The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

The One with the Former NHL Defenseman

Karl Alzner, former National Hockey League defenseman with the Washington Capitals and Partner Manager at ThunderCat Technology joins the show to talk about lessons that he learned during his career in the NHL and how they have translated to his new role in the government space. We also discuss why he decided to move into the public sector industry, what it takes to have staying power in challenging environments, and shares what some of the growing pains have been during his transition.

The One with the WalkMe VP

Billy Biggs, Vice President of Public Sector at WalkMe joins the show to discuss his views on the state of the customer and employee experience landscapes in government. We also talk about how the pandemic has impacted procurement in the public sector, he illustrates the importance of data for CX strategy, and his thoughts on hiring as we navigate what some are calling the “Great Resignation.”

The One with the Former FCC CIO

Francisco Salguero, Digital Acceleration Architect at Salesforce and Former Chief Information Officer at Federal Communications Commission joins the show to discuss why technology is not the most important aspect to government digital transformation. We also talk about the impact Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has had on his career, his advice to industry as they engage public sector leaders, and some of the non-technical challenges he faced sitting in the CIO role.

The One with the WeWork Federal Chief

Daniel Mathews, Head of the Federal Government Practice at WeWork and the Former Commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service joins the show to discuss how the pandemic and telework has changed the landscape of Federal real estate. We also discuss how WeWork is supporting data-driven decisions on the government’s building footprint, how the internet of things can support workplace evolution, and his thoughts on the future of work in government.

The One with the DISA Deputy Director

Major General Garrett Yee, Deputy Director at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) joins the show to discuss his career in the United States Army and tough lessons he has learned along his journey. We also talk about what pulled him into military service, his priorities for the agency as it evolves, and his thoughts on what the biggest challenge the industry is facing right now and into the future.

The One with the U.S. Veteran’s Affairs EX Leader

Airis McCottry Gill, Executive Director, Employee Experience and Organizational Management at the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs joins the show to discuss her thoughts on the recent Executive Order for Customer Experience and how she sees it impacting the EX landscape in government. We also talk about why the development of journey maps has changed the approach to EX at the department, how she has enabled a culture centered around data, and her advice to women in the government technology space.

The One with the Adobe Government CX Evangelist

Jonathan Benett, Technical Director for Digital Government Solutions at Adobe and the Former Chief Enterprise Architect at USDA joins the show to discuss why legislation like the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) and the recent CX executive order have made this a “renaissance time” when it comes to improving government experience. We also talk about lessons he learned from his time as a government executive, how technology is enabling the workforce of the future, and why digital equity has become such an important driver around digital transformation.

The One with the WHOOP Data Expert

Kristen Holmes, Vice President of Performance Science at WHOOP and NCAA D1 All-American, National Champion and Hall of Fame inductee joins the show to discuss the importance of being data-driven and how to build a couture around data to drive positive impact. We also discuss the work WHOOP is doing to support performance of military service members, ways that organizations can help mitigate employee burnout, and the biggest challenges she sees when trying to change an organization’s mindset.

The One with the ICF Public Sector EVP

Mark Lee, Executive Vice President for Global Public Sector at ICF International joins the show to discuss ways he has seen the pandemic accelerate and alter the future of government work. We also talk about some of the ways he has worked with customers as they have learned to navigate the new normal, what agencies should be prioritizing and they look to redefine their customer experiences, and some of his predictions for the next government fiscal year.

The One with the Red Hat Public Sector Chief

Clara Conti, Vice President and General Manager of Red Hat Public Sector joins the show to discuss how she has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and what best practices she learned over the past couple years that can be leveraged for organizations operating in the new normal. She also shares her thoughts on the Federal government’s progress around cloud adoption, attributes agencies should be focused on when evaluating a new company or technology, and advice for young women entering the government technology space.