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Aspiring to Lead: Navigating Government for New Leaders in IT

Empowering the Next Generation of IT Leaders

​18 November 2025 | 9:00am to 5:00pm
​Austin, Texas

See the Full Program Details

Course Overview

New IT leaders in the Texas government face steep challenges: managing cybersecurity, modernizing legacy systems, and navigating staffing shortages—cited by 60% of public sector leaders as their top concern in a recent Public Sector Network survey. They must also oversee hybrid IT environments, ensure data privacy, and comply with evolving state mandates. Serving 37 million residents adds scale and complexity, while interagency coordination and uneven digital literacy across regions further complicate transformation efforts in this high-stakes environment.

Are you ready to break through these barriers and step into leadership? This one-day, high-impact training equips aspiring leaders with the skills and strategies needed to drive innovation, ensure compliance, and lead effectively in a rapidly evolving public sector landscape.

  • Master Leadership & Influence: 

    Build executive presence, refine strategic thinking, and enhance decision-making skills to lead with confidence in government IT.

  • Navigate Emerging Technologies: 

    Stay ahead of the curve by understanding key government technology trends and learning how to drive digital transformation effectively.

  • Accelerate Your Career Growth & Leadership Impact: 

    Gain actionable insights on career progression, networking, and mentorship to support long-term leadership success.

  • Champion Inclusive Innovation: 

    Learn proven strategies for fostering diverse, high-performing teams that drive innovation and success.

Meet your Trainer

Ann Dunkin

Ann Dunkin

Technology Expert, Advisor, & Author

Ann Dunkin is a four-time enterprise CIO and a nationally recognized leader in public sector technology. As Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of Energy, she managed a $5B+ technology portfolio, advancing efforts to secure energy infrastructure, support clean energy innovation, and modernize national security operations. She previously served as CIO for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the County of Santa Clara, California, where she spearheaded major technology integrations, organizational transformations, and the deployment of modern platforms across healthcare and government services  Her leadership also extended internationally through collaborations with Canada, Germany, the UK, and Poland.

Beyond government, Ann has also held senior technology roles at Hewlett-Packard and Dell Technologies, bridging public and private sector expertise to drive innovation. Today, Ann advises startups, mentors future leaders, and serves on nonprofit boards focused on inclusion and emerging technology.