Governments around the world are navigating an era of unprecedented technological transformation, and at the 2023 World Government Summit, Ryan Androsoff shared powerful insights on how the public sector can become more agile, innovative, and citizen-centered. As the founder of Think Digital and a long-time advocate for digital transformation in government, Ryan draws on decades of experience working with the Canadian federal government, international organizations like the OECD, and consulting with governments globally.

In this conversation with Ian Khan, Ryan highlights a critical issue many governments face: they speak the language of innovation—terms like “agile,” “user-centered,” and “digital-first”—but often fail to embed those values into operational systems and structures. He introduces his “Pac-Man Model” to explain why transformation requires more than just strategy or culture change—it demands a rethink of organizational incentives and structural design. Without aligning these factors, innovation efforts often become little more than “agile theater.”

The discussion also explores the UAE’s bold approach to innovation, particularly in emerging tech like the metaverse. Ryan praises their willingness to experiment and take calculated risks, a mindset that many governments lack due to fear of failure and public scrutiny. He emphasizes the need for public sectors worldwide to rethink their attitude toward failure, recognizing that learning through iterative progress is essential for building resilient and forward-looking institutions.

Another important theme is the dual-track challenge governments face: improving foundational services like data management and digital ID systems, while simultaneously preparing for disruptive technologies like AI and immersive platforms. Ryan argues that both tracks are critical—without getting the basics right, governments can’t take advantage of advanced tools. At the same time, ignoring new technologies risks falling behind in a rapidly changing digital world.

Watch all seasons of the GX podcast at www.GX.ae

About GX
The GX Podcast is produced with the support of the Emirates Government Service Excellence Program (EGSEP). Hosted by Futurist Ian Khan, the podcast and video series is the only such series covering the government experience domain.

About Ian Khan
Ian Khan, host of the GX Podcast & Video series, is a world-renowned tec

Ian Khan is a Global Top 30 Futurist and was recently named one of Playboy Germany's "10 People Who Will Shape 2026" — the only futurist on a list alongside Sylvester Stallone, Bad Bunny, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Ian is the USA Today bestselling author of Undisrupted and host of The Futurist on Amazon Prime Video, where he has conducted over 500 interviews with CEOs, government leaders, and innovators. He created the Future Readiness Score™, a framework used by organizations worldwide to measure preparedness for change. Ian delivers keynotes and workshops for Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global associations. His latest innovation, FutureSHIFTLab LIVE, transforms keynotes into live intelligence events where every attendee receives a custom AI-generated report.

www.IanKhan.com to book Ian as a speaker, moderator
www.TheFuturist.global - Global leadership community
www.FutureSHIFTLab.com - Workshops
www.MENABrief.com - Middle East Intelligence
www.thefuturistkeynotespeaker.com Ians work on Foresight
www.iankhanfuturist.com Ian's methodologies and data insights

Connect with Ian on Linkedin...