Brighton Kaoma sits down with Tanner Lewis, Senior Officer on the Digital Public Infrastructure team at the Gates Foundation, for a wide-ranging conversation about the invisible systems that shape modern life.
From his days as a national champion debater to McKinsey consultant to global philanthropy strategist, Tanner reflects on how analytical rigor and empathy can coexist - and why digital infrastructure may be one of the most radical levers for development today.
Along the way, they unpack what digital public infrastructure actually means, why identity systems matter more than we realize, and how governments can deliver services more effectively, especially in resource-constrained environments.
When opening a bank account, accessing benefits, or even voting depends on proving who you are, what responsibilities come with building those systems?
Thoughtful, sharp, and grounded in real-world complexity, this episode explores the foundations of inclusion in a rapidly digitizing world - and the invisible architecture that determines who gets to participate.