Hey, I’m Lindsay, the host of Make Sense w/ Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, a weekly podcast where my guests and I simplify complex topics at the intersection of people & technology. We analyze whatever hot mess is in the news, evaluate trending innovations through a human-first lens, and take deep dives on a need-to-know basis.
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Make Sense finally makes its 2025 debut with an amazing episode featuring Eliza Erickson, Government Innovation Expert.
With the new presidency and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reducing bloat in the public sector is a hot topic. While DOGE exploded on the scene, public servants like Eliza have been working for decades to optimize and streamline the government with both process and technology improvements.
Want to know what efficiency and innovation look like in practice? You should. After all, incremental improvements gain stronger footholds and employee buy-in over drastic and hasty overhauls.
In this episode, Eliza and I discuss:
- The pressing issue of government efficiency and innovation in 2025
- The challenges faced by the public sector to improve citizen experiences
- The perception of risk, and how to reframe change to make progress
Reference the full show notes below.
Choice Quote
“Just like a negative experience begets a negative mentality of the public sector, positive experiences, beget a much more positive view of the public sector. I think that’s really important when thinking about innovation and the risk of not embracing it.”
– Eliza Erickson, Government Innovation Executive
Buck the media hype cycle. Calm the fear-mongering. Laugh at the inanity of Tech CEO “hero culture.” Be the smartest person in your peer’s LinkedIn feed:
Never Have I Ever…Internet Culture Edition
This new segment is an amuse-bouche before diving into the heavy stuff. I call out past internet habits, and my guests tell us whether they are guilty. If you’d like, join in on the fun by taking a sip of your beverage-of-choice!
“Never have I ever…
- …joined Facebook when you still needed a .edu email address.“ What was it like? – 2:27
- …changed my relationship status for the drama.” Was this a thing? – 5:08
- …read every question someone answered on OkCupid before deciding to message them.” In the days before Tinder…! – 14:55
- …agonized over sending the first message because ‘the guy’s supposed to do it.'” Take a hike, gender norms. – 17:08
Show Notes
00:00 Introduction
02:07 Segment One: Never Have I Ever
19:14 Segment Two: Deep Dive on Innovation in Government
19:50 Why do so many digital government services feel outdated?
23:45 The framework Eliza uses to describe government innovation and technology
25:09 The lack of competition in the public sector affects the approach to efficiency
28:59 Can Net Promoter Score be implemented for government agencies?
31:19 Defining Innovation in the Public Sector
36:00The Risk of Innovation vs. The Risk of Inaction
41:43 If it’s not “innovation,” what is it?
44:30 The Future of Government: Attracting Talent for Change
Where to find Eliza Erickson
Eliza Erickson is a government innovation executive and thought leader who believes deeply in the power of the public sector to create meaningful, positive change. As the former Director of Innovation for the city of Philadelphia, Eliza brings clarity, creativity, and a healthy dose of humor to the work of transforming government from within.
Where to find Lindsay Tabas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaytabas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindsayTLadyEngineer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaytladyengineer
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