GovCon DIFFERENT

“If you think technology can solve your problems, then you don’t understand technology and you don’t understand your problems” (Four Talks by Laurie Anderson). Moved by this quote, Shashank Khandelwal, CEO of Blue Tiger shares how to overcome barriers to Human Centered Design within government agencies in order to build technology that users actually enjoy.

AI unchecked is a massive problem. "We need a place, or places, in public service where we can collaborate with citizens and private sector partners to develop new ways to conduct the business of public service." The A Team – Chuck Brooks, Dr. David Bray, and Dr. Tiffany Vora – tackle the challenge. We love it when a plan comes together!

“Change the culture” - a commonly offered cure for agency modernization challenges. But how can a CIO/CTO actually do it? Sujey Edward, CTO IBM Federal, busts through the bureaucracy providing concrete examples that drive change.

Got what it takes to win a $2.1 B TSA contract? Rob Baum, TechFlow CEO sharesthe playbook to forge deep customer relationships through creative mission solutions and relentless performance that go well beyond the contract.

The battle for tech talent is brutal. And federal contractors can't match commercial sector salaries. But there's a way to outflank them. Robert Miller, CEO at SilverEdge shares how mission storytelling can inspire and entice the best to focus on what really matters.

The Policy Playbook. Great ideas = great policy, right? Dr. Melissa Flagg and Dewey Murdick show us the pitfalls of unbalanced policies, guide us through comprehensive frame works for decision makers and provoke new thinking with stunning insights for Democracy 2.0.

A candid conversation on acquisition reform. Practical steps that any gov agency can implement taken from GovCon vet Marc Snyderman.

Getting old is brutal, but does it have to be? Neuroscientist Dr. Divya Chander takes us on tour of current and future technologies that will boost longevity and extend life but at what costs to humanity and the planet?

The US is locked in a digital and cyber arms race. And the CIA has no intentions of coming in second. Jennifer Ewbank, Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, shares the story of digitizing the Agency at the speed of mission.

The world is abuzz with the promise of drones. But the UAV/UAS market is bigger than delivering tacos and Amazon packages. Josh Pavluk of Avascent says much bigger. Josh shares his insight on where unmanned vehicles are really heading.

We are 5 meals away from anarchy. Michelle Klieger explores food security and why the pentagon and your grandmother are so concerned about what you eat.

Former FBI profiler, Jim Clemente takes us deep into the minds of serial killers and sociopaths to uncover what liars thrive on and how you can spot and defeat them.

Steve Murphy, the DEA agent directly involved in taking down Pablo Escobar shares his story. You've seen the Netflix version portrayed in NARCOS. Now hear from the man himself. From jungle raids to city shoot outs, this is mission story telling at its best.

Disinformation is spreading like a cancer eating away at the foundational pillars of our country. And even the smartest can be fooled. Suzanne Kelly shares concrete methods to counter the click bait and restore trust in the information we share.

Bitcoin investors are on a wild ride. But is it worth it? Does Bitcoin really have value? Why is it so volatile? Does it really help the little guy? Dan Held answers tough questions and offers thought provoking insights.

Wars will be won with the power of AI. But how can an operator trust the technology now when lives are on the line? Dr. Reggie Brothers lifts us out of the algorithms to see the real story. It's all about the WHY. 

Daniella Taveau shares her story of international diplomacy and bridging cultural divides through the power of musical performances fostered by the The Embassy Series. 

Dr. Melissa Flagg calls for an end to innovation tourism in order to regain thought leadership and systematically adopt new innovations as national security becomes fixated on technical superiority.

Imagine the life changing power of transporting kids to the international space station. The power of transforming math and science into spectacular discoveries that IGNITE lifelong passions for learning, creating, and achieving breakthroughs for humanity. Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation, is on a mission to unleash and inspire STEM talent with new approaches that capture the imagination.