Keynote

Leading Change and the Challenges of Transformation

As the United States’ first Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra was faced with the tremendous challenge of leading the federal government’s information technology bureaucracy at a time when cutting costs, increasing efficiency and driving innovation was of paramount importance. Having managed the $80B federal technology budget, Kundra’s efforts yielded significant progress in transforming the way technology is purchased and managed by bringing best-in-class private sector solutions to solve massive public sector inefficiencies. The result has been a highly transparent, efficient and accountable environment focused on making systems and information useful to the public. In this keynote presentation, Vivek Kundra shares his experience leading change across the world’s largest consumer of information technology—the U.S. government—and the lessons every organization can use when leading a transformation in a change-averse environment. Kundra also explains:

• His leadership principles and how to use technology to create lasting change
• How to create a transparent and accountable environment that sheds light on what’s going on within an organization
• The importance of action-oriented, executable and nimble methodologies
• People are our biggest asset; How do you source people using the Silicon Valley approach?
• How do you tap into the power and creativity of people to keep innovation optimal and stay on top of the latest technologies?
• How to confront the tough decisions that need to be made to keep your organization growing and competitive

About Vivek Kundra

Vivek Kundra was appointed as the first United States Chief Information Officer by President Obama and is credited with saving over $3 billion in taxpayer dollars, adopting game changing technologies in the public sector, strengthening the cybersecrity posture of the nation and launching an open government movement through that data.gov platform, which has been replicated across 21 nations, 29 states, 11 cities, and several international organizations. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Kundra served in Mayor Fenty’s cabinet as the CTO for the District of Columbia and Governor Kaine’s cabinet as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
He has also served in leadership roles in the private sector. The World Economic Forum selected Kundra as a 2011 Young Global Leader, representing a group of exceptional young leaders who share a commitment to shaping the global future. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Kundra has been recognized as the 2011 Government Executive of the year by TechAmerica; the 2009 Chief of the Year by InformationWeek for driving unprecedented change in Federal IT and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations. Kundra is currently a fellow at Harvard University.