The Public Sector Show by TechTables

#200: UCSB's Data-Driven AI Pilots + ASU's Multi-LLM Innovation Platform + Google's Higher Ed Partnerships [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Josh Bright, CIO and Associate Vice Chancellor for IT at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)Kyle Bowen, Deputy CIO at Arizona State University (ASU)Charles Elliott, Field CTO for Public Sector at GoogleWhat You’ll Learn:High-Impact AI StrategiesASU's language learning: German professor developed a custom AI tool that breaks free from "arcane phrases like 'where is the library'" to enable personalized conversational practice that adapts to student interests and provides immediate feedbackUCSB's data-driven approach: Five strategic AI pilots generating concrete metrics to inform new leadership's investment decisions during chancellor transition, ensuring continuity of innovationGoogle Cloud's Rapid Innovation Team delivers accelerated proof-of-concepts through enhanced user story collaboration, allowing universities to quickly transform ideas into working prototypesTechnology Infrastructure InnovationsASU's "Create AI Platform" unifies multiple LLMs into a single environment where faculty, researchers and students can rapidly prototype solutions to real-world problems, creating an agile development ecosystemGoogle's migration of Collaboratory to cloud infrastructure gives educational institutions both seamless collaboration features and enterprise-scale computing power for complex research workloadsUCSB's partnership with Goldstein yielded comprehensive consensus from 200+ stakeholders including 70+ faculty members, creating what Josh calls "a fantastic engagement" leading to unified campus IT directionTransformative Leadership & Organizational DevelopmentUCSB's immersive five-day on-site "conference" reconnected hybrid workers with campus mission after 5-year absence for some staff, yielding emotional breakthrough: "We didn't know we needed this"UCSB's year-long MOR Associates Leadership Program builds shared language among senior IT leaders while requiring all central IT staff to achieve Yellow Belt certification in Lean Six SigmaASU's competitive AI Innovation Challenge framework creates structured experimentation that simultaneously explores possibilities and identifies governance issues: "It helps us put in place the kind of guidelines or processes to help mitigate them in the future"Cross-Institutional Partnership ModelsGoogle Cloud's advanced multimodal capabilities enable universities to process diverse inputs—"video, audio, geometry assignments, you name it"—creating richer educational experiences for studentsASU's operational success applying AI to incident communications demonstrates how technical teams can "translate and help communicate about what's happening in technology environments to provide better messaging, faster"UCSB's campus-wide mentorship program connects IT professionals across organizational boundaries, currently in its second cohort and delivering "really fantastic outcomes, just helping people to see, partner with those who are a little further along the road"Timestamps(01:15) ASU's three-pillar AI strategy: Education/Community, Technology, Experimentation(02:00) Real-world AI applications at ASU: German language learning and incident response(03:00) UCSB's campus IT strategy development with 200+ stakeholders(06:00) UCSB's Enterprise AI pilots for gathering implementation data(08:00) Leadership development initiatives at UCSB(12:30) ASU's AI Innovation Challenge framework(15:00) UCSB's transformative five-day on-site experience for remote staff(18:00) Leadership advice for technology leaders in Higher EdConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#199: Securing Decentralized IT at UT-McCombs & Tanium's 'Whole of Education' Framework [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:- Cory Wilburn, Chief Information Officer, Texas McCombs School of Business- Doug Thompson, Chief Education Architect, TaniumWhat You’ll Learn:Leadership Insight: The Chief Alignment OfficerCory Wilburn redefines the CIO role as "Chief Alignment Officer," focusing on ensuring everyone understands how they contribute to the organization's mission (I love this Cory!)Creating a "culture of safety" forms the foundation for innovation - "if you're trying to move the ball forward and fall short, you're among friends, not in a 'gotcha' environment"Building trust begins with personal connections - meet team members where they are (and not where you think they should be!)The storytelling imperative - effective security leaders must communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences through compelling narrativesHigher Ed's Unique Security Challenge: Decentralized ITHigher education operates as a "coalition of the unwilling" requiring consensus-building rather than top-down directivesThe academic paradox: institutional openness creates security vulnerability - "everyone walks in with multiple devices and you add to it with classroom technology"Balancing innovation with protection - "you always have to find that right balance of risk and innovation" based on data sensitivity and organizational contextThe constant risk-reward calculation of patch management - "we're going to break this system with this patch, what's the trade-off?"Tanium's Whole of Education FrameworkProvides "AWACS-like visibility" across fragmented IT environments while respecting academic autonomyReal-time endpoint management creates a "staff multiplier" effect, freeing IT professionals from routine maintenanceSuccess story: Winston Salem State University transformed staff culture through enhanced visibility, with employees now generating innovative solutionsVisibility without control - "we're not taking over their environment, we're simply looking so you know what your risk is"The Evolving Threat LandscapeSobering statistic: 80% of breaches stem from unpatched software vulnerabilities, with 80% of those preventableCOVID accelerated digital transformation - "in three months they had done exactly what I'd been trying to get them to do for years"IoT explosion has increased endpoints by "magnitudes of hundreds over what it was just five years ago"Education remains the primary defense - "at the end of the day, your biggest risk points are your users"Timestamps(03:03) New UT-McCombs building project(03:49) The "Whole of Education" approach(05:47) Winston Salem State success story(07:02) Managing IT complexity today(09:22) Open centers of innovation vs. cyber threats(12:15) Real-time visibility for campus security(15:20) The endpoint explosion across campus(16:52) 80% of breaches from unpatched software(23:35) Building trust as a new leader(26:56) The "Chief Alignment Officer" leadership approach(28:40) Reducing IT risk in decentralized environmentsConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#198: Saint Mary's Student-Run Help Desk + SolarWinds' 3X ROI Higher Ed Solutions [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Kathy Hausmann, Director of Digital Infrastructure and Support Services at Saint Mary's CollegeTyler Horning, Senior Account Manager, Central Region, Public Sector, SolarWindsWhat You’ll Learn:Saint Mary's Student-Run IT Support EvolutionDiscover how Saint Mary's College transformed from post-it note tracking to a sophisticated Web Help Desk system that resolves nearly 50% of tickets within one dayExplore their innovative two-tier support model: ResNet (student tech support) and Help Desk (faculty/staff support), both primarily staffed by studentsLearn how this IT experience creates a powerful talent pipeline, with former student workers landing positions at Google, JPMorgan Chase, and other major companiesComprehensive Student Training and Support OperationsInside Saint Mary's multi-phase training program: 3½ days of focused instruction followed by immersive orientation weekend experience that covers "everything they'll see in an academic year"How the FAQ feature creates invisible success stories by helping students solve problems independently without completing ticket submissionsThe critical philosophy of teaching student staff it's "okay to say 'I don't know'" and escalate issues to supervisorsSolarWinds Partnership and Customized SolutionsHow Web Help Desk's customization enables Saint Mary's to tailor experiences for different campus populations (including the "three strikes" system for students vs. automated reminders for faculty/staff)Impressive ROI metrics across higher education: 51% of institutions report 1-2x investment return with 17% seeing 3x return, and some seeing value within just 5 days of implementationThe power of automated workflows, escalations, and knowledge base development in creating efficient support operationsLooking Beyond TechnologyWhy Kathy recommends IT support jobs for students across ALL disciplines: "Nursing majors learn troubleshooting, education majors gain classroom-relevant skills, philosophy majors can thrive"Tyler's advice to students: "Absorb as much as you can, understand the broader organizational flow, and learn how to solve others' problems"How Saint Mary's exemplifies higher education's common challenges (understaffing, budget constraints) while creating innovative solutions through student empowermentTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro (00:00:58) Meet the innovators: SolarWinds and Saint Mary's College (00:03:58) From Post-it notes to digital transformation (00:05:05) Web Help Desk: The Spring 2014 revolution (00:07:42) Student-powered IT support model (00:09:22) Impressive metrics: 50% of tickets resolved within one day (00:13:19) Student IT bootcamp: The intensive training approach (00:19:43) Customizing support for campus culture (00:22:02) Career advice: "Any student should look at working in IT"Connect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#197: LSU's $7.5M Student-Powered SOC + NJIT's Life-Saving Analytics + Illinois' Creative Data Applications Powered by Splunk [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Craig Woolley, Chief Information Officer at Louisiana State University (LSU)Kim Milford, Chief Information Security Officer at University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignEd Wozencroft, VP for Digital Strategy and CIO at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)Mary Lou Prevost, Group Vice President | US | State, Local Government and Education at SplunkWhat You’ll Learn:Student-Powered SOC: A Revolutionary Education & Security ModelHow LSU created a scalable "student-powered" SOC model that provides real-world cybersecurity experience while enhancing institutional protectionThe unique public-private partnership with Techstream that enables 24/7 security operations while students work regular business hoursState-level buy-in with $7.5 million in recurring funding that has expanded the model to over 20 institutions across LouisianaDeveloping the Next Generation of Cybersecurity ProfessionalsHow the model creates a direct pipeline to industry with the first cohort of students all receiving job offers before graduationThe critical "six-week" timeline from student hiring to SOC frontline deployment, meeting the urgent need for cyber talentWhy both LSU and NJIT open their programs to students of all backgrounds, not just IT or cybersecurity majorsExpanding Data Analytics Beyond SecurityUniversity of Illinois' creative applications of Splunk beyond security - from analyzing email marketing performance to library resource utilizationHow IT data helped locate a student in crisis at NJIT, demonstrating the life-saving potential of security analytics platformsThe power of data visualization in communicating cybersecurity threats to government officials and securing institutional buy-inBuilding Consensus in Decentralized UniversitiesThe patient, collaborative approach to cybersecurity policy development with faculty at LSU through regular committee meetingsUniversity of Illinois' strategy of absorbing security costs centrally rather than charging departments to ensure wider adoptionHow cross-institutional partnerships amplify security capabilities through shared threat intelligenceTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:58) Meet the innovators: HigherEd leaders transforming cybersecurity(00:02:00) LSU's game-changing SOC model: Where university security meets workforce development(00:05:40) Addressing the 2.3 million cyber job gap: "We have to solve this talent challenge"(00:07:40) NJIT's bold vision: Expanding the student SOC model across New Jersey's institutions(00:11:00) Beyond security: University of Illinois transforms email analytics and library services(00:16:15) Data saves lives: How network analytics prevented a campus tragedy at 2AM(00:22:50) "All three have job offers already": The remarkable ROI of student-powered securityConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#196: Building Cyber Warriors: UTSA's SOC & Elastic's AI Secret Sauce [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Kendra Ketchum, Vice President for Information Management and Technology and CIO at the University of Texas, San AntonioJared Pane, Director of Solutions Architecture at ElasticWhat You’ll Learn:Leadership Philosophy & Team BuildingDiscover Kendra's transformative "humble, hungry, and kind" leadership philosophy that's reshaping technical teams at UTSAWhy Kendra actively avoids hiring "brilliant jerks" who might be technically strong but ultimately damage team culture and prevent successHow embracing failure as a pathway to growth creates resilient, innovative teams: "Fail fast, pivot faster"UTSA's Student-Empowered Security Operations CenterThe remarkable journey from concept to impact: How UTSA's SOC has placed 179 students directly into tech roles, creating vital "connective tissue" for San Antonio's tech economyInside the innovative "glass screen" SOC design that transforms cybersecurity education into an immersive experience where students feel "part of something big"Why Kendra challenges higher education's fundamental approach: "If you're not consuming the knowledge you're creating in these students, what are you doing?"Elastic's AI-Powered Cybersecurity RevolutionThe "secret sauce" behind Elastic's vector database and AI search capabilities that detect vulnerabilities competitors miss entirelyHow Elastic's attack discovery transforms SOC operations by using AI to analyze thousands of alerts in minutes, not daysTexas A&M's rapid response to a devastating 2019 ransomware attack and why they made Elastic Agent mandatory across their technology infrastructureBreaking the Status QuoStrategies for challenging the dangerous "that's how we've always done it" mentality in higher educationHow cross-sector collaboration between universities, government agencies, and industry partners is solving complex cybersecurity challengesThe power of staying curious: "When you nurture and grow people, I am just as feisty and fiery in protecting them too"Timestamps(02:53) "Humble, hungry, and kind": Building teams that drive results through trust(07:55) Elastic's AI-powered search: The difference between "being on the news" and staying secure(13:42) UTSA's SOC origin story: Creating career pathways and economic impact(21:45) Higher ed's responsibility to "consume its own product" by hiring graduates(26:45) Inside Texas A&M's ransomware response and security transformation(31:30) Change leadership: Challenging the status quo and finding paths to "yes"(36:18) Innovation through experimentation: "Let's try it and see if it works"(39:43) Final advice for rising technology leaders: "Stay curious" and "be authentically yourself"Connect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#195: Purdue's Enterprise AI Challenge + Montana's State-Wide Cyber Hub [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Timothy Winders, AVP and Deputy CIO at Purdue UniversityZach Rossmiller, CIO, University of MontanaMani Nagothu, Americas Field CISO & Associate Director at SentinelOneWhat You’ll Learn:How Purdue navigates the unprecedented challenge of scaling AI access across their university system - balancing million-dollar licensing costs against student equityInside the University of Montana's innovative state-wide cybersecurity hub that transforms students into SOC analysts through real-world experienceHow AI is reshaping both sides of cybersecurity - from sophisticated threat actors leveraging LLMs to defenders using AI-powered SOC automationPractical strategies for integrating AI into higher education operations, from custom GPTs for student government to AI-enhanced writing supportWhy getting diverse student perspectives on AI tools is crucial for successful implementation in higher educationTimestamps(00:00) Intro(03:00) Purdue's Enterprise AI Access Challenges(09:00) Montana's Cyber Montana Initiative & SOC Training(15:00) AI in Modern Cybersecurity Operations(20:00) Practical AI Implementation Stories(25:00) Student Perspectives & Future Outlook(31:00) Looking Ahead: Guest RecommendationsConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#194: How Clackamas CC Protected 10,000 Students + [Case Study] Texas A&M's Digital Transformation with Omnissa [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Saby Waraich, CIO/CISO, Clackamas Community CollegeWayne Bridges, Senior Solutions Engineer, OmnissaWhat You'll Learn:How Clackamas CC executed a 72-hour ransomware response protecting 10,000 students using out-of-band communication and multi-agency coordinationHow Texas A&M transformed their digital experience from 15+ logins to a unified portal while preserving school-specific brandingThe CARES framework (Communication, Adapt, Relationships, Empowerment, Stay Calm) for leading through complex transformations and crisesStrategies for using AI to enhance IT support through automated ticket analysis and phishing detectionThe Purple Cow leadership approach for building positive team culture in higher education ITTimestamps(01:00) Guest Introductions: Saby Waraich & Wayne Bridges(03:00) The CARES Framework Origins(05:00) Ransomware Response at Clackamas CC(08:00) Texas A&M's Digital Experience Transformation(12:00) Purple Cow Leadership Framework(16:00) Digital Branding in Higher Education(21:00) AI Initiatives in Higher Ed IT(26:32) "Big Fan of Andrea Bollinger, Vice Provost and CIO, Oregon State University"Connect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#193: Strategic HR Evolution: Building Culture-Driven IT OrganizationsFeaturing:Will Smith, Chief of Staff at City of Seattle ITIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Seattle IT revolutionized HR by embedding dedicated business partners within each department, transforming traditional personnel management into strategic partnerships that understand both technical operations and business goalsThe critical intersection of organizational psychology and tech leadership, through Smith's doctoral research on how growth mindset principles drive successful cultural transformation in IT organizationsSeattle IT's innovative "from-to state" framework for cultural change, creating systematic pathways from fixed to growth mindset and empowering teams with clear decision-making abilitiesThe power of intentional culture-building in IT organizations, demonstrated through Seattle IT's focus on psychological safety and creating spaces where all perspectives are valuedHow modern HR leadership drives organizational success by understanding both human capital and technical operations, illustrated through Seattle IT's transformation from a traditional personnel office to a strategic business partnerTimestamps(00:00) Introduction and Welcome (01:00) Will Smith: From HR Expert to Chief of Staff at Seattle IT (03:00) Personal Background and Family Values (04:00) Educational Journey: Bridging IT, Law, and Organizational Psychology (07:00) Understanding the 'Why' in Organizations (09:00) Growth Mindset: Foundation for Organizational Change (11:00) Revolutionizing HR: The Business Partner Model (14:00) Creating Intentional Culture and Psychological Safety (17:00) Managing Conflict Through Relationship Building (19:00) Leading Change: Hybrid Work Transformation (21:00) Seattle IT Learning Conference: Culture in Action (23:00) Closing Thoughts and Show InformationLinks Mentioned:2024 Seattle Learning Conference PlaylistMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Stanford University This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#192: From Forms to Freedom: Building Digital Services That Citizens Actually WantFeaturing:- Soumam Debgupta, CTO, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services- Rob Lloyd, CTO, City of Seattle- Chris Chirgwin, CIO, County of Santa BarbaraIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Washington State DSHS reduced benefit application times from 50 minutes to 25 minutes by reimagining service delivery through a customer-first lensWhy setting an ambitious 85% customer satisfaction goal is driving cultural transformation and transparency in government servicesThe impact of challenge-based procurement in Seattle, where defining problems instead of solutions is attracting innovative technology partnershipsHow Santa Barbara County achieved over 400 strategic goals in one year by implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)Why tracking metrics like cost-to-serve and benefit penetration rates helps Washington State DSHS maximize the reach and efficiency of social servicesLinks Mentioned:Traction by Gino WickmanCustomer First Thinking Newsletter by Soumam DebguptaOne Seattle Plan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

#191: Securing the Public Cloud: How Seattle & LA County DCFS Are Transforming CybersecurityFrom Asset Management to AI: Building Modern Security for Vulnerable CommunitiesFeaturing:Greg Smith, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Security & Infrastructure, City of Seattle ITAllen Ohanian, Chief Information Security Officer, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family ServicesBrent Byrnes, Account Executive SLED, WizIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Seattle's risk-based approach is transforming traditional government cybersecurityLA County DCFS's strategy for securing the nation's largest welfare agency's sensitive data in the cloudWhy emerging IoT devices and cloud assets are creating new visibility challenges for government infrastructureThe role of cloud visibility and democratized security in modern government environmentsReal-world lessons from Seattle's cross-agency incident response and recovery strategiesTimestamps(00:00) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds (03:14) Seattle's Evolution to Risk-Based Security (04:52) Securing LA County DCFS's Cloud Environment (07:38) Cloud Visibility in Government (09:22) Asset Management Challenges in Modern Infrastructure (12:45) Cross-Agency Incident Response: Seattle Library Case Study (16:33) Crisis Communication Strategies (22:18) AI Implementation and Security Threats (27:42) Managing Modern Security Vendors (31:15) Future of Government Cloud Security This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com