About this Presentation
In this presentation, Shawn Riley, the Co-Founder of Bisblox and previously the Executive Director of NDIT, along with Alfredo Mycue, the Co-Founder of ReEngine Consulting, will discuss the remarkable transformation of NDIT from a traditional state agency with a 1980's mindset into one of the most advanced information technology departments in the public sector. Under Shawn's leadership, the organization utilized a suite of TOC tools, techniques, and principles to align itself with the goal of empowering people, improving lives, and inspiring success through world-class government experiences via information technology. This engaging presentation recounts how Shawn, fresh from his thought leader position at the Mayo Clinic, faced challenges in deploying his strategic vision. Despite unmitigated support from Governor Burgum, who recruited him to public service, Shawn needed to transform his staff into a 'can do' team capable of achieving ambitious goals. The Theory of Constraints and the process of ongoing improvement became instrumental in aggregating the talent and experience of state workers, transforming the agency into a proactive, undaunted outfit capable of significant accomplishments. From cyber-securing all public schools and state agencies to transitioning nearly every state agency to telework during COVID, and laying the foundation for routine use of AI and robotics process automation in government service, NDIT successfully created a networked vision for the entire state, positioning itself as the central resource for IT. This inspiring tale of transformation is one that simply must be shared.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The culture of government was identified as the main constraint in achieving their goals of securing all government-held data, providing a world-class government experience, and having the most efficient government services.
A cultural transformation was initiated, focusing on values like gratitude, curiosity, courage, and humility, and this led to significant improvements in government operations.
The state of North Dakota was able to swiftly transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the cultural and operational changes that had been implemented.
Instructor(s)
Shawn Riley
Shawn Riley is a lifelong technologist and entrepreneur, Shawn started his first company at the age of 16. He has worked as a thought leader for companies like IBM and the Mayo Clinic. His career has included massive change and transformation initiatives spanning multi-billion-dollar organizations, holding roles as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Information Management Officer. In 2017, Shawn was appointed by Governor Doug Burgum to lead the state of North Dakota’s Chief Information Officer and became a cabinet member. Today, he serves as the co-founder of Bisblox, a Venture Studio building companies around the world. Shawn is always looking to connect with others who have a “we can change the world” attitude, as he strives to be a servant leader and improve lives, empower people, and inspire success.
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.