How to Drive Innovation in the Public Sector with Matthew Oleniuk

In this compelling episode of Growth Hacking Culture, we take a deep dive into the complexities of driving innovation in the public sector—a space often defined by bureaucracy, oversight, and risk aversion.

My guest, Matthew Oleniuk, a seasoned risk and audit expert with global experience across multiple continents and sectors, shares powerful insights into why so many government initiatives struggle to innovate—and what can be done to change that. With a career that bridges both the private and public sectors, his unique perspective uncovers the cultural, structural, and leadership-level barriers that prevent bold ideas from turning into real progress.

We examine the roots of risk-averse behavior, explore how systemic issues like leadership turnover, stakeholder overload, and rigid approval structures inhibit progress, and provide real-world examples of high-profile failures in government projects.

🎯 Key topics discussed in this episode:

• Why public institutions are structured to avoid risk—and why that’s dangerous
• How fear of the unknown leads to missed opportunities and failed innovation
• The cultural divide between project teams and auditors, and how to bridge it
• How government leaders can balance accountability with bold, future-driven strategy
• What truly innovative public leadership looks like in complex systems
• The problem with underfunding long-term initiatives and chasing quick wins
• What we can learn (and what we can’t) from global models like Singapore
• When “playing it safe” becomes the riskiest move of all
• How to embed productive risk culture into public service delivery
• Tips for external consultants and internal changemakers trying to push transformation

Packed with practical takeaways, expert-level discussion, and real examples, this episode is essential listening for anyone involved in public administration, policy innovation, internal audit, risk management, or large-scale organizational change.

Whether you’re a public servant, policy advisor, consultant, or a reform-minded leader, this episode will challenge how you think about innovation in government—and give you tools to start making change happen from within.

📍Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn or Diagnose Your Project Risks on his website.

 

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