As government agencies face mounting pressure to deliver more services with fewer resources, the challenge is no longer access to data. The challenge is turning data into measurable mission outcomes. Success increasingly depends on unifying data, analytics, AI, and governance into a single operational foundation that enables faster decision-making, stronger oversight, and greater efficiency.

In Part 1 of CDO Magazine’s interview series, Government Perspectives, Dr. Adita Karkera, Chief Data Officer for Government and Public Services at Deloitte, speaks with Molly Just-Behr, Global Head of Public Sector at Databricks, about the evolving role of data and AI in government modernization. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across government, public-private partnerships, and consulting, Just-Behr shares perspectives on helping agencies move beyond fragmented systems and embrace a unified approach to data and AI.

Key discussion themes include:

• Mission-Driven Modernization: Agencies should begin with desired mission outcomes rather than technology implementation plans.
• Democratizing Data Access: AI-powered conversational interfaces can help non-technical users access trusted insights without waiting weeks for reports.
• The Cultural Shift to Unified Platforms: Successful transformation requires leadership alignment and a new mindset around managing data and AI as strategic assets.
• Building Early Momentum: Executive sponsorship combined with a focused pilot initiative can accelerate adoption and organizational buy-in.
• Operational Efficiency at Scale: Modern data platforms can help agencies reduce costs, improve decision-making, and strengthen fraud detection capabilities.

Throughout the conversation, Just-Behr explains why government leaders should view data and AI as mission enablers and how organizations can create the foundation necessary for long-term transformation.

On the move? Take this conversation with you. If you don’t have time to finish the video, you can stream the complete, uninterrupted audio edition of this episode on the go.