Digital transformation is more than tools — it’s people. Many people tasked with IT transformation are already true believers in digital government. They want to know how to manage digital innovation, and what to avoid to maximize success. And while technology training is useful and necessary, the real challenge to digital transformation is not tech, it's culture change.
In 2019 we readjusted FWD50 to this reality, and packed the lineup with content on culture and transformation. We broadened the "big tent" of FWD50 and added a number of activities and the first-ever Regional Digital Government Summit, a track focused on the unique challenges of municipal and state innovation exclusively for public servants. Our stages welcomed breakfast and lunch meetups from civic tech and government-adjacent organizations, and we ran another Policy Ignite.