCs) prioritize valid threats. Townsend highlighted Elastic's agentic AI tools, which help SOC operators prioritize and remediate threats, reducing mean time to detect and respond.  Elastic's partnership with CISA for a managed  Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) as-a- service was also mentioned, emphasizing the importance of standardizing data for effective AI-driven cybersecurity. Townsend goes on to articulate Elastic's launch of a SIEM-as-a-Service offering for federal civilian agencies, featuring Elastic Security on Elastic Cloud. SIEMaaS delivers a cloud-based platform for next-generation, AI-powered threat analytics, incident response, and open-standards-based cybersecurity data ingestion. Here is a link to Chris' blog describing     CISA's SIEMaaS offering and how it supports federal agencies' cybersecurity posture while reducing costs

The Covid-19 pandemic saw the government spend hundreds of billions of pounds to buy PPE, keep businesses afloat and avoid mass redundancies. In the heat of this once-in-a-generation crisis, decisions were made that enabled widespread fraud by both individuals and organisations – leading to an estimated £10.9 billion of Covid-19 spending being lost to fraud and error. In December 2024, the chancellor appointed Tom Hayhoe as the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner to scrutinise Covid spending, explore how public funds could be recovered and make recommendations to prevent fraud in the future. So what could government have done differently to respond quickly to the pandemic while avoiding the vast scale of fraud? What should government do now to ensure there are more robust checks and balances ahead of the next crisis? How can departments and organisations better work together to prevent fraud across the public sector? And how will cultural and technological changes since the pandemic, including the growth of AI, impact the nature of public sector fraud and government's ability to tackle it? To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption Tom Hayhoe, Chair of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and formerly the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner Joshua Reddaway, Director of Fraud and Propriety at the National Audit Office Rachael Tiffen, Director of Public Sector & Learning at Cifas The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

The Covid-19 pandemic saw the government spend hundreds of billions of pounds to buy PPE, keep businesses afloat and avoid mass redundancies. In the heat of this once-in-a-generation crisis, decisions were made that enabled widespread fraud by both individuals and organisations – leading to an estimated £10.9 billion of Covid-19 spending being lost to fraud and error. In December 2024, the chancellor appointed Tom Hayhoe as the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner to scrutinise Covid spending, explore how public funds could be recovered and make recommendations to prevent fraud in the future. So what could government have done differently to respond quickly to the pandemic while avoiding the vast scale of fraud? What should government do now to ensure there are more robust checks and balances ahead of the next crisis? How can departments and organisations better work together to prevent fraud across the public sector? And how will cultural and technological changes since the pandemic, including the growth of AI, impact the nature of public sector fraud and government's ability to tackle it? To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption Tom Hayhoe, Chair of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and formerly the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner Joshua Reddaway, Director of Fraud and Propriety at the National Audit Office Rachael Tiffen, Director of Public Sector & Learning at Cifas The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 9, 2026- New York policymakers on both sides of the aisle got behind budget language that sweetens public sector pensions and comes with an estimated price tag of more than half a billion dollars. We consider why this is a good public policy with Joshua Terry, legislative and political director for CSEA, the state's second largest public sector union.

Innovation often follows a familiar cycle: rapid expansion, followed by consolidation. Federal agencies are experiencing this firsthand as AI tools and models proliferate across their environments.  This week on Feds At the Edge, technology leaders explore the challenge of rapid innovation and how agencies can regain control before the chaos of disorganized, duplicate data and tool sprawl compromises their missions.   Jim Smid, Federal Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks, explains how observability now extends beyond servers and IoT devices to include AI models, tools, and their interactions with agency data. Jessica Souder, AIRS Specialist / Director, Public Sector, Palo Alto Networks, emphasizes that agencies should carefully evaluate new AI tools, validating them in controlled environments, and establishing governance before deployment.   Tune in on your favorite podcast platform to hear why our panel of experts agree that any AI deployment should focus on the agency mission, valid data, and that all projects should commence with visibility.         

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jesse Heimowitz, CCM, of Tectonic Engineering; Dana Hecht, of H&H; and Graham Briggs, PE, of PMA Consultants, for a conversation about project controls, scheduling, and the realities of delivering large public sector infrastructure projects. The guests share how they each found their way into project management and discuss the varying levels of maturity across public agencies when it comes to scheduling, earned value management, and risk analysis. Comparing highway agencies with rail and transit organizations, they explore how legacy processes, organizational culture, and client expectations can influence project delivery practices. The conversation also highlights the role consultants play in advancing more consistent project lifecycle scheduling, using case studies and accountability measures to help drive change. Throughout the episode, the group emphasizes the importance of early planning, concept development, constructability reviews, and resource management in shaping project schedules, budgets, and long-term outcomes.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

A Former Finance Minister expects this year's Budget to invest in health, education, and defence – with cuts elsewhere. Budget 2026 is being unveiled tomorrow, opening up the Government's books and detailing when a return to surplus is possible. Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking re-prioritisation is the story of the week, and he's backing further cost-savings in the public sector. The Government aims to cut around 8,700 jobs in the public service by mid-2029, with savings set to be re-invested. Joyce told Hosking we've had an increase in public servants since 2017, but outcomes aren't significantly better. He says many believe it has just increased the churn, and number of meetings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into Episode #169 of the Psych Health and Safety USA Podcast, featuring host Dr. I. David Daniels, PhD, CSD, VPS, and special guest Randy Milliron, the Administrator of the American Society of Safety Professionals Public Sector Security Special Interest Group, a OHS veteran of 28 years, and a content creator for RSM 307 Studios on YouTube. After spending several years in the mining industry as a safety professional, paramedic, and rescue technician, Randy joined the public sector a decade ago and has since focused on the health and safety of public-sector workers. In this episode, he'll share his thoughts on the differences and similarities between the sectors, as well as some important points for leaders looking to improve psychological health and safety in their organizations.

Is the Nicola Willis public service announcement to be admired or condemned? I think the former, on balance. They should have done it properly two years ago and they didn't, hence they probably should not be back here now, unless this was their Machiavellian plan all along. Two public service haircuts a term. But assuming that wasn't it, we go back to a lost opportunity that could be in the rear vision mirror by now. What they talked was a big game. What they delivered was a surgical whimper. Yes, it is always sad to lose jobs and restructure and cut. But few outside the Wellington bubble would argue with the fact that the growth engine of public service work was absurd and 65,000 is a city, not a workforce. To make it worse, they got the same headlines and noise and pushback over a couple of thousand cuts as they would have ten times that. So we are back for another crack, driven by necessity. That's the bit to be admired. Laying lots of people off in election year is not really a vote-getter Mind you it's safe, I think, to say most of the public service aren't conservatives so the vote loss, you'd guess, will be minimal. It's a horrible thing working in an environment where your future is part of the political wind. I faced it at TVNZ and Radio NZ. Whoever woke up on what side of the bed had some effect on what you were paid and whether you were hanging around for a while. It's no way to have a job. And in that sense, you can blame the Labour Government for stacking the place with well-paid work. And yet as you applied, if you thought about it, surely it couldn't last, and it hasn't. As the unions bleat, this is not about the public service and its value. They do a lot of good things and a lot of vital things. There are a lot of very capable, if not talented, people in the mix. But it's the extra, the excess and the fat that needs the trimming. This is fiscally desperate to a degree – an operating allowance of $2.1 billion and savings from anywhere and everywhere. You can't accuse the Government of priming the pumps. The pumps don't work because "the vandals took the handles", if you know your Bob Dylan. The point is slashing spending and killing jobs is not your traditional electioneering. That's to be admired. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Government fleets are under more pressure than ever—and most people don't realize what's actually happening behind the scenes. In this episode of the Fleet Success Show, Marc Canton sits down with Nichole Osinski (Executive Editor of Government Fleet) to break down the biggest challenges fleets are facing in 2026, from technician shortages and aging vehicles to leadership gaps and political pressures. But the biggest takeaway? Success in fleet operations doesn't look the same for everyone. If you're a fleet manager, public sector leader, or just interested in how critical infrastructure actually runs, this conversation will change how you see the industry. Key Topics: Technician shortages Fleet budget constraints Aging assets & supply chain issues Leadership transitions Data-driven decision making Government fleet operations

Myles Downey's new book, The Sessions, marks a transition, a metamorphosis in his influential body of work. And that becomes the theme of this, his third appearance on The Coach's Journey Podcast.What happens when it is no longer sustainable to remain what you have been? What is it like to have an idea - like Myles did with The Sessions more than 30 years ago - and not be able to let it go? And for Padraig, the protagonist of The Sessions, what is it like for someone to step into their own shoes, becoming a leader, becoming oneself as a leader? That is just the start, though, in a wide-ranging conversation about Myles' work, his new book, and what he has coming up next as part of what has already been an incredibly influential and impactful career, which started working closely with Sir John Whitmore in the early days of coaching in the UK and passed through The School of Coaching, his bestselling book Effective Modern Coaching and his powerful work on genius, which culminated in the book, Enabling Genius.In particular, we talk about: Whether it is our duty and responsibility to express ourselves. Poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, and Myles' relationship to reading and writing (and what this has to do with coaching).Myles' passion for human nature, creativity and how human beings should be more of themselves, not less of themselves. The close relationship between genius and being seen as mad, and why some leaders and CEOs see genius as dangerous. One of the most powerful coaching exercises Myles did with Robbie when he was Robbie's coach. And at the end, Myles tells a moving story about the influence of his wife, Jo, on The Sessions and his wider work, and gives a tantalising trailer for what might be his next book: The Inner Game of Leadership - what it takes to express oneself, configured around the notion of leadership. To listen to Myles' first appearance on The Coach's Journey Podcast, visit https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-31-myles-downeyTo listen to his second appearance on the show, visit: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/69-myles-downey-what-is-effective-coaching-performance-coaching-when-to-be-directive-changing-clients-maps-of-reality-and-moreFor more information about Myles, visit www.mylesdowney.com or find him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/mylesdowneyFor more information about Robbie Swale, visit www.robbieswale.com.Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community. Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):Myles' previous appearances on The Coach's Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-31-myles-downeyhttps://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/69-myles-downey-what-is-effective-coaching-performance-coaching-when-to-be-directive-changing-clients-maps-of-reality-and-moreThe Sessions by Myles Downey: https://thesessions.online/ and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sessions-tale-leadership-Dublin-pubs-ebook/dp/B0GKCWPD4B/The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Game-Tennis-ultimate-performance/dp/1447288505/Myles' books: Effective Modern Coaching, The Enabling Manager, Enabling Genius: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Effective-Modern-Coaching-principles-successful/dp/191595116X/The fantasy novels where Robbie learned why poetry matters was The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham: https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Long-Price-Quartet/dp/B074CFZ29BJoseph Campbell: http://robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2024/10/9/the-insecure-way-is-really-the-secure-wayStrong Ground by Brene Brown: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Ground-Leadership-Tenacity-Vermilion/dp/178504320XRoberto Assagioli: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_AssagioliBIOGRAPHY FROM MYLESMyles Downey is a recognized authority on Performance, Coaching and Leadership and the author of three classics in the coaching and performance arena: ‘Effective Modern Coaching', (330,00+ books sold); ‘Enabling Genius – a mindset for success in the 21st Century'; ‘The Enabling Manager – how to get the best out of your team'. Myles is one of the leading executive performance coaches in Europe, with global experience (Europe, North and South America, Asia-Pacific, UAE). He has worked across the C-suite in many prestigious organisations over the past 35 years, in a wide variety of industries, including Banking and Financial Services, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Professional Services, Tech, the Public Sector and Sports.Myles was the founder of The School of Coaching (1996 to 2012), at the time the premier institution for coach training in Europe.Myles has deployed his performance coaching programs with the Senior Coaches of the England Rugby Team and with the New Zealand Elite Rugby Coaches.Myles has been a speaker at many leadership conferences, including the BBC's Conference for its top 400 senior executives, the McKinsey Global Partners Conference in Singapore and the ICF Global Conference in Malmo, to name a few. After 33 years living in London, Myles now lives in Norfolk, England. He was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1959. Myles plays for Norfolk Veterans Tennis and competes occasionally on the ITF Masters Tour.

The Government's announcement of massive public sector cuts has ramped up the election year battle - even between Coalition mates With less than a week until the Budget announcement, public service cuts of nearly 9000 jobs kicked off a political firestormFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

An AI expert says politicians and ministry leaders need to embrace the use of AI, before it can be fully adopted in the public service. Mark Laurence, chief executive of AI consultancy Ten Past Tomorrow spoke to John Campbell.

Critics are questioning the cost of the government cutting public sector jobs, and scaling up the use of artificial intelligence. Phil Pennington reports.

Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith discusses the government's plan to cut nearly 9000 jobs over the next three years. He spoke to John Campbell.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little responds to the government's announcement that it plans to cut almost 9000 public sector jobs over the next three years. Mayor Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In the private sector, product teams pick their customers, generate demand, and ship into something close to a green field. In the public sector, none of that holds. Ayushi Roy — Chief Program Officer at New America's New Practice Lab and a lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School — joins Randy to unpack what changes when your user base is already sitting in front of you, your scrutiny is congressional, and the right answer is sometimes to delete ten systems rather than build an eleventh.Drawing on her work on IRS Direct File, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Illinois childcare voucher system, and a text-based 911 alternative that rolled out to 800,000 students across 13 universities, Ayushi makes the case for a distinct public-sector product playbook: thin-slicing for safe failure, designing for the lowest digital denominator, separating design problems from engineering problems, and treating unbuilding as a first-class option.Chapter markers01:48 — From aid monitoring in Jordan to digital delivery03:37 — Why she built a text-based alternative to 91106:33 — From a rollout to 800,000 students to Oakland City Hall08:58 — What the New Practice Lab does, and what a CPO does inside a think tank11:06 — Why private-sector product playbooks don't transliterate14:03 — No marketing, no early adopters: latent demand and the curb cut effect14:40 — Oakland's eviction tool, MacBooks, and the lowest digital denominator17:30 — Thin-slicing IRS Direct File without losing Congress22:36 — Building executive sponsorship that allows safe failure23:41 — Product vs service: the rest of the job that isn't writing code26:09 — Illinois childcare vouchers: when modernising the form makes things worse29:22 — Design problems, engineering problems, and the laptop-hinge analogy33:18 — Can AI prototyping close the policy–implementation gap?35:40 — The FAFSA simplification crisis and the case for bilingual builders37:31 — Unbuilding: how a request for a 15th CHIP system became one to remove ten41:18 — What keeps her goingOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

Welcome back to another episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!In this episode, Stefano sits down with Conservative MP and National Outreach Chair Arpan Khanna for a real conversation about politics, public service, affordability, and the future of Canada.Arpan shares his journey growing up in a hardworking immigrant family, watching his parents sacrifice to build a better life in Canada, and how those values shaped his passion for politics, community, and public service.From working tough summer jobs and studying criminology to entering politics through grassroots conservative activism, Arpan opens up about the experiences that pushed him toward fighting for Canadian families and becoming a Member of Parliament.The conversation dives deep into the importance of free speech, open dialogue, and why meaningful conversations matter more than ever in a divided political climate.Throughout the episode, Stefano and Arpan discuss:• Arpan's upbringing and his parents' immigrant journey to Canada• the values of hard work, discipline, integrity, and community• why public service should always put people before politics• the importance of free speech and open conversation in Canada• Pierre Poilievre's leadership, vision, and growing support across the country• martial arts, discipline, and the mindset behind leadership• why more young Canadians need to get involved politically• the growing affordability crisis facing Canadians• housing costs, food inflation, and rising financial pressure on families• youth unemployment and why many young people feel hopeless• government spending, taxes, and the expansion of bureaucracy• repeat offenders, crime, public safety, and Arpan's jail-not-bail legislation• the impact of carbon taxes, gas prices, and rising grocery costs• the recent floor crossings in Parliament and what they mean for voters• concerns around government accountability and political trust• why Conservatives believe smaller government creates stronger citizens• restoring optimism, opportunity, and the Canadian promiseArpan also shares what it felt like walking into Parliament for the first time, the responsibility he feels representing his constituents, and why he still believes Canada's best days are ahead.Grab a casual, lock in, and let's get into it.Host: Stefano (stefo)Instagram: @drstefohttps://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...Guest: Arpan Khanna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arpankhanna?igsh=YWd2OHNheGE4OWg2https://arpankhannamp.ca/contact/This episode is brought to you by Canada First — secure your home with Canada's best home fortification. Visit https://canadafirst.com/ to learn more.Follow Canada First on Instagram!https://www.instagram.com/canadafirst.inc?igsh=OGd4YjZ5enV0M2t5CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:05 Meet Arpan Khanna 00:02:40 Why Conversations Matter 00:05:10 Fighting For Communities 00:06:55 Pierre Poilievre & UFC 00:09:55 Arpan's Immigrant Story 00:13:05 Discovering Politics 00:15:00 Why Politics Matters 00:17:05 Becoming Conservative 00:18:50 Conservative Values Explained 00:21:00 Crime & Repeat Offenders 00:23:10 Taking A Seat In Parliament 00:26:30 Floor Crossing Betrayal 00:30:05 Don't Lose Faith In Canada 00:31:55 Is Pierre Still The Leader? 00:34:20 Liberal Policies Under Fire 00:35:10 Cost Of Living Crisis 00:38:00 Are Canadians Being Misled? 00:39:20 Rich vs Poor Canada 00:40:40 Gas Prices & Carbon Tax 00:43:05 The Carbon Tax Illusion 00:44:20 Canada's Untapped Potential 00:46:10 Big Government Problems 00:48:35 Government Spending & Corruption 00:51:00 Public Sector vs Private Sector 00:53:20 The Future Of Young Canadians 00:56:10 Housing & Home Ownership 00:58:40 Crime, Drugs & Disorder 01:02:10 Freedom & Canadian Identity 01:05:00 Why Canadians Feel Frustrated 01:08:30 Media Narratives & Messaging 01:12:20 Restoring Hope In Canada 01:15:40 Final Thoughts 01:18:00 Closing Message

What happens when the union that claims to represent you stops representing your interests?On this episode of Disunion, host David Osborne speaks with Chip Rogers, CEO of Americans for FairTreatment (AFFT), to unpack the rapid growth of the organization and the rising backlash among public sector workers.Growing from just a few hundred members to now more than 14,000 nationwide, AFFT is giving teachers, firefighters, federal employees, and others a way to push back against union leadership they say has become overly political and unaccountable.Rogers breaks down why many teachers say they support unions in theory but not their own, and how public sector unions often wield dues and political power in ways that clash with member priorities. He also unpacks the post-Janus fight over worker rights, emerging state reforms like recertification votes and pay flexibility, and the high-stakes battle over TSA unionization and federal worker protections.Along the way, Rogers shares personal stories, from his mother's experience as a teacher to his own classroom being downgraded by union rules, that illustrate how current labor structures can reward mediocrity and sideline excellence.If you're interested in worker freedom, union accountability, and the future of public sector labor law, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

"We have seen a transformation between the public sector and the private sector in terms of their relationship. We've seen enormous change in this country." - Guy Battle, CEO of Social Value Portal The U.K. Social Value Act of 2012 requires all public sector buyers to ask suppliers how much their business will contribute to the community if they win the work up for bidding. It has not just become a differentiator among supplier proposals, it has shifted how the government is awarding its contracts. Contributions to social value are now being included in the award process alongside cost and quality. Guy Battle is the CEO of the Social Value Portal, and the author of a recent article published in the Journal of Public Procurement: "Social value as a lever for achieving value for money and community outcomes in procurement." He describes social value as a business's answer to the question: How do you contribute to our environment, support the local community, and bolster the local economy? In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Guy discusses social value with Kelly Barner in the context of: The longer term corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) movement Current regulations, and how they started a shift that has moved beyond compliance What has been required to allow social value to build momentum and achieve scale How public sector policy can drive change across the private sector supply base   Links: Guy Battle on LinkedIn JoPP Article: Social value as a lever for achieving value for money and community outcomes in procurement Kelly Barner on LinkedIn Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter  Art of Supply on AOP Subscribe to the Art of Procurement Newsletter  

Deploying AI in regulated, mission-critical environments is a challenge of a different order from shipping a consumer app. Where most AI practitioners enjoy the freedom to iterate quickly and fail cheaply, public sector software vendors must satisfy procurement regulations, legal liability constraints, and a profound obligation to public trust. Andrew Stockwell, VP of AI at Euna Solutions — a leading provider of cloud-based software for government bodies across the United States and Canada — has spent years operating at this intersection. In a wide-ranging conversation on the Snowpal Podcast, Stockwell walked through the technical decisions, architectural patterns, and organizational strategies his team uses to ship production-quality AI responsibly in one of the world's most demanding verticals.

This is episode 835. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, Fred meets with Sehar Wahla, Director of AWS at Carahsoft; Peter Cipriano, Chief Information Officer at J3 Consulting; and Joshua Dirsmith, Vice President of Public Sector at Effectual.  Learn more about the IEPS Mainstage Live Event on May 14, focused on the AWS ecosystem, here. Find Sehar on LinkedIn. Find Peter on LinkedIn. Find Joshua on LinkedIn. SEHAR'S TIP: "The most successful sellers acknowledge that customers don't have the answer. They get close, become trusted advisors, and work hand-in-hand to solve the problem, not just sell technology." PETER'S TIP: "It's not enough to have the best solution. You have to show how it fits the customer's mission, their people, and their process. That's what builds instant credibility." JOSHUA'S TIP: "Your success comes from adding value in every conversation and becoming a trusted advisor, so customers bring you their hardest problems, not just the easy ones."

At Google Cloud Next in Las Vegas, Bob Evans sat down with Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector, to discuss how AI, security, and open cloud strategies are reshaping government services. Dahut shared how Google Public Sector was built on the belief that government agencies deserve the same advanced commercial technologies as private enterprises, and why that decision is now proving critical in the era of agentic AI. AI Reinvents Government The Big Themes: Commercial Cloud for Government: Karen Dahut explained that when Thomas Kurian became CEO of Google Cloud in 2019, he challenged the outdated assumption that public sector organizations should receive different or lesser technology than private enterprises. Instead of building a separate, restricted GovCloud environment, Google chose to accredit its full commercial cloud for government use. This gave agencies access to the same scalability, resiliency, and innovation cycles as Fortune 100 companies. That decision is especially important now because AI workloads demand enormous scale. Leadership Makes AI Real: Technology alone does not create transformation — leadership does. Dahut highlighted examples from the FDA, Department of Transportation, and the City of Los Angeles, where visionary leaders are actively driving AI adoption rather than waiting for change to happen. These executives are not simply buying software; they are rethinking how agencies operate, from transportation systems to drug discovery to citizen services. Dahut stressed that real AI success requires courage, education, and enablement alongside strong technology. Open Cloud Is Responsible Government: Dahut strongly argued that openness is not optional in public sector technology, it is the only responsible approach. Governments operate with decades of legacy systems, massive backlogs of information, and multimodal data spread across many environments. Forcing all of that data into one cloud platform would be expensive, slow, and ultimately harmful. Google's approach is to leave the data where it already exists and analyze it there, avoiding costly ingress and egress fees and preventing vendor lock-in. The Big Quote: “AI and agentic AI is truly going to be one of those technologies that we look back on 10, 15 years from now and say that was truly the most transformational piece of technology since the transistor.” More from Karen Dahut and Google Cloud: Connect with Karen on LinkedIn or learn more about Google Cloud Public Sector. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

In this episode, we sit down with John Barrand, CHRO for the State of Utah, to discuss an inspiring transformation in public sector performance management. John led a bold effort to overhaul Utah's performance management system—moving it from a culture of “adequacy” and silence to one focused on learning, growth, connection, and accountability. John shares how he and his team achieved legislative change requiring quarterly check-ins, implemented management training, and shifted the state's mindset around performance and development. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...[01:16] Initial state of Utah's performance management system[06:23] Value of continuous learning and curiosity in government [10:06] Defining the “why” for performance management in Utah[17:02] Risks and Resistance in Systemic Change[20:06] Quarterly employee check-ins initiative[25:59] Balancing fairness and measurement without alienating staff [34:28] Creation of a system-wide talent mobility program [40:01] Development of incentive structures and bonus allocations [44:22] Sustainability and future of the programPerformance Management is a Sector-Spanning ChallengePerformance management has a notorious reputation, often maligned as bureaucratic and misaligned. These challenges aren't confined to just the private sector. Public organizations often face a wealth of bureaucracy and challenges that can inhibit transformation, compounded by a cultural tendency towards silence and an adequacy mindset.When John assumed his role in 2021 for the state of Utah, over 70% of employees had an “unknown” performance rating, and only 16% had received annual reviews. The pervasive culture of silence fostered disengagement and suspicion, and performance management, where it occurred, was simply about maintaining adequacy—a relic from nearly a century and a half of defensive bureaucracy.From Compliance to ConnectionThe first pivotal move was defining purpose. Clarity on the “why” behind performance management is crucial. For Utah, the why was growth: enabling employees to learn and grow while retaining top talent—shifting away from the punitive roots of performance management. As John says: “Employees don't want feedback, they want connection. They don't want evaluation, they want attention”.One of the new steps John took was to require quarterly check-in conversations with all employees. The effect was transformational: from just 16% of employees having annual reviews to 89% participating in four quarterly check-ins within the first year. This regular cadence broke the culture of silence, making communication a legal and cultural imperative.Overhauling the System: What ChangedWhere most organizations tinker at the edges, Utah's public sector embraced bold, structural change. They implemented legislation for conversations, which included quarterly check-ins and annual reviews, demonstrating a high-level commitment to improving performance management.Only 30% of managers previously had any training, and now, over 87% have been developed in crucial skills such as feedback, resilience, and collaboration. Utah also funds performance management by reallocating cost-of-living adjustments and introducing performance-driven bonuses. Goals now consist of both output-aligned objectives and developmental “how” objectives, pushing employees to reflect on and improve their impact.Evidence of a Transformed CulturePerformance conversations have become increasingly meaningful. The organization saw a 40% increase in first-year exits for cause—not a sign of ruthless weeding out, but of identifying and addressing performance issues sooner, thereby improving overall health without a drop in retention. High-potential (HIPO) employee retention rates rose 16% above the general population, and newly calibrated bonus systems rewarded and motivated top talent. Utah's success has garnered attention from major institutions—including Harvard and the London School of Economics—looking to distill lessons from its model. Resources & People MentionedUtah Governor's OfficeUtah LegislatureHarvard UniversityLSE HB0104GRIT Initiative      Connect with John BarrandJohn BarrandConnect With Red Thread ResearchWebsite: Red Thread ResearchOn LinkedInOn FacebookOn TwitterSubscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES

Michael Centrella is the Head of Public Policy at SecurityScorecard. In this episode, he joins host Scott Schober and Mark Montgomery, Senior Director and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss the visibility gap in U.S. cyber defense. SecurityScorecard's mission is to make the world a safer place by transforming the way organizations understand, mitigate, and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees, and vendors. Learn more about our sponsor at https://securityscorecard.com

Proud to have Gary Washington on today's show. He is a former Air Force member, longtime federal IT leader, and former USDA CIO (eight years), now Chief Strategy Officer at ACT-IAC. Washington recounts his career across agencies including Treasury, HHS, FDA, OMB, and USDA, and explains how military discipline shaped his emphasis on documented plans, accountability, and trust. He discusses common resistance to change in large organizations, USDA's shift from decentralization toward centralization, and implementing the White House-driven IT Modernization Centers of Excellence through inclusive, business-driven governance, performance measurement, workforce education, RPA training, and results such as deactivating 37 data centers and consolidating networks and end-user support.https://www.actiac.org/act-iac-event/fellows-friends-day-domaine-fortier  ACT-IAC Gives Back: Wreaths Across America 2026 | ACT-IAC Small Business Alliance | ACT-IACSubscribe on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode! For more from ACT-IAC, follow us on LinkedIn or visit http://www.actiac.org.Learn more about membership at https://www.actiac.org/join.Donate to ACT-IAC at https://actiac.org/donate. Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria TellsCourtesy of Epidemic Sound(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young CommunityCourtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Gov Tech Today hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha recap this year's RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco, noting the event's commercial scale and a smaller, dedicated public-sector track. Key takeaways include how “agentic AI” is moving from buzzword to reality, with public agencies urged to treat AI agents like users—requiring identity and access controls, least-privilege permissions, logging, and auditing—within existing governance frameworks such as FedRAMP, StateRAMP, and NIST. They discuss governance as a primary security control, growing attention to critical infrastructure and physical access as cybersecurity issues, and the challenge of tiny local utilities lacking staff and budgets, suggesting collaboration and shared services. The conversation also flags procurement and tool sprawl concerns, and explores what outcome-based security might mean for measuring automation, effectiveness, and ROI in government contracts.   00:00 Welcome to Gov Tech Today 00:15 What is RSA Conference 00:53 San Francisco Cleanup Talk 01:52 Public Sector at RSA 04:42 AI Everywhere at RSA 05:34 Agentic AI as Users 07:42 Governance as Security Control 09:25 Critical Infrastructure Cyber Shift 10:57 Small Districts Big Risk 12:38 Shared Services and Support 14:20 Procurement Must Catch Up 16:31 Outcome Based Security Metrics 18:09 Wrap Up and Next Year

This is episode 828. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is a Marketing and Selling Effectiveness sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. Regularly, the IEPS posts a new show with Selling Essentials Marketplace partner Julie Murphy from Sage Communications. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, Fred and Julie meet with Rick Herrmann, former Vice President and General Manager of Public Sector at Staples, and Paige Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at EdCatalyst Group. Find Rick on LinkedIn. Find Paige on LinkedIn.  RICK'S TIP: "If you're not getting the results that you want, it's probably not your people. It's probably your processes, your governance models, and everything feeding the result of the scoreboard." PAIGE'S TIP: "The more you focus on features, the less you sell. Nobody cares about what your product does. They care about the outcomes it creates."