Running Toward Impact: Lessons In Leadership with Bill Kehoe

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In this episode of The Strategy Layer Live, Steve sits down with Bill Kehoe, Chief Information Officer for Washington State, for a rare, wide-ranging conversation recorded in person. Bill reflects on a career spanning state, county, and local government — and the leadership lessons he learned along the way.

From transforming the DMV experience in the early 2000s, to championing digital equity and modernizing resident identity services, to leading with calm resolve in the face of cybersecurity threats, Bill shares what it means to serve with purpose in the digital age.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Bill’s early path into public service and what has kept him committed for decades
• The turning-point projects that shaped his leadership philosophy
• Lessons from running and coaching — discipline, strategy, and individual development
• The bold vision behind digital equity and the Resident Portal
• Modernization without fear: incremental change, customer experience, and agile delivery
• The Resident Portal Challenge and the future of procurement innovation
• Multi-vendor collaboration and why competition can create better outcomes
• The CIO–CISO partnership and shared responsibility for cybersecurity
• Leading through complexity with calm, clarity, and trust
• Bill’s reflections on legacy, public service, and the next generation of leaders
• How AI is reshaping responsibility, decision-making, and efficiency in government

Quote of the Show:

• “I’m the front lines for everything that happens — good or bad — and I consider myself accountable and responsible for everything that goes on in my agency and in technology in the state.” - Bill Kehoe

Links:

• https://watech.wa.gov/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-kehoe-a37a0714b/

#PublicSectorLeadership #GovernmentTechnology #CybersecurityLeadership