Can product thinking truly transform government services? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by NEOGOV CPO Denise Hemke, State of Maryland CPO Sheetul Agrawal speaks on disrupting public sector tech with product thinking. Sheetul shares her groundbreaking approach to bringing product management principles into public sector digital services, revealing how AI and user-focused design can revolutionize how citizens interact with government platforms.
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Show Notes:
- Product thinking is transforming government digital services
- Customer-centricity is key in public sector technology
- AI can enhance government services without replacing jobs
- Stakeholder management is crucial for driving innovation in government
- Data-driven decision making is essential for product development
- User research and personas are critical for serving diverse populations
- Low-risk AI adoption can improve government efficiency
- Product managers must focus on domain knowledge and problem understanding
- Accessibility and equity are paramount in government tech
- Retraining staff is more important than replacing them with technology
- Government can learn from private sector product management practices
- Customer value metrics are universal across sectors
- Innovation requires balancing speed with regulatory compliance
- Field observation is crucial for understanding user needs
- Product roadmaps and KPIs are essential in government tech
- Digital services should be as user-friendly as consumer apps
- Cross-agency collaboration drives digital transformation
- AI can be a productivity tool for product managers
- Public sector tech can create meaningful societal impact
- Product leadership is about solving real human problems, not just building features
About the speaker
About the host
As the Chief Product Officer at NEOGOV, Denise leads the strategy for public sector HR and Public Safety software, driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and excellence. Her experience at Checkr as Chief Product Officer saw her delivering customer-focused products and promoting a fairer future. Denise’s notable career spans over two decades, with significant roles including GM for Analytics at Workday, where she launched new products and grew the business to over $200 million in ARR. Her background includes leadership positions at Platfora, Salesforce, HSBC, and AT&T, showcasing her expertise in enterprise product development and a commitment to technological advancement and customer success.