Riskgaming

Can you (or DOGE) product manage the government?

Jan 31, 2025

Christine Keung, a Partner at J2 Ventures with a rich background at Dropbox and the government, dives into the modernization of U.S. government through technology. She discusses her strategic insights from playing a simulation on the Chinese electric vehicle market and shares her experiences with the Paycheck Protection Program. The conversation touches on the delicate balance of information sharing in joint ventures, the role of technology amidst U.S.-China competition, and the challenges of implementing tech-driven efficiency within government agencies.

41:27

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Episode guests

Christine Keung

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Christine Keung emphasizes that integrating technology in government can enhance efficiency and address staffing shortages, exemplified by the Paycheck Protection Program.

The podcast highlights the importance of understanding local contexts and collaboration in competitive markets, as demonstrated by Christine's strategic success in the Chinese electric vehicle scenario.

Deep dives

Christine Kyung's Journey to Success

Christine Kyung embodies the American dream, having risen through various prominent roles after being born to immigrant parents. She has held significant positions at Dropbox, the State Department, and as the Chief Data Officer for San Jose, before assuming her role at the Small Business Administration where she was instrumental in launching the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her career showcases a unique blend of experiences in both the private sector and government, highlighting her ability to bridge the gap between technical innovation and public service. Christine's journey symbolizes the potential and contributions of immigrants in shaping the American workforce and economy.

Intro

2min

Navigating Challenges in Risk Management Games

2min

Strategic Decisions in Joint Ventures and Wargaming Insights

5min

Game Development and Decision-Making

5min

Navigating Collaboration and Technology in Government

19min

Tech Tensions: U.S. vs. China

9min

There’s a growing movement to apply the best practices of technology to the U.S. government. Whether it’s Elon Musk and DOGE (the so-called Department of Government Efficiency) or the myriad of chief technology and data officers across all levels of government, the hope is that technology can enhance productivity and minimize errors, offering a better experience with government for all Americans.

Few people have the wealth of experience on this front than our guest today, Christine Keung. She has a tech industry background from Dropbox and her current role as a partner at J2 Ventures, but also a lengthy tenure across party lines, from working in China with Ambassador Max Baucus, to becoming the Chief Data Officer of San Jose, California, to helping launch the Paycheck Protection Program at the Small Business Administration.

Alongside host Danny Crichton and Riskgaming Director of Programming Laurence Pevsner, we talk about her recent experience playing Powering Up — our Riskgaming scenario on the Chinese electric vehicle market — her experiences in government and the challenges of modernization, and then finally, we turn to DeepSeek and the U.S.-China competition that has splashed across the front pages the past week.

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Chris Gates⁠⁠⁠

Music by ⁠⁠⁠George Ko