Demystifying Public Interest Tech Careers

​Public interest tech (PIT), or using technology in service of the public good, spans government agencies, nonprofits, research institutions, and the private sector. It's a growing field, but not always an obvious one to enter. There isn’t always a singular job title to look for or a clear ladder to get started. Tuesday's Young Leaders panel showed that most careers don't move in a straight line. This session builds off of this and asks: what does it actually take to build a career in a field that's still defining itself?
We've brought together four leaders who have spent their careers building the institutions, pipelines, and roles that make PIT work possible. We’ll discuss what "public interest tech" actually looks like in practice, the different pathways that participants should know about, and where they think the field is headed for the next generation. The discussion will be followed by Q&A, so come ready with questions!

This session is hosted in partnership with the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.

Please note: This event is a virtual panel hosted on Zoom.

​Speakers

• ​Ariana Soto, CEO and Co-Founder @ Coding it Forward (Moderator)

• ​Angie Quirarte, Director of State Initiatives @ Recoding America, Former White House Senior Advisor

• ​Christopher Goranson, Distinguished Service Professor and Senior Director for the School of Public Policy and Management @ Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

• ​Jai Rodgers, Talent Community Manager  @ U.S. Digital Response

• ​Kyleigh Russ, Senior Director, Future of Government @ Democracy Forward