Top 10 Human Capital Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Daniel Bauer

The Public Sector workforce is experiencing transformational change. From artificial intelligence (AI) integration and hybrid work evolution to upskilling initiatives and talent retention challenges, Government agencies face unprecedented demands to modernize their Human Capital strategies. As mission requirements grow more complex and workforce expectations shift, Human Resources (HR) leaders must adopt innovative approaches to recruiting, developing and retaining top talent while fostering cultures that drive engagement and performance.

Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, brings decades of experience supporting Public Sector HR transformation through our robust portfolio of workforce management solutions. Throughout 2026, we are proud to participate in leading industry events that address the most pressing challenges facing Government HR professionals. These gatherings provide essential forums for HR leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, share best practices and connect with peers navigating similar transformation journeys. Below are the top Human Capital events shaping the future of the Public Sector workforce in 2026.

ATARC Public Sector Workforce Modernization Summit

March 19, 2026 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

As Federal agencies adapt to shifting mission demands and evolving workplace expectations, the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC) Public Sector Workforce Modernization Summit provides a comprehensive platform for addressing workforce transformation challenges. This premier gathering unites Federal leaders, HR innovators and workforce experts to explore strategies for hybrid workforce management, upskilling and reskilling initiatives, diversity and inclusion advancement, and innovative recruitment and retention approaches. Through in-depth panels and collaborative discussions, attendees gain actionable insights into maximizing efficiency in hybrid environments, meeting emerging technological needs through targeted training, fostering inclusive workplace cultures and overcoming today’s talent acquisition challenges.

Carahsoft is proud to sponsor and host the ATARC Public Sector Workforce Modernization Summit at our Reston Conference & Collaboration Center, alongside our partners SAP, Salesforce, OpenText, Zoom, Pluralsight, UKG, Menlo and Cornerstone. We are committed to advancing Federal workforce modernization through innovative technology solutions and strategic partnerships.

SHRM State Conference

April 2026 | Virginia Beach, VA | In-Person Event

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Conference brings together thought leaders, industry experts and practitioners to share expertise on effectively navigating the future of work. This conference addresses the critical intersection of HR strategy, employee development and regulatory compliance, ensuring organizations can chart a course toward sustainable success. Through targeted sessions and networking opportunities, attendees gain insights into emerging trends, innovative practices and practical solutions for the HR challenges facing Virginia organizations. The conference provides a regional forum for HR professionals to connect with peers, learn from experts and access resources specifically relevant to the Commonwealth’s workforce landscape.

Carahsoft looks forward to participating in the SHRM State Conference to support HR professionals throughout the Commonwealth with innovative workforce solutions and best practices. As a Virginia-based company headquartered in Reston, we are committed to serving the state’s Public Sector HR community with technology solutions that address regional workforce challenges, compliance requirements and the evolving needs of Virginia Government agencies.

HR Conference

May 5-6, 2026 | Raleigh, NC | In-Person Event

The 2026 HR Conference, organized by Catapult Employers Association, explores the intersection of technology and human-centered workplace culture under the theme “Tech Enabled. People Centered. Building Culture in a Digital World.” This event brings together professionals from across industries to examine how organizations can leverage emerging technologies while maintaining focus on the employee experience (EX). Through inspiring keynotes, hands-on workshops and innovative sessions on leadership, culture and workplace technology, attendees gain practical insights into creating digitally empowered yet people-first organizations. The conference addresses the critical balance between technological advancement and human connection that defines successful modern workplaces.

Carahsoft is excited to attend this premier HR event, connecting with workforce modernization leaders across industries to explore how technology can enhance EX while maintaining human-centered cultures. Our team will be available to discuss innovative solutions from our Human Capital technology partners that address the evolving challenges of digital workplace transformation, from talent acquisition platforms to employee engagement tools that put people first.

ATD Conference 2026

May 17-20, 2026 | Los Angeles, CA | In-Person Event

In an era defined by AI, rapid change and resource constraints, talent development leaders must do more than adapt; they must lead with strategic vision. The Association for Talent Development (ATD) Conference empowers learning and development professionals to harness disruption, strengthen organizational impact and guide their teams confidently into the future. The conference addresses critical competencies including career development, future readiness, instructional design, leadership and management development and comprehensive talent strategy. Attendees gain cutting-edge insights into leveraging AI for learning, designing effective development programs and building talent strategies that position organizations for long-term success in an evolving landscape.

Carahsoft is excited to attend ATD Conference 2026, where we will connect talent development leaders with innovative solutions that transform how Government agencies build workforce capabilities for the future. From AI-powered learning platforms that personalize employee development to skills assessment tools that identify critical capability gaps, our partner ecosystem offers comprehensive technologies that help agencies evolve from traditional training models to strategic talent development programs. Join us to explore how modern learning management systems and continuous upskilling platforms can position your organization to meet emerging mission requirements with a future-ready, highly capable workforce.

SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2026

June 16-19, 2026 | Orlando, FL | In-Person Event

SHRM’s Annual Conference & Expo is designed to keep HR professionals ahead of critical trends, including AI, compliance evolution and culture transformation. The event features curated learning tracks paired with main-stage keynotes and hands-on formats that offer tailored, competency-based development for HR practitioners at every career level. Future-focused sessions explore leveraging AI, emerging technologies, pay transparency and workforce analytics to drive strategic decision making and operational excellence. Compliance and risk management tracks provide deep dives into labor laws, wage and hour issues, benefits administration, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and other legal complexities. Beyond education, the conference fosters meaningful networking with peers and solution providers, creating opportunities to benchmark best practices and bring actionable ideas back to the workplace.

Carahsoft is planning to exhibit at SHRM Annual Conference & Expo for the first time this year, marking an exciting expansion of our presence in the HR technology space. Our booth will feature leading Workforce Management IT partners, providing attendees with hands-on demonstrations of solutions that address modern HR challenges including AI-enabled recruiting, workforce analytics, compliance management and employee engagement platforms.

NTCA: HR & Benefits Conference

August 3-6, 2026 | Greenville, SC | In-Person Event

The Rural Broadband Association (NTCA) represents approximately 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies driving innovation in rural and small-town America. The HR & Benefits Conference addresses the unique challenges facing rural broadband providers seeking solutions to remain competitive and achieve operational efficiencies. Sessions explore HR trends and emerging technologies specifically relevant to rural communities, where workforce challenges often differ significantly from urban markets. The conference provides valuable sponsorship, advertising and exhibitor opportunities to increase visibility and brand awareness with this specialized audience. For providers serving rural America, this event offers critical insights into workforce strategies that work in smaller communities with distinct talent pools.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting rural telecommunications providers through innovative HR technology solutions that address the specific challenges of workforce management in rural and small-town communities. We will connect attendees with technologies that streamline HR operations, enhance remote workforce management and support the specialized needs of telecommunications professionals serving America’s rural communities.

NASWA Summit 2026

September 16-17, 2026 | Milwaukee, WI | In-Person Event

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASW) Summit is the premier workforce and unemployment insurance conference where leaders of State workforce agencies collaborate on key issues across the public workforce system. This essential gathering focuses on workforce development activities and employment services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), unemployment insurance, employment statistics and labor market information, information technology, communications, legal issues and other critical topics. State workforce agency leaders share promising practices, discuss challenges and develop solutions to support job seekers and employers across their states. The conference provides a unique platform for interstate collaboration and knowledge sharing on workforce system operations and innovations.

Carahsoft will be connecting with state workforce agency leaders at NASWA Summit 2026 to discuss how technology solutions can enhance workforce development operations and service delivery. Our team understands the complex requirements of state workforce agencies managing WIOA programs, unemployment insurance systems and labor market information platforms.

GovHR

September 16-18, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | Hybrid Event

The annual HR Conference organized by Catapult Employers Association stands as one of the Southeast’s most highly anticipated HR events. This two-day conference features both in-person and online participation options, covering a comprehensive range of HR trends and forward-thinking topics. The event boasts an impressive keynote speaker lineup and immersive experience designed for HR professionals and executives. This gathering of great minds provides essential insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Public Sector HR professionals as they work to attract, develop and retain top talent.

Sessions to look out for:

Strategies for Building a Data-Ready Workforce

Perceptions of Public Service and Implications for Recruitment

Demystifying Hiring Pipeline Data

Carahsoft will be engaging with Public Sector HR leaders at GovHR to explore how data-driven workforce solutions can transform talent acquisition and management strategies in Government agencies. Our team will showcase analytics platforms and workforce intelligence tools that help agencies build data-ready workforces, improve recruitment pipelines and address the unique perceptions and challenges surrounding public service careers.

PSHRA 2026

September 28-30, 2026 | Portland, OR | In-Person Event

The Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA) Annual Conference is the premier educational and networking event focusing exclusively on Public Sector human resources. With over 600 in-person attendees, this gathering offers an exceptional opportunity to engage with leading Public Sector HR professionals, showcase services and develop relationships with key decision makers. The conference addresses the unique challenges facing Government HR departments, from regulatory compliance and benefits administration to workforce planning and employee engagement. Attendees benefit from sessions specifically tailored to the Public Sector context, ensuring relevant, applicable insights that can be immediately implemented in Government organizations.

Carahsoft looks forward to connecting with Public Sector HR leaders at PSHRA 2026 to discuss how our solutions support the distinct needs of Government workforce management. Our team will be available to discuss solutions from our partners that address workforce planning, benefits administration and employee engagement.

HR Tech 2026

October 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event

HR Tech brings together professionals from around the world to explore the latest developments in human resources technology. As the largest event of its kind, it offers a comprehensive look at new tools and solutions shaping the future of work. The conference draws HR leaders, decision-makers and technology providers looking to stay current with industry trends, discover emerging technologies and connect with peers across the field.

Sessions to look out for:

Innovative Technologies

AI Tools for HR

Workforce Issues

HR Transformation

Employee Engagement and Experience

People Analytics

Talent Management and Acquisition

HR Service Delivery

Total Rewards

Learning and Talent Development

Benefits, Health, Wellness

Carahsoft plans to showcase our comprehensive portfolio of HR technology solutions at HR Tech 2026, demonstrating how Government agencies can leverage cutting-edge tools to transform workforce management and EX.

The transformation of Public Sector Human Capital management requires more than just keeping pace with change, it demands strategic vision, innovative solutions and collaborative partnerships. These 2026 events provide essential platforms for Government HR leaders to explore emerging technologies, share best practices and connect with the expertise needed to navigate workforce modernization successfully.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting Government agencies throughout their Human Capital transformation journeys. Our robust ecosystem of workforce management solutions and deep Public Sector expertise position us as a trusted partner for agencies seeking to recruit, develop and retain exceptional talent while building cultures of innovation and engagement.

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events, please contact us at HumanCapital@Carahsoft.com.

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading Human Capital technology partners, visit our Workforce Management solutions portfolio. Connect with us at these events to discover how we can support your agency’s workforce transformation goals and help you build a future-ready organization.

Maximizing Federal IT Investments Through Udemy’s Strategic Workforce Development

Posted on by Tim Boltz

The Federal Government continues to invest billions in cutting-edge technology and digital transformation initiatives, yet many agencies struggle to realize the full return on these investments. The challenge is not always the technology itself, but ensuring the Federal workforce has the technical and soft skills needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving systems and processes. Udemy Business addresses this critical gap by offering comprehensive, on-demand training that upskills and reskills Federal employees, ensuring agencies maximize their IT investment returns while building a more capable, adaptable workforce.

Secure, Cross-Agency Learning Architecture

Federal agencies require training solutions that meet stringent security standards while enabling collaboration across organizational boundaries. Udemy Business delivers on both fronts through its secure cloud-hosted platform that complies with industry standards for data protection. The platform’s role-based controls allow administrators to manage permissions appropriately while maintaining security protocols.

Udemy Business delivers relevant training content with customized learning paths that are tailored to specific roles, compliance requirements and interagency goals. This capability ensures that workforce development efforts align with both individual agency missions and broader Government-wide objectives.

Udemy Business is aligned with the General Services Administration’s (GSA) OneGov strategy. Udemy Business unifies agencies and breaks down technology silos that have historically fragmented Government operations. Udemy’s extensive on-demand content library directly supports this vision by providing Federal employees with access to both technical and soft skills training across agency boundaries. Agencies can leverage Udemy’s training platform to ensure consistent skill development that ensures customers receive the largest return on IT investments. Udemy Business enables agencies to better coordinate their technology initiatives, as employees across different departments develop shared competencies in emerging technologies, project management and collaborative workflows that are essential for cross-agency success.

Building AI and Zero Trust Capabilities

As Federal agencies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and Zero Trust security frameworks, workforce preparedness becomes critical for successful implementation. Udemy provides comprehensive AI courses that teach machine simulation of human intelligence processes, knowledge that is essential for developers, researchers and anyone working with cutting-edge Government technology initiatives.

The platform also offers extensive Zero Trust security courses that help Federal teams understand and implement Zero Trust principles effectively. This training capability is particularly valuable as agencies work to maintain pace with the evolving cybersecurity climate and protect sensitive Government data and systems.

Streamlined Deployment and Accessibility

Government environments often present unique deployment challenges, particularly for agencies with limited technical resources. Udemy Business addresses these concerns through its cloud-based architecture that supports remote access from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility proves especially valuable for distributed Federal workforces and agencies operating across multiple locations.

The platform’s straightforward deployment model eliminates many of the technical barriers that can slow adoption in Government environments, allowing agencies to begin training initiatives quickly without extensive infrastructure investments or complex integration projects.

Enhanced Value Through Strategic Partnership

Carahsoft and Udemy have collaborated to make workforce development more accessible and affordable for Federal agencies. Udemy Business Licenses are available through GSA contracts via Carahsoft, providing customers with established procurement pathways and additional savings opportunities. The partnership extends to other contract vehicles as well, giving agencies flexibility in their procurement approaches.

Currently, eligible Government customers can access additional savings of up to 50% off manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) through this strategic partnership. This promotion remains effective through the end of Federal fiscal year 25, providing agencies with a limited-time opportunity to invest in workforce development at significantly reduced costs.

The convergence of technological advancement, workforce development needs and strategic cost savings presents Federal agencies with a compelling opportunity to strengthen their human capital investments.

Ready to transform your agency’s workforce development strategy? Contact the Udemy team at Carahsoft or visit the Udemy Business website to discover how comprehensive, on-demand training can maximize your IT investments while building the skilled Federal workforce of tomorrow.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Udemy Business, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

The Top Human Capital Events for Government in 2025

Posted on by Daniel Bauer

The recent emphasis on reforming the Federal workforce has highlighted the pivotal role of effective human capital management (HCM) in driving mission readiness and Government efficiency. From improving recruitment processes, including accelerated hiring timelines and increased transparency, to implementing strategic workforce development initiatives leveraging skills-based assessments, a modern HCM approach is being used to rapidly transform agencies with the expectation that they will continue to deliver exceptional public service.

Carahsoft and our partners equip Government professionals with the technologies and strategies that will shape the next generation of public service excellence in this evolving landscape.

Modern AI-powered recruitment platforms, predictive analytics and cutting-edge workforce development tools enable agencies to streamline talent acquisition, enhance employee engagement and strengthen team resilience in an era of increasing demands and limited resources.

For over two decades, Carahsoft’s commitment has been to help Government agencies harness the power of information technology to fulfill their missions, and that focus has never been more relevant than it is today.

Here are the top human capital events of 2025 and 2026.

Government Customer Experience and Engagement Summit

June 3 | Washington, DC | In-Person Event

At the center of technology, culture and strategy is customer experience (CX). At the Government Customer Experience and Engagement Summit, attendees can learn about new and emerging technology from experts in the Federal Government. Sessions will focus on digital transformation and how agencies can utilize technology to build trust through a customer-first culture. By learning how to streamline operations, agencies can focus on building trust, enhancing services and creating a culture that inspires lasting impacts for customers.

Sessions to look out for:

Balancing CX with Cybersecurity

Data Analytics: Turning Insights into Impact

The Employee Experience: A Foundation for CX

Harnessing Your Inner Leader: Empowering a CX Culture

Carahsoft is looking forward to sponsoring the event this year with leaders in the industry. Join us, Government leaders and our CX technology and solutions experts to address and discuss the future. Featured sessions will highlight empowering a CX culture, leveraging automation and analytics to enhance CX and overcome organizational silos.

Los Angeles County AI Professional Development Summit

June 25 | City of Industry, CA | In-Person Event

This single-day summit unites IT leaders and LA County businesses to explore the immediate and long-term opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees can expect sessions that dive deep into AI in the Public Sector, discussing the latest trends and use-cases, its opportunities and challenges and AI’s potential for bold leadership and novel possibilities. Whether new to the industry or a veteran, there is something for all attendees to learn from and opportunities to share in.

Sessions to look out for:

The AI Leadership Imperative: Navigating Change

AI Demystified: For All of Us

Unified Intelligence: Collaborative Data Strategies for AI Across LA County

As an anchor sponsor, Carahsoft will be attending the summit alongside several of our partners including Adobe, Salesforce, Accenture, Glean, Knowledgelake and more. Sessions held will showcase many of our vendors with city Government leaders in California to showcase artificial intelligence.

INSA The New IC Fair

June 25 | Arlington, VA | In-Person Event

Before INSA’s New IC event, join an exclusive in-person career networking opportunity focused on the Intelligence Community and national security professionals. The Career Conversations event brings together cleared talent and leading organizations for meaningful dialogue that goes beyond traditional job descriptions. With the majority of cleared candidates being passive job seekers, this unique format emphasizes relationship-building and strategic conversations that lead to successful placements and partnerships.

Event highlights:

Career Conversations: 12-2 pm networking format

Exclusive access to passive cleared talent

Strategic teaming and partnering opportunities

Focus on Intelligence Community and national security roles

Carahsoft partners with ClearanceJobs and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) to support this premier career networking event. We are committed to connecting cleared professionals with mission-critical opportunities while supporting the unique talent acquisition needs of the Intelligence Community. Through strategic partnerships and specialized recruitment technologies, Carahsoft and our partners help bridge the gap between exceptional cleared talent and the agencies that depend on their expertise.

NASPE Annual Meeting

July 13-16 | Louisville, KY | In-Person Event

The National Association of State Personnel Executives (NAPSE) provides a collaborative forum for State Human Resource (HR) leaders to share strategies and best practices on developing an effective workforce. Through this annual event, NAPSE, an affiliate organization of The Council of State Governments, hosts human capital directors and senior-level staff to discuss the latest trends in HR, improving the overall quality of HR resources and services provided to State Governments.

Carahsoft and our partners connect state HR leaders with cutting-edge human capital technologies designed specifically for Government environments at NASPE’s 2025 Annual Meeting. The conference allows attendees to spend time networking and learning about human resource products. Sponsors of the event will get to spotlight their solutions during the scheduled sessions. Be on the lookout for more information on this event.

NASWA Summit

September 10-11 | Dallas, TX | In-Person Event

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), a national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C. and U.S. territories, hosts this premier workforce summit. Leaders in the state workforce agencies and key staff will discuss key issues in the labor system, such as training, employment, careers and wages. This year, the main discussions will be on unemployment insurance, employment statistics and labor market information.

View the Agenda at a Glance for an overview of this year’s Summit.

As a key technology partner, Carahsoft is committed to bringing you the latest tech in human capital. Eightfold.ai, Salesforce, AWS, Deloitte and many other vendors have been attending this event for over 4 years. Come check out the latest and greatest updates at their booths. We hope you will join us at NASWA Summit to learn, network and prepare for our future workforce. 

Leap HR: State & Local Government

September 9-10 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event

Leap HR welcomes HR leaders, IT professionals and State and Local Government officials to brainstorm and collaborate ways to retain the Public Sector workforce, enhance performance and manage talent across various careers. Uncover the Public Sector’s best practices and data-driven insights on attracting and retaining the next generation of the workforce, driving talent mobility, incentivizing high performance and employee growth and more.

Sessions to look out for:

Discover: Optimizing Performance Management with Data Analytics

Develop: What More Can We Learn About the Technology That Can Help Us Reduce Time to Hire?

Action: How Can You Utilize Data and Analytics to Inform Your Performance Strategy and Increase Effectiveness Within Your Workforce?

As an official partner of Leap HR, Carahsoft showcases the technology solutions that solve State and Local Government’s most pressing workforce challenges. This year’s event will be led by expert speakers in human resources roles from State and Local Governments.

HR Tech

September 16-18 | Las Vegas | In-Person Event

This event brings together leaders in the HR technology community to share industry insights. Attendees can expect a large HR expo, exhibit and leading educational sessions on the future of HR. Do not miss this key executive event to explore the latest in HR technology, gain exclusive access to current research, build professional ties and interact with top thought leaders to learn about the intersection of technology and human capital.

Sessions to look out for:

Investor Summit Welcome: Unveiling the Future of WorkTech Investment

The Balancing Act: Human Sustainability in the Age of AI

Crafting Exceptional Employee Journeys with Better HR Tech Adaption

Carahsoft and our partners look forward to showcasing the best in human resources technology at HR Tech 2025. Multiple sessions will take place at the same time on similar topics, so attendees learn what best aligns with their hr needs. Come check out partner exhibits at the expo. Look out for more information on the agenda of speakers.

ClearanceJobs Connect

September 18-19 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

ClearanceJobs Connect hosts leaders in the national security space to discuss recruiting professionals. As the only event focused on security cleared recruiting, ClearanceJobs Connect recruits Government speakers from both the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Attendees will learn about the latest security clearance policies, network with associates and discover the newest and greatest industry insights.

Details about the sessions for the event will be announced later this year.

Carahsoft’s strategic partnership with ClearanceJobs positions us at the epicenter of national security talent acquisition. We are excited to attend ClearanceJobs Connect this autumn alongside several of its partners. Through specialized sessions and partner demonstrations, we’ll showcase how modern recruitment technologies can streamline the complex process of finding, vetting and onboarding cleared talent while maintaining the highest security standards.

WorldatWork Total Rewards ‘26

April 20-22 | San Antonio, TX | In-Person Event

WorldatWork Total Rewards ‘26 is the premier event for Total Rewards revolutionaries, providing a platform to form deep connections with professionals and gain new, inventive insights focused around transforming talent within your organization. With innovative sessions and curated networking aimed at fostering meaningful connections, this event offers a powerful, personalized experience that delivers immediate solutions within a unique, festival-like atmosphere. Experience a transformative journey that enables your organization to enlist real solutions in the realm of human capital.

Carahsoft’s participation in WorldatWork Total Rewards ’26 showcases our commitment to revolutionizing how Government organizations approach compensation and benefits. Our technology partners will demonstrate how modern total rewards platforms enable agencies to compete for top talent with dynamic, personalized compensation packages while maintaining fiscal responsibility and regulatory compliance. For an idea of what to expect, check out the program overview for WorldatWork Total Rewards ’26.

Only by fully leveraging its workforce can agencies and organizations carry out their objectives effectively and efficiently. By using modern workforce analytics and strategic HR solutions, agencies can enhance their ability to attract, develop and retain the skilled professionals needed to achieve mission objectives.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting Government workforce transformation through proven technology partnerships and comprehensive solutions. Our vendor ecosystem spans the complete human capital management spectrum, from recruitment and onboarding platforms to performance analytics and professional development tools.

Ready to transform your workforce strategy? Contact us at HRIT@carahsoft.com to discover how our Human Capital Technology solutions portfolio can drive mission success through strategic human capital management.

Make Invisible Talent Visible

Posted on by Kelley Steven-Waiss

With strengthening and empowering the Federal workforce as a key tenant of the President’s Management Agenda, the critical need for people with cybersecurity skills and an aging workforce, now is the time for government to re-evaluate how it looks at the skills of employees. Moving to a data-driven talent strategy allows agencies to match the right people to the right work at the right time which also enhances that employee’s experience and engagement with their work.

Progression not Promotion

The first step is realizing that skills are not a title. For too long, career success has meant moving up GS levels or in title. A change in title does not necessarily mean being exposed to new experiences, gaining new skills or even gaining responsibility. The growth that comes with new challenges is what keeps employees fulfilled. That can happen when employees move into positions across an organization. Sideways needs to be the new up – not just for the growth of employees but for the mission achievement of government.

Keep Talent in Government

People enter public service because they have a tie to the mission. They want to work for that organization with a line of sight toward that mission. They do not leave because they stopped believing in the mission, they leave because they have not been given an opportunity to grow and develop. Research shows that one third of millennials and Gen Z workers leave a job because they did not see an opportunity to grow their career.

Talent sharing across agencies is a concept whose time has come. Government employees need to see career path options outside of their current organization. Where can their skills make an impact in another office or agency? Seeing a growth path will keep the talent within the government ecosystem rather than losing them to good commercial companies.

Diversify the Workforce You Already Have

A data-driven approach can go a long way in driving out bias and growing equity. Across government there are many opportunities for people to get involved in steering committees, pop-up projects and short-term initiatives. However, getting involved requires employees to be informed. We assume that people will seek out these opportunities. Employees only network with people they know – this limits what they are exposed to. Employees miss opportunities every day that are tailor made for their skills and career goals.

A data-driven approach automates the ability to engage. Opportunities can be pushed to employees that meet specific skills and capability criteria. Those employees can then engage with the opportunity through a digital workflow allowing them to quickly and easily break into a new network within the organization. No longer are we dependent on who we know. Now technology becomes a proactive, enabling force in finding the best fit based on skills, not position or education.

Personalize the Journey

Studies show that 94% of employees will stay with an organization longer if they feel it is invested in them. Providing a dynamic career path backed by training and mentoring opportunities is a way to demonstrate commitment to an employee.

A one size fits all training program ends up fitting no one. Employees have come to expect a personalized experience from all of the brands they interact with – whether that is music or movie recommendations or reminders to order more toilet paper. Data-driven organizations can offer that same experience by feeding employees programs and trainings that people actually want to participate in and learn from.

For organizations, knowing the growth areas for employees allows for more targeted efforts in offering reskilling and upskilling opportunities to the people who will most quickly benefit from the training.

ServiceNow is proud to support organizations ready to make the leap to a data-driven skills-based model. Our recent webinar showed how to move away from spreadsheets and emails and begin managing skills in an automated way that works for everyone – HR, agency leaders, supervisors and employees. View the full session here to learn how to transform how you hire, reward and grow your team.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a Pillar of CX Service Delivery

Posted on by Tiffany Goddard

Integrating DEIA Into the Larger CX Picture

The Whitehouse Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce promotes standards that can be applied to improving Government customer experience (CX). These include strengthening the ability to recruit, hire, develop, promote and retain the nation’s talent, removing barriers to equal opportunity and creating a space where all employees and customers are treated with dignity and respect. The standards offer Federal and State and Local Government agencies the opportunity to move toward equitable service delivery.

Developing a DEIA strategy involves a multitude of moving pieces like analyzing data, enforcing requirements, measuring effectiveness and ensuring progress. All of these areas culminate in sustainable cultural intelligence for organizations. Starting the conversation around DEIA in the context of CX begins with the on-going theme of communication rooted in trust—especially employee and customer trust in the Government. During Carahsoft’s 2023 Customer Experience and Engagement Summit, panelists examined how their organizations are creating more trusting, inclusive and resilient workplace environments which translates to improved services for customers.

A Focus on Human-Centered Design

In the realm of CX, trust is one of the most important aspects of customer, employee and leadership interactions. One panelist found that previously coming from a background in the user experience (UX) transformation space, all human-centered design exclusively existed within UX. In furthering their understanding of the broader CX spectrum, they discovered that UX is only a small part of the CX journey. While UX refers to the way users interact with an organization’s specific products, CX is how users view an organization’s brand and experiences with the business. The critical missing component to elevate CX is communication and transparency to build trust. Much of the progress made through DEIA initiatives aims to rebuild trust with undervalued communities so they feel secure receiving assistance both personally and virtually.

To truly develop more equitable service delivery models, organizations must be able to manage workplace tension by building both internal and external progress. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has worked to provide tools for success in both areas through various touchpoints. Externally, NSF teams launched a redesign of the agency’s website that allowed them to collect information from several demographic communities. In doing so, the NSF was able to redesign language inputs and outputs to better serve their website visitors. Internally, the NSF has implemented a call-listening program that analyzes empathy, psychological safety and compassion to protect not only customers, but employees as well. The NSF has also designed a DEIA maturity model, which helps to measure the efficacy of DEIA capabilities, identify critical barriers and benefits to employee advancement and operationalize a sense of inclusion and belonging across the foundation.

Moderating Workforce Development for the Future

Recruiting, hiring and retaining employees is successful when an organization considers a wide range of talent representation. Also, being data-informed is critical for an agency’s mission. Collecting data via methods like staff surveys to identify members’ interests and strengths as well as understand where that talent can best serve the agency is imperative for progress. Baking this into daily processes by working with human resources counterparts ensures the DNA of the organization is varied. Ultimately, diversity within CX talent can positively set one organization and the way its employees interact with customers apart from another.

Read the previous blog and check back soon to read the rest of Carahsoft’s insights from CX industry thought leaders at the summit.

To learn more about the latest in the CX landscape and how Carahsoft’s industry-leading partners can support your Customer Experience initiatives, please visit our resource hub to access all on demand recordings and information from the 2023 Government Customer Experience and Engagement Summit.

Following the Funding of Innovation in Customer Experience

Posted on by Tiffany Goddard

In the world of business, methodology is always changing along with users. While this innovation can be expensive, it is vital that agencies move alongside the private sector with technology implementation and customer service standards. At Carahsoft’s 2023 Government Customer Experience and Engagement Summit, panelists discussed ways to cut costs and foster innovation.

Innovating to Maintain Pace with Customer Needs

When a business works with clients, most of its focus will naturally be on the customer experience (CX). What was a revolutionary addition in the past, may be an expected feature in the present. As a result, agencies need to continually adapt and grow. Technology can be used to spearhead that innovation. Many people who interface with Government systems are also Government employees, so quality software is vital both internally and externally.

Agencies should design interfaces with CX at the forefront. Professionals, such as designers, whose job is to understand how users adapt to natural patterns in software, should have a seat at the table to help integrate new features. This way, new technology is as easy to understand as possible, by as many people as possible. Allowing users to get involved in iterative cycles as updates are added will allow agencies to evolve their solutions as they go. By following previous successes, the overall user experience will improve.

The speed and agility of technology and service systems is one vital component. Both customers and employees will grow frustrated with slow, out of date technology and appreciate Government initiative for agile development. By rolling out iterative cycles during changes, users have the opportunity to evolve with solutions.

Cost Effective Service

Public agencies have been advocating for more funding to keep pace with the financial challenge of customer service. The current presidential administration has issued several executive orders that promote enhancing customer service and experience in the public sphere including additional funding for agencies to implement those upgrades. However, acquiring these funds requires having modern and secure technology and technical strategy already executed in an agency. Although implementing modern technology and the securest cybersecurity strategies can be expensive, it will help agencies save costs down the road.

If agencies do not qualify for Government funding, there are additional initiatives they can implement in the meantime. Agencies can partner with technology vendors to develop solutions that will improve CX. By leveraging existing data, such as data from performance.gov or analytics.usa.gov, agencies can figure out ways to improve customer service. Paying attention to internal service metrics such as the number of closed cases, time to close cases, success rate and satisfaction level can illustrate how well a company is performing with CX before reviews come in. Agencies can decrease helpdesk wait times and lower costs by focusing on self-remediation. Through championing these efforts alongside quality partners and vendors, agencies can view CX problems through different lenses, leading to the best possible process. Agencies can also utilize pilot programs to test situations out before implementing them and affecting both employees and users. Technology should be used to positively influence user behavior. By guiding a wide variety of customers through services with simple, easy to understand instructions, agencies can help both customers and employees which will keep wait times down and save money.

Read the previous blog and check back soon to read the rest of Carahsoft’s insights from CX industry thought leaders at the summit.

Maximizing Service by Engaging Employees as Customers

Posted on by Tiffany Goddard

At the end of 2021, the Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government stated, “Our Government must recommit to being ‘of the people, by the people, [and] for the people’ in order to solve the complex 21st century challenges our Nation faces. Government must be held accountable for designing and delivering services with a focus on the actual experience of the people whom it is meant to serve.” Panelists at Carahsoft’s 2023 Government Customer Experience and Engagement Summit agreed that this mission begins with an organization’s employee experience.

A New Approach in Customer Experience Over Time

With the recent introduction of mandates and the new executive order, Government agencies have increased momentum to move customer experience (CX) from being a standalone initiative to weaving it into every facet of daily operations. Jill Leighton, Vice President of Public Sector Strategy and Solutions at Qualtrics, said that today, agencies are not just singularly improving a particular service or touch point. Now, they are taking that insight and implementing it into policymaking, strategic planning, reporting success and designing programs, while also learning where to invest and prioritize.

Untapped Resources

Using the best resources and constantly staying on top of innovation is an undertaking for any agency. Employees can be the most underutilized asset for organizations, so it is important for agencies to understand what employees need for peak performance. An immense amount of change has happened throughout the pandemic in working environments, and organizations need to take full advantage of the newer talent capacity and building opportunities within teams and employee talent pools. Additionally, agencies can unlock insights from employee and CX satisfaction through data gathering tools like conversational analytics, natural language processing and machine learning.

Artificial Intelligence in CX

Ironically, the possibilities presented by AI technology are critical to a human-centered CX strategy, Leighton said. With the implementation of AI, agencies are able to automate data analysis in various formats, perform automatic cataloging categorization and background filtering. For example, employees on the front lines of call centers can benefit from weekly, even daily summary reports showing the customer’s most pressing problems, their satisfaction levels and other aspects of their experiences. Using AI for the purpose of collecting qualitative and experience data, call operators can gain valuable insight into how to improve their human-centered CX approach and learn how to personalize each interaction they have. Additionally, using that data to optimize efficiency will improve service delivery. These solutions help move employees away from manual processes so they may focus more on interactions with customers.

What Is Impacting the Work Force?

Many aspects of Government operations can be difficult to navigate. Panelists referenced a general talent shortage, lack of funding and outdated solutions as barriers for the CX workforce. One panelist said they encounter homegrown identity and access management solutions and piecemeal fixes throughout their organization’s CX efforts, which makes it challenging to provide a seamless experience for customers and employees. Another problem CX professionals face is increased expectations from those consuming Government services.

Ron Vickery, Area Vice President of Customer and Industry Workflows, Government Health and Higher Education at ServiceNow, expressed, “We are putting employees in a really tough situation if we are not empowering them to deliver against that expectation. So, I think that, across the board, is a big trend; rising expectations of the way service should be received and making sure that we have empowered these employees to deliver that level of service.”

Translating the Employee Experience to Customer Experience

Government agencies must prepare employees to provide excellence service with a mission-driven mindset as well as proper resources and technology to deliver it. Benefits such as flexibility in the workplace, operational efficiency, training and easy access to tools and resources can attract new talent as well as retain existing employees. If they feel supported by and invested in their agency, workers will be more inclined to provide the quality of service expected by their leadership.

Nicky French, Customer Service Branch Manager for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said that the TSA’s security mission presents a unique challenge as this agency must balance national cybersecurity with customer experience. She stated, “Our officers in the front lines have to enforce rules, and sometimes that can come across as a little more militant than we would like. So, we try to make sure that the officers are professional and polite. We spend a lot of time just level setting what customer service means.”

Employees need to know that their organization pays attention to their needs. When positive change is made, employees know their voice is valued and has an impact. Addressing challenges within operations enables employees to make a difference and move their agency’s CX mission forward.

Read the previous blog and check back soon to read the rest of Carahsoft’s insights from CX industry thought leaders at the summit.

Sea-Air-Space 2023 Showcases Strategic Insights for the Navy

Posted on by Francis Rose

As the landscape of defense technology across the United States Armed Forces continues to advance and transform, the military must also evolve and adapt with it. At Sea-Air-Space 2023, the Navy League’s Global Maritime Exposition, key leadership from the U.S. defense industry and government technology experts came together for educational and collaborative sessions across a variety of topics. A record number of attendees gathered for the three-day conference where many vendors including Carahsoft and 45 of its partners demonstrated their technology solutions to meet military needs. Fed Gov Today joined Carahsoft on the show floor to speak with military thought leaders on staffing, cybersecurity and more.

Sea Service chiefs attending the conference noted that currently, maintaining and developing the workforce is a high priority for the military as it emphasizes the role of people as resources. Defense agencies are looking to engage young, talented individuals interested in serving the armed forces.

“Whenever you see the defense budget start to go down…a lot of times you’ll see training and education reduced,” Carahsoft’s Program Executive of Navy and Defense Strategy, Mike McCalip, said. “What you end up with is a workforce that can be five or 10 years behind in technology.” To mitigate this, McCalip sees this as an opportunity for industry vendors to “help [the Navy] to educate and keep their workforce on the tip of the spear when it comes to technology.”

Another important concept discussed at Sea-Air-Space was the Department of Defense’s shift to ever evolving Zero Trust. Throughout the conference, Sea Service chiefs and tech vendors fielded many questions and conversations surrounding cybersecurity’s role within defense strategy. Military leaders and vendors shared an eagerness to collaborate and explore opportunities for growth together in the future.

Check out the rest of my industry insights and highlights from the event floor at Sea-Air-Space 2023 in my full blog at FedGovToday.com.

DoDIIS Takeaways: IT Workforce, Partnerships, Interoperability and Data Management

Posted on by Michael Shrader

As the defense and intelligence communities reflect on 2022 and plan for the future, several key takeaways will guide upcoming initiatives. At the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Worldwide, a conference sponsored by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), attendees from the military, industry, government and academia gathered to collaborate and share insights on accomplishing the Department of Defense’s mission.

Agency leaders highlighted that every aspect of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) is critically enabled by IT. Not only is IT the first-in and last-out function for every crisis, oftentimes IT is the mission, not just a supporting role. The DIA recognizes that to innovate with current technology and invest in emerging tech, the journey to maximum productivity often includes the critical evaluation of processes and programs. With IT, misuses must be corrected, software needs to be transparent to users and technology simplified to promote a seamless integration. In essence, IT should be viewed as an evolution instead of a revolution.

To accomplish these goals, the DIA laid out its five main areas of prioritization for the coming years:

IT workforce retention
JWICS modernization, resilience and autonomy
DoDIIS modernization
International connectivity and partnerships
Capability delivery pipeline with Zero Trust and data management

The first part of this two-part blog series covers the discussions of DoD and IC challenges in relation to IT workforce development and retention, partnerships and interoperability and data management. The second blog will cover the enabling technology being deployed including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and the cloud.

IT Workforce Development and Retention

The DoD and IC have encountered challenges upskilling the workforce and uncovering new talent. To fill the gap in applicants, the DIA and IC have turned to contract hires and those from industry who want to spend only a few years in government. The DIA also offers an Education With Industry (EWI) Program where DIA employees can get joint duty credit while working with an industry partner. In addition, the DIA and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) have developed recruiting programs for high schoolers and partnerships with local universities to offer high school internships in hopes of encouraging students to develop interest in a government career.

High competition for talent has increased the need for retention incentives and additional education so agencies can maintain the current workforce. To address these concerns, the DoD and IC have begun modernizing their HR systems and seek to automate HR processes and provide self-service capabilities in hopes of expediting the talent acquisition timeline. Another endeavor includes modernizing training platforms for current employees to keep their skillsets up to date. Investing in continuing-education for these agency subject matter experts is important since they play an essential role in advising commanders and building tech options to address threats. Leadership is looking to academia and industry to source individuals with understanding of the current DoD and IC challenges and the global crises. By pulling from these outlets, the DoD and IC can expedite the process rather than having to train from the ground up with high school recruits. To successfully integrate industry workers into the government sphere, the DoD and IC must adapt to make commercial approaches work as well.

Partnerships and Interoperability

In the realm of defense and intelligence, partnerships and interoperability of technology are key to achieving results that maximize each agencies’ unique capabilities and pool combined strengths. By engaging with other agencies and countries, commanders have access to additional information and options. Investing in these resources offer some resolutions to the DoD’s current challenge of how to rapidly develop new warfighting capabilities while also simultaneously addressing current threats.

These partnerships can make a difference through data sharing, which offers new knowledge to commanders for more informed decision making. To make this information and technology sharing a reality, systems and processes must ensure cross-domain security and allow for interoperability throughout data sourcing countries and agencies. Partnering more significantly with Five Eyes countries (FVEY), will be a major source of increased intelligence as the DIA shifts towards integrating systems. In the near future, any DIA cybersecurity programs that do not align and add value to the FVEY countries will be either adapted or removed.

DoD and IC leaders also hope to collaborate with allies such as the Five Eyes to establish baseline international policies that will open doors for easier parity of information and comparability of systems and technology. Without a universal frame of reference, definitions, and laws, practical progress and innovation is impeded.

Connecting with industry has proven to be another valuable resource as DoD and IC leaders are seeking to better understand the full capabilities of current and emerging technology and gain insight into how industry can solve mission challenges. The DoD and IC desire to foster a culture that values systematic, strategic and equitable private sector engagement as well as addresses barriers to those relationships.

Involving the community through continued conversations and strong alliances provides an integrated deterrent and an advantage over the adversary. While these partnerships have taken a back seat in the past, DoD and IC leaders believe that this needs to be a crucial change and take priority.

Data Management

One of the main cruxes for the DoD and IC is harnessing the power of data. Since everything begins with data, the DoD and IC recognize the responsibility to think and act strategically from data collection to exploitation, dissemination and disposal, and seek to improve current data handling methods. Dr. Stacey A. Dixon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, believes that developing strategies in the IC to accelerate delivery of that data to those that need it, is the greatest challenge of our time for defense and the IC. Currently the DoD has crossed the limit of data input, overwhelming existing data strategies and making data too siloed, too slow and too hard to find to successfully stay ahead of threats. As the volume of data increases, several measures must be put in place to leverage the wealth of information.

According to DoD and IC officials, the one thing industry and government agencies alike can collectively improve, is interoperability; however, unless data source countries’ systems are secure and the data can be worked together, this cannot be accomplished. Because a large, diverse set of data is needed for good ethics and proper execution, the DoD and IC look to gain increased ability to integrate data across classification levels. Maintaining Zero Trust and consistent monitoring is also critical to freeing the data from other sources.

Over the coming years, the DoD and IC seek to implement widespread data tagging as a foundation for effective data management and quality results. This will allow the combining of commercial and government data to merge with the context and experience that the DoD and IC possess to achieve well rounded, sound decisions.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released its IC Data Strategy 2023-2025, which outlines its plans for improving the management and use of data. The strategy aims to leverage data to operate, collaborate and communicate at any time, in any place and in any security domain at speed, scale and securely. To achieve this transformation, the strategy focuses on four areas: performing end-to-end data management, delivering data interoperability and analytics at speed and scale, seeking advanced partnerships for continued digital and data innovation, and transforming the IC into a data-driven enterprise. Finally, it outlines a modular and agile framework that integrates business, functional, technical, security and data standards to provide a blueprint for the use of data in the IC.

Dr. Raj G. Iyer, former CIO for Information Technology Reform, Office of the Secretary of the Army, stated that data will be the new ammunition. At the end of the day, it comes down to enabling optionality for commanders, enabling mission command and enabling a common operating picture. Dr. Iyer emphasized that this is not a technology strategy, but a digital transformation to change operating models and leverage data in ways that U.S. competitors have not.

Utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning and the cloud will empower these goals. Read part two of this series to find out more.

Check out our Fast Facts and Future Initiatives of the DoD and IC Resource for more information and key insights for the IT industry.

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at DoDIIS 2022.*