#13 - Siim Sikkut - Innovating Governance: How to Build a Digital-Native Nation?

For an action-packed episode with an actual builder of digital governments, our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) takes the seat with one of the world’s most influential people in the field of digital governance, Siim Sikkut. (@sikkut) The man who led Estonia’s groundbreaking E-residency program and also played a builder role as the Estonian government’s former Chief Information Officer (CIO). Siim is also the author of the book ‘Digital Government Excellence: Lessons from Effective Digital Leaders” and helps policymakers and technologists around the globe in building future-ready digital societies.

On the episode we cover:

-the fundamentals of building a digital nation
-E-residency, virtual identity programs for non-residents
-Estonian government's technological and legal approach to transforming the country into one of the most advanced digital nations in the world
-strategies and policies needed to launch and steer development initiatives and regulations
-how to use digital design solutions in overcoming issues such as voter fraud, tax fraud, corruption and enabling agile policymaking in government
-how to collaborate with relevant stakeholders on policies concerning technology and digital adoption
-how to use the best practices of scalable startups in innovating solutions for citizens

Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(04:05) - Siim's background in digital government

(06:44) - What is the reason for the Tiger Leap Initiative originating in Estonia?

(08:14) - What is unique about the Estonian government's digital Program?

(13:49) - How was the issue of building citizens' trust addressed in Estonia governments' digital program initiatives?

(15:45) - What approaches were taken to address the problem of voter fraud?

(25:25) - What steps were taken to communicate to government stakeholders and ministers that the process was iterative and there was a risk of failure, and how were they convinced of the importance of taking such risks in pursuing e-government progress?

(28:00) - Revenue model of the E-Residency program of Estonia

(33:13) - In what ways were digital solutions leveraged to combat corruption and enhance transparency?

(36:32) - What are the best practices for smaller countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America that are interested in adopting a more digital government approach similar to the Estonian model?
(43:25) - what approach do you think is more effective for politicians in terms of giving remits and prescriptions to civil servants for technology initiatives?

(45:48) - What lessons can be learned from the failures of digital governments, and what traps do government officials commonly encounter on their digital journeys?

(48:21) - Quick Fire Round

(50:10) - Outro