The Public Sector Show by TechTables #147: Lisa Kent & Summer Xiao – End-to-End User Experience: Bracket-Busting CIO Strategies That Work
Featuring:
- Lisa Kent, CIO, City of Houston
- Summer Xiao, Deputy CIO for Enterprise Applications and PMO, City of Houston
Summary: Join Lisa Kent and Summer Xiao as they share their journey of transforming public sector technology in America's fourth-largest city, revealing how they tackle challenges from digital equity to emergency preparedness. Through their candid discussion, they demonstrate how effective leadership, strategic communication, and a mission-driven approach are revolutionizing government technology services while building resilient, high-performing teams.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How the City of Houston breaks down departmental silos to deliver better customer experiences
- The critical role of "one team" meetings in aligning business users, IT teams, and vendors
- Strategies for managing technology transformation during crisis events like COVID-19
- Innovative approaches to solving digital equity challenges in urban environments
- How to build and retain talent in public sector technology roles
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Welcome and introductions
(01:30) Lisa Kent's journey from electrical engineering to city CIO
(05:02) Breaking down silos in large organizations
(09:31) Summer Xiao's background and leadership philosophy
(13:40) HR One project: Leadership lessons and team alignment
(21:54) The "one team" approach to project management
(25:20) Recruiting talent and sharing mission impact
(30:08) Emergency preparedness and continuity planning
(34:13) Collaboration with peer cities and best practices
(37:43) Smart Cities initiatives and digital transformation
(39:10) Digital equity and broadband access challenges
(41:39) Resource management and internship programs
(44:07) Legacy impact and future aspirations
→ #180: J.R. Sloan, Ryan Murray & Doug Lange – Arizona State CIO, CISO & Former CSO Talk AI
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