The Public Sector Podcast: Future-Forward Georgia – Innovation with Integrity

Episode Overview

In this episode, Shawnzia Thomas, State Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Georgia Technology Authority outlines a bold vision for a “future-forward” Georgia — one where technology is not a destination, but a bridge to better services, stronger communities and brighter opportunities for every Georgian.

Grounded in the theme “Innovate with Integrity,” Shawnzia explores how Georgia is modernising its digital infrastructure with purpose — moving beyond legacy systems and paper-based processes toward cloud agility, responsible AI adoption and disciplined cybersecurity. At the heart of the strategy is a simple but powerful principle: trust is the ultimate deliverable.

Key Themes

The conversation centres on building a modern digital state that balances speed with responsibility. From cloud migration and enterprise identity systems to AI governance and cyber resilience, Georgia’s roadmap is focused on outcomes over equipment — and people over platforms.

Shawnzia makes the case that innovation without guardrails erodes trust, while innovation with integrity strengthens it. Every system, policy and tool must be designed with transparency, accountability and citizen impact in mind.

What You’ll Learn

1) Technology as a Bridge, Not a Destination

Why modern government IT must focus on the why and how — not just the servers, specs and software patches.

2) Cloud Agility as the Backbone

How Georgia’s cloud-first approach enables faster service delivery, scalable disaster response and broader digital access — from urban centres to rural communities.

3) Responsible AI with Guardrails

Why Georgia is embracing AI as a practical tool — with strong governance, ethical oversight and human accountability built in from the start.

4) Cyber Discipline as a Competitive Edge

How unified security governance, consistent NIST controls and proactive resilience strategies ensure innovation is protected, not exposed.

5) Outcomes Over Procurement

Why agencies are shifting from asking “What are you buying?” to “What problem are you solving?” — tying every investment to measurable citizen impact.

6) Innovation Labs & Safe Experimentation

How Georgia’s Innovation Lab allows teams to test AI solutions using synthetic data, maintaining strict privacy protections while accelerating learning.

7) Workforce Readiness & AI Literacy

From Cyber Dawg exercises to cross-agency AI training, Georgia is preparing its workforce to lead in the AI era — ensuring employees are pilots, not passengers.

8) Trust as the Ultimate KPI

Why explainable AI, transparency and ethical design are essential — and why trust, not uptime, is the true measure of success.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation must be grounded in integrity

• Cloud, AI and cybersecurity must work together — not in silos

• Outcomes matter more than hardware purchases

• AI governance is security governance

• Trust is government’s most valuable asset

• Alignment across agencies is critical to meaningful progress

Why You Should Listen

This episode is essential for public sector leaders, CIOs, cybersecurity professionals and digital transformation practitioners seeking a practical, citizen-centred approach to innovation. Georgia’s roadmap offers a clear example of how to modernise boldly — without compromising ethics, transparency or public trust.