Bob Lavigna, Senior Fellow, UKG Public Sector and the Founding Director, for the Institute for Public Sector Employee Engagement joins the show as we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week and we reflect on the importance of employee engagement. We also talk about the 2024 human capital management “megatrends” that government should be focused on which are redefining the employee/employer relationship. Finally we delve into the impending environmental, social and governance “gut check” which is intensifying political culture wars and are putting organizations’ initiatives, especially DEI&B, under a microscope.

Ott Velsberg, Global AI Thought Leader and Chief Data Officer of the Government of Estonian joins the show to discuss Estonia’s new AI and data strategy which is built on three main pillars: a data-driven economy and society, an AI-driven government and society and trustworthy, human-centric AI and data governance. We also talk about the country’s approach to digital citizen experience and why Estonia has gained a reputation as a trendsetter in AI around the world.

Mark Wheeler, Director with the General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS), Centers for Excellence in Data & Analytics & former CIO for the City of Philadelphia joins the show to discuss the role data is playing across government, especially in the proliferation of AI technology. We also discuss the learnings he brought as an urban planner to his role for the City of Philadelphia, then ultimately to his position at GSA and his thoughts on the future of what smart cities will be able to deliver for their residents.