As our annual Government Innovation Arizona is approaching, we had the opportunity to interview Josh Wagner the state's Chief Data and Analytics Officer about his upcoming sessions at the event.
Q1: What role do events like this play in building momentum for public sector transformation?
Events like this give us a rare chance to step back from daily operations and remember we are part of a larger community. Public sector work can easily feel isolating when you are focused entirely on your own agency's challenges. These gatherings let us share honest lessons, talk openly about what failed, and build the relationships needed to turn separate technology projects into a coordinated statewide effort.
Q2: What message or insight are you most excited to share with other attendees?
My main advice to colleagues is that public sector innovation cannot follow the tech industry playbook of moving fast and breaking things. When we break things in government, real people lose access to services they depend on. Real transformation requires building strong governance from the start. Governance is not a bureaucratic hurdle; it is the foundation that gives teams the confidence to experiment safely and move quickly.
Q3: What do you hope attendees take away from your session or the event overall?
I want leaders and practitioners to realize that good leadership means giving teams clear boundaries so they have the autonomy to move fast without creating security risks. Success should be measured by practical impacts like time saved for residents and reduced duplication, not just by launching a new piece of software. Modernizing government involves more than just upgrading legacy systems, it also means supporting the people who do the work every day.
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