Jenn Gustetic
My Words to the Class of 2023: Invest in ...

This May I will be delivering the undergraduate commencement speech for Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida, my undergraduate alma mater of nearly 20 years ago. The commencement will be live streamed starting at 2 PM on Friday May 5.

Today, the college has more than 10,000 enrolled students, curriculum that spans 10 departments, 15 degree programs and more than 20 centers and institutes.

To say that this is an incredible honor to me is an understatement; I was floored by the invitation and, recognizing the responsibility that comes with such an invitation, have put significant thought into my remarks to the graduates, family and faculty that will be in attendance. I focus on two primary themes: the importance of meaningful relationships, and the opportunity before you to change the possible, both on and off this planet.

I am posting my remarks here for posterity’s sake and to allow them to be shared or commented on after the event itself. Congrats to the new graduates, and Go Gators!!

My Words to the Class of 2023: Invest in Relationships to Change the Possible
Emerging Technologies, Automation, Culture and Organizational Development, Design Thinking, Future of Work
Jenn Gustetic
Outcomes from Harvard Kennedy School ...

As my 2018-19 DigitalHKS fellowship with the Harvard Kennedy School focused on the Future of Work comes to a formal close this week I wanted to take a moment to share a consolidated list of the resulting products publicly released to date.

Outcomes from Harvard Kennedy School Fellowship, 2018-2019
Jenn Gustetic
A Q&A on the Future of Work

In late November 2018, I delivered the opening keynote at the Future of Work 2018 Conference hosted by the University of Melbourne Center for Workplace Leadership[1], where I described how to keep people at the center of the future of work discussion. After my talk (which I will post after a public link is available), I was interviewed for a short video segment to share the highlights. In preparing for the interview, I found the questions to explore a thoughtful, comprehensive look at the scope of the discussion on the future of work, and thus I wanted to share my answers. 

I am interested in your reactions. Do you agree with my thoughts? Disagree? Why?

A Q&A on the Future of Work
Future of Work, Technology Policy, Innovation, Design Thinking, Automation, Emerging Technologies
Jenn Gustetic
Visualizing Jobs of the Future: Putting People ...

It is clear there is not a consensus on what the overall job loss or creation impact of emerging technologies could be with wide ranging estimates of across sectors. Further, while predictions for job loss like these abound, there are far fewer organizations working on envisioning the future of work and the jobs of the future that will employ the workforce of the future as current jobs are changed by automation and other emerging technologies. 

This is where I’ve focused my research with my digitalHKS research fellowship. Since January 2018 I’ve been collaborating with Bill Eggers and Amrita Datar from the Deloitte Center for Government insights to humanize the future of work and visualize the impact of technology on jobs to empower organizations, employees, and individuals to create a more positive future. 

Visualizing Jobs of the Future: Putting People at the Center in the Future of Work

Book Summary: The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Book Summary: The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Written in 1961 (and still relevant today), “The Death & Life of Great American Cities” is a classic book that brilliantly attacked conventional design, planning, construction, policy & finance approaches & suggests an alternate diversity & vitality-based approach for city making & inclusive economic development. I am officially a Jane Jacobs fan girl. This post includes my long summary in the following major categories:

  • Lively, productive cities are processes of organized complexity—where citizens are experts to engage

  • Diverse cities are generative engines for the economy, ideas & upward mobility

  • Cities must enable multiuse; zoning for single use is death

  • Streets & sidewalks are the fundamental unit of tolerance, city safety, public life & child rearing

  • Old & new buildings are needed for diversity of enterprises & population

  • To grow the middle class cities must value residents before they are middle class, investing in low income areas

  • Convert the cataclysmic uses of money into constructive forces

My Words to the Class of 2023: Invest in Relationships to Change the Possible

My Words to the Class of 2023: Invest in Relationships to Change the Possible

This May I will be delivering the undergraduate commencement speech for Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida, my undergraduate alma mater of nearly 20 years ago. The commencement will be live streamed starting at 2 PM on Friday May 5.

Today, the college has more than 10,000 enrolled students, curriculum that spans 10 departments, 15 degree programs and more than 20 centers and institutes.

To say that this is an incredible honor to me is an understatement; I was floored by the invitation and, recognizing the responsibility that comes with such an invitation, have put significant thought into my remarks to the graduates, family and faculty that will be in attendance. I focus on two primary themes: the importance of meaningful relationships, and the opportunity before you to change the possible, both on and off this planet.

I am posting my remarks here for posterity’s sake and to allow them to be shared or commented on after the event itself. Congrats to the new graduates, and Go Gators!!

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Q&A with Space Talent

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In February 2022, Space Talent, a platform seeking to connect and prepare jobseekers in the space industry, invited me to be featured on their Space Talent Spotlight Series. We explored a number of questions that may be useful and relevant for folks seeking to learn about career pathways in aerospace:

  • What is your background?

  • What have been your top career accomplishments so far?

  • What were the critical steps/choices that helped you get ahead?

  • What part of your education had the most impact on your career?  

  • What about your career have you enjoyed the most and least?  

  • Where do you see the most promising career opportunities in the future?

  • What advice/resources would you share with the next generation?

  • Is there anything else you would like to share?

“In any job, do excellent work, you are interviewing for your next opportunity!”

Read the full interview at: https://www.spacetalent.org/resources/sts-jenn-gustetic

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Outcomes from Harvard Kennedy School Fellowship, 2018-2019

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Outcomes from Harvard Kennedy School Fellowship, 2018-2019

As my 2018-19 DigitalHKS fellowship with the Harvard Kennedy School focused on the Future of Work comes to a formal close this week I wanted to take a moment to share a consolidated list of the resulting products publicly released to date.

A Q&A on the Future of Work

A Q&A on the Future of Work

In late November 2018, I delivered the opening keynote at the Future of Work 2018 Conference hosted by the University of Melbourne Center for Workplace Leadership[1], where I described how to keep people at the center of the future of work discussion. After my talk (which I will post after a public link is available), I was interviewed for a short video segment to share the highlights. In preparing for the interview, I found the questions to explore a thoughtful, comprehensive look at the scope of the discussion on the future of work, and thus I wanted to share my answers. 

I am interested in your reactions. Do you agree with my thoughts? Disagree? Why?

, , , , ,

Visualizing Jobs of the Future: Putting People at the Center in the Future of Work

, , , , ,
Visualizing Jobs of the Future: Putting People at the Center in the Future of Work

It is clear there is not a consensus on what the overall job loss or creation impact of emerging technologies could be with wide ranging estimates of across sectors. Further, while predictions for job loss like these abound, there are far fewer organizations working on envisioning the future of work and the jobs of the future that will employ the workforce of the future as current jobs are changed by automation and other emerging technologies. 

This is where I’ve focused my research with my digitalHKS research fellowship. Since January 2018 I’ve been collaborating with Bill Eggers and Amrita Datar from the Deloitte Center for Government insights to humanize the future of work and visualize the impact of technology on jobs to empower organizations, employees, and individuals to create a more positive future. 

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Eight Common Challenges to Scaling Innovation

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Eight Common Challenges to Scaling Innovation

Implementing an innovative approach within the federal government takes relentlessness, stamina, and strategy. It can be incredibly lonely. You are often your own best champion. It can feel impossible-- like being the underdog trying to win a sporting match. But after all the frustrations and setbacks, when you win that first match it is also overwhelmingly satisfying.

But for the change agents in government, winning the first match is not enough. To make innovative approaches more routine, winning one match is just the beginning. The scaling challenge begins when you try to win over and over—and when you try to get more people to join your team.

Reflecting on the "end" of the Obama OSTP

Reflecting on the "end" of the Obama OSTP

Last night The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy held its farewell party for all current staff and Obama Administration OSTP Alumni. It was extremely bitter sweet. 

On one hand I feel SO proud and grateful to have worked for the most science and technology literate President and the most ambitious Science Advisor in my lifetime thus far; I feel so lucky to have worked closely with the concentration of high caliber colleagues and friends at OSTP working to empower a network of innovators within and outside government, to deliver sound science and technology policy on a staggering number of topics, and build coalitions to accelerate and sustain policy implementation. This A-team group of alumni won't stop working for good even if they're no longer in the White House.

Incentivizing Innovation: A New Toolkit for Federal Agencies

Incentivizing Innovation: A New Toolkit for Federal Agencies

Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the General Services Administration (GSA) are launching a new Challenges and Prizes Toolkit to help Federal agencies increase the use and sophistication of incentive prizes even further.

Collaboration Gives Federal Government Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing a New Home on the Web

Collaboration Gives Federal Government Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing a New Home on the Web

Yesterday, in conjunction with the 6th White House Science Fair, the White House announced that the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has partnered with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS), a Trust instrumentality of the U.S. Government, to launch CitizenScience.gov as the new hub for citizen science and crowdsourcing initiatives in the public sector.

Announcing the “Fellows in Innovation:” A Coalition Contributing Fresh Ideas on National Priorities

Announcing the “Fellows in Innovation:” A Coalition Contributing Fresh Ideas on National Priorities

One of the Federal government’s great assets is the talented cadre of individuals who join its ranks each year as part of a variety of fellowship programs. Participants in these programs bring enthusiasm, new ideas, and fresh perspectives to Federal departments and agencies every day. Last year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) convened a workshop of 100 participants in fellowship programs that place individuals in the Federal government to discuss how to apply creative 21st century tools to their fellowship projects, and how to use these tools to inspire and ignite innovation in government.

Applying the Innovation Toolkit to Bring Cancer Nanotechnology Inventions to Market

To support the United States as a nation of innovators, the Administration has introduced many tools to the Federal government’s innovation toolkit. As described in the Strategy for American Innovation, these tools are aimed at uncovering the best ideas, wherever they may lie, and creating opportunities for those ideas to find their way to the marketplace. It is rare to find a program that opens that toolbox as wide as the Nanotechnology Startup Challenge for Cancer (NSC2) — an open-innovation competition designed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the non-profit Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) to bring promising cancer nanotechnology inventions to market.

Building Momentum for Open Innovation

Building Momentum for Open Innovation

The White House, the Federal Community of Practice on Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing (CCS), and the General Services Administration (GSA)’s Challenge.gov program have been working diligently over the last two years to deliver on previous commitments. This work was highlighted in a series of events this fall designed to build momentum both within and outside the Federal government for more ambitious, cross-sector applications of open innovation approaches.

The People and Teams that Power High-Impact Incentive Prizes

The Administration is helping organize two events this week to celebrate the success of Challenge.gov, recognize the importance of public-sector prizes, and catalyze the next-generation of ambitious prizes. On Wednesday, October 7, the White House, the Case Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and Georgetown University will host an event titled “All Hands on Deck: Solving Complex Problems through Prizes and Challenges” that will provide Federal, state, and local government leaders and private-sector supporters with information and tools on how to effectively use incentive prizes to improve outcomes in addressing complex social, policy, and technological challenges in national priority areas. On Thursday, October 8, the General Services Administration will host a community of more than 300 prize practitioners to celebrate the great accomplishments of public-sector prizes at a five-year anniversary event for Challenge.gov.

This October, the White House Celebrates Over $150 Million in Prize Competitions Since 2010

This October, the White House Celebrates Over $150 Million in Prize Competitions Since 2010

To celebrate the accomplishments of prize competitions and to inspire the next generation of ambitious, cross-sector prizes, the White House, the General Services Administration (GSA), nonprofits, and academic institutions will host back-to-back events in Washington, DC, one on October 7 and the other on October 8, in Washington DC.  These two events will highlight the impact of open innovation in the Federal government and across sectors, as well as celebrate the successes of Challenge.gov. 

Open Science and Innovation: Of the People, By the People, For the People

Open Science and Innovation: Of the People, By the People, For the People

Only a small fraction of Americans are formally trained as “scientists.” But that doesn’t mean that only a small fraction of Americans can participate in scientific discovery and innovation.  Citizen science and crowdsourcing are approaches that educate, engage, and empower the public to apply their curiosity and talents to a wide range of real-world problems. To raise awareness of these tools and encourage more Americans to take advantage of them, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Domestic Policy Council will host “Open Science and Innovation: Of the People, By the People, For the People,” a live-webcast forum, on Wednesday, September 30th.

Accelerating the Use of Prizes to Address Tough Challenges

To build on momentum, the Administration will hold an event this fall to highlight the role that prizes play in solving critical national and global issues. The event will showcase public- and private-sector relevant commitments from Federal, state, and local agencies, companies, foundations, universities, and non-profits. 

Public Sector Prizes and Challenges Show Increased Sophistication, Ambition and Use: A Fiscal Year 2014 Progress Report

Public Sector Prizes and Challenges Show Increased Sophistication, Ambition and Use: A Fiscal Year 2014 Progress Report

Today, OSTP released its fourth annual comprehensive report detailing the use of prize competitions and challenges by Federal agencies to spur innovation, engage citizen solvers, address tough problems, and advance their core missions. This report details the remarkable results from 97 prize competitions and challenges offered by 30 agencies under a variety of authorities in FY 2014 as required by Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (COMPETES) added Section 24 (Prize Competitions) to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (Stevenson-Wydler).