ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What makes a great leader?
It starts with the right mix of people.
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief: The Power Perspective, host Tracey Aubey talks with Natalie Buda Smith, Chief AI Officer at the Library of Congress, about building teams where people can challenge ideas, bring different perspectives, and actually make the work better.
Natalie gets real about what failure taught her early in her technology career, why a little healthy disagreement can be a good thing, and why leaders shouldn’t be threatened by people who know more than they do.
The conversation also explores what happens when AI gives everyone access to more information, more expertise, and more ways to solve problems. For leaders and teams, that creates new opportunities—but also new questions about focus, trust, governance, and how to keep people moving toward the same goal.
You'll also hear:
🔹 Why the best teams don't necessarily think alike
🔹 The value of curiosity and resilience
🔹 How AI is changing teams
🔹 Why respectful disagreement can lead to better decisions
🔹 The importance of trust and governance in innovation
Natalie’s advice for emerging leaders is refreshingly simple: stay curious, expect to learn along the way, don’t panic when you get something wrong, and keep going.
The future is powered by perspective.
#KIBTPP #Leadership #AI #Innovation #GovTech #FederalIT #LibraryofCongress #GovForum
Keeping IT Brief: The Power Perspective with Tracey Aubey features conversations with government and industry leaders on federal IT, cybersecurity, AI, and the collaborations, culture, and technologies transforming how government operates.
Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts.
