Ep.171 How to Find and Identify Great Leaders with J.R. Sloan, CIO, State of Arizona (special rerelease)
Featuring J.R. Sloan, CIO, State of Arizona (special rerelease)
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Phoenix Live Podcast Tour April 1st-3rd, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Learn more here: https://www.techtables.com/2024-phoenix-live-podcast-tour
Before we get into this week’s podcast, I wanted to give a special shout-out to TechTables podcast sponsors: SentinelOne, Verizon, and SAP.
SentinelOne's AI-powered security platform to break down silos and protect this state's entire enterprise with real-time data and control. With seamless updates and overhead reduction securing 15,000+ endpoints across 25 agencies, SentinelOne partners to protect critical assets across states and agencies.
Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.
Verizon Frontline. The advanced network for first responders on the front lines. It’s your mission. It’s your Verizon.
More than 35,000 agencies rely on Verizon Frontline and its mission-critical solutions.
Check out the solutions built for first responders.
Overwhelmed by Digital Transformation? Here's How One City Keeps Pace in the Digital Age.
Provide residents and city employees with an even better, happier life through digital transformation.
--------
Show Notes:
In this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables, J.R. Sloan, the CIO for the state of Arizona, joins us to discuss the challenges and successes of leading digital transformation and technology initiatives within a federated state like Arizona. From managing relationships with over 120 agencies to measuring success in a human-centric way, J.R. shares key insights into his approach as a leader and the impact of his work on Arizona's digital experiences. Listen in to discover how J.R. Sloan's leadership is shaping Arizona's technology landscape and digital government program.
Timestamps
00:39 - Introduction to J.R. Sloan and his role as the CIO for the state of Arizona.
01:37 - J.R. Sloan's journey and experiences within the public sector and the digital government program.
05:32 - The parallels between serving franchisees in the private sector and serving the 120 different agencies in the public sector.
06:23 - How success is measured in the public sector and the qualitative and quantitative metrics used for evaluation.
08:39 - Maintaining a human-centric approach while engaging with team members and leaders across agencies.
09:42 - The aspiration to deliver an Amazon-like digital experience for citizens and the efforts towards achieving this goal.
11:08 - Empathy and understanding the citizen's perspective in driving digital experiences.
⭐️ Leave a Review
If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!
You can also Tweet us on @thejoetoste and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏
🔗 Connect with TechTables
LinkedIn TechTables https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/
LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/
Twitter https://twitter.com/thejoetoste
Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/techtablespodcast/
Website https://www.techtables.com/
To hear more, visit www.techtables.com
🎥 Upcoming Live Podcast Tours
1. 2026 IGNITE Powered by Info-Tech LIVE - Austin, TX - Sept. 17th-18th
If you’re an IT leader in Austin, Houston, or nearby, Info-Tech’s got complimentary tickets with your name on them (just DM me I’ll be there). IGNITE is getting past the AI hype and into the real questions CIOs are wrestling with: how to get your people actually using AI, what the shift from “employee in the loop” to “employee on the loop” looks like, and how to budget when the costs keep moving up.
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
2. 2026 EDUCAUSE - Denver, CO - Sept. 30th - Oct. 1st
Returning for a third year in partnership with Carahsoft, and we could not be more excited. TechTables heads to Denver to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of higher education!
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:
1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter
Thanks for reading TechTables! Get early access to new episodes, insights, upcoming events, and more — straight to your inbox.
2. 🤝 Are you a local government CIO who wants to become a better leader?
Check out our high-trust, vendor-free peer group built for local government CIOs tackling real challenges, honest conversations, and an authentic desire to become a better leader — our next retreat is November 4th-6th in Austin, TX!
Learn more → https://techtables.com/communities-local-government
3. 🤝 The Better Together Series
The narrative-driven series bringing together industry partners and public sector CXOs. Discover the compelling stories that unfold when we stop working in silos and start building together.
»»» Email joe@techtables.com to learn more.
