McCourt School tech policy experts train Ukrainian digital transformation leaders
Nearly 30 Ukrainian digital policy leaders participated in a week-long executive education program focused on shaping the digital future.
The McCourt School of Public Policy’s Tech & Public Policy (TPP) program partnered with CDTO Campus, an initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, to host “Shaping the Digital Future,” an intensive executive education program for Ukraine’s digital transformation leaders.
The week-long initiative, aimed at equipping digital policy leaders with the knowledge and tools to strengthen Ukraine’s tech-driven governance, included lectures from McCourt and Georgetown faculty, in addition to presentations led by senior tech industry experts.
Valeriya Ionan (pictured in the middle of the front row), deputy minister for eurointegration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, with program participants at the McCourt School’s new building on Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus.
“The partnership between CDTO Campus and the McCourt School of Public Policy represents a significant opportunity, not only to integrate international experience but also to share Ukrainian innovative solutions with the global community. We are grateful for the support and collaboration that makes this possible,” said Valeriya Ionan, deputy minister for eurointegration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
Gulsanna Mamediieva, a TPP fellow at the McCourt School and the former director general on strategic planning, EU and NATO integration within Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, developed the training program curriculum in partnership with TPP Director Michelle De Mooy and Kent Weaver, professor emeritus and faculty director for executive education and international initiatives.
“By immersing participants in the latest advancements in AI, cybersecurity, emerging tech, quantum computing and data-driven decision-making, the program fostered a forward-thinking mindset that is critical for navigating the complexities of the digital age,” said Mamediieva. “ the curriculum emphasized hands-on experience with government technologies and innovative frameworks, empowering leaders with skills and knowledge to develop national digital projects and products.”
TPP Fellow Gulsanna Mamediieva led a case study simulation with program participants at the McCourt School’s new building on Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus.
Powering Ukraine’s digital transformation
The opening session featured a lecture from Renee Wynn, former chief information officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on the value of people-centered digital transformation, followed by remarks from TPP Director De Mooy and a reception in the McCourt School’s new rooftop convening space, overlooking the U.S. Capitol.
TPP Director Michelle De Mooy spoke at the “Shaping the Digital Future” opening reception.
“We are delighted to partner with CDTO Campus to contribute Georgetown’s expertise by building Ukrainian digital policy capacity so that these innovators may strengthen governance and continue to lead Ukraine with the future in mind,” said TPP Director Michelle De Mooy.
Programming continued with dynamic discussions on advancing digital integration within the European Union and the power of data-driven decision-making, led by McCourt Chair and Professor R. Daniel Kelemen and Professor Michael Bailey, respectively.
McCourt School Chair R. Daniel Kelemen presented a lecture on European Union enlargement and integration.
Program participants met with Oksana Markarova, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States, at Ukraine House, a cultural center in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood, and engaged with Mamediieva on Ukraine’s future as a leader in the digital transformation space. Georgetown Law alumnus John Grant (L’07), founder of Palantir Technologies’ Privacy and Civil Liberties Engineering team, also gave a lecture on Palantir’s approach to ethical AI integrating data governance and moral responsibility.
CDTO participants gather for a group discussion.
“Ukraine stands as a global leader in digital transformation already,” said Professor Emeritus Weaver.
In his remarks at the closing reception, Weaver celebrated the Ukrainian public servants’ work and the cross-cultural exchange made possible by TPP’s unique educational program. “We are not only observing but actively learning from your experiences. Your innovative approaches inspire and challenge us,” he said. “We deeply value the opportunity to work together, to learn from each other and to inspire one another. Throughout this week, we have exchanged ideas, gained insights and fostered collaborations that will drive impactful change.”
Learn more about McCourt’s partnership with CDTO Campus and Georgetown University’s efforts to support the people of Ukraine.
The CDTO Campus leadership program “Shaping the Digital Future” partners with the Tech & Public Policy program at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy in Washington, DC, and is supported and funded by Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity.
East Europe Foundation implements the CDTO Campus leadership program. Visa Foundation, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH support the program and CDTO Campus, which is implemented in cooperation with the Digitality GovTech Centre of Excellence under the auspices of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.