In this episode of the GX Podcast and Video Series, host Ian Khan sits down with Natalia Olson-Urtecho, an accomplished entrepreneur, urban planner, and government advisor, at the World Government Summit 2023 in Dubai. Natalia shares her global perspective on innovation, technology, and the critical role governments play in building sustainable, entrepreneurial ecosystems. As a leader at Plug and Play Tech Center, she’s helping governments worldwide implement smart policies that encourage innovation, economic growth, and tech-for-good initiatives.
Natalia discusses her experience working in the Obama administration, empowering small businesses, and her journey to now leading the global government division at Plug and Play. With operations in over 50 locations and 35 unicorns incubated, she provides valuable insight into what it takes to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem, especially in emerging markets like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
From smart cities to digital transformation, Natalia emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, education, and risk-taking investors. She highlights the Middle East’s rising innovation landscape, including the UAE’s strategic role in driving global sustainability goals and its increasing reputation as a tech-forward hub for startups and investment.
A key theme throughout the conversation is “tech for peace”—how innovation can reduce global conflict, increase transparency, and drive social impact. Natalia passionately advocates for involving citizens in the innovation process and eliminating the friction between people and technology to create truly inclusive, meaningful progress.
Watch the full interview to gain deep insights into how government, technology, and entrepreneurship intersect in shaping the future of societies. Learn how Natalia and Plug and Play are working with governments globally to scale real solutions to real problems.
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, the host of the GX Podcast & Video series, is a world-renowned technology futurist, author of Metaverse for Dummies, Technology Filmmaker, and creator of the Future Readin
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
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