Jennifer Pahlka
Founder and Former Executive Director, Code for America
When you are leading in a system that isn't really working, you can't just encourage your people to do exactly what they're told. There's a degree of changing the system that you're responsible for.
Summary
This week on “Leadership Matters,” Alan was joined by a technologist and nonprofit leader who has transformed how governments and policymakers use technology. Jennifer Pahlka is the founder and former executive director of Code for America, an essential organization described as “the technology world’s equivalent of the Peace Corps.” An experienced leader and champion of smarter policy that works for all Americans, Jennifer spent nearly a decade at the helm of Code for America following its 2009 founding. She is also served as the United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Barack Obama, where she helped found the United States Digital Service.
Jennifer walks Alan through her fascinating career, including her early life and education, initial work in media and events production, road to founding Code for America, and time in the US government. Together, they also explore the central themes and “core concepts” covered in Jennifer’s recently published book, Recoding America. A fascinating read, Alan dives into the lessons in leadership and policy Jennifer writes about and how listeners across the public, private, and civil society sectors can learn from her example.
Mentions & Resources in this Episode
Guest Bio
Jennifer Pahlka is the founder and former executive director of Code for America. She served as the U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2013–2014, where she founded the United States Digital Service. She received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years. She serves on the Defense Innovation Board and the board of the Tech Talent Project. She holds fellowships with Ashoka, the National Academy of Public Administration, and the Volcker Alliance. Jennifer is a graduate of Yale University and lives in Oakland, California with her daughter, husband, and six chickens.