The chief data officer in government: A CDO Playbook

Dr. Adita Karkera is the Chief Data Officer for Deloitte Consulting LLP’s Government & Public Services practice, where she shapes data strategy to drive value creation and trust for public sector organizations. With over 25 years of industry experience, Dr. Karkera is an award-winning executive, Adjunct Faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, and a recognized thought leader in data literacy, advanced analytics, and responsible AI in government. She also steers the future of the data profession through board service, mentorship, and community engagement.

Previously, Dr. Karkera was the founding Deputy Chief Data Officer for the State of Arkansas, where she launched the state’s first CDO office and served on the Governor’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Board. Her leadership has garnered national accolades, including Data Leader of the Year by World Leaders in Data & AI, several Global Data Power Woman honors by CDO Magazine, and recognition from GovTech, StateScoop 50, and Washington Exec. Dr. Karkera continues to influence the data community as an active speaker and thought leader.

William Eggers is the executive director of Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights, where he is responsible for the firm’s public sector thought leadership. His most recent book is Delivering on Digital: The Innovators and Technologies that Are Transforming Government (Deloitte University Press, 2016). His other books include The Solution Revolution, the Washington Post best-seller If We Can Put a Man on the Moon, and Governing by Network. He coined the term Government 2.0 in a book by the same name. His commentary has appeared in dozens of major media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.