In our first FWD50 2025 quarterly event, we explored what it means to think like a product manager in government—shifting from seeing departments, forms, and outdated processes to focusing on the clear outcomes residents want, like paying taxes or renewing a passport.
We also looked back at the groundbreaking work of 18F, the U.S. digital service team behind civilrights.justice.gov, foia.gov, IRS Direct File, and dozens more. After years of modernizing government platforms, 18F was suddenly dismantled—halting projects from the National Weather Service to overseas voting. Three of its past directors, now part of our advisory board, shared insights on what might have been and how other jurisdictions can adopt similar models.
Set against a backdrop of public sector upheaval—job losses, digital sovereignty debates, and political change—this free event brought together public servants from around the world for practical lessons on building and managing products in the information age.
