On March 19, the Pitt IT Tech Ambassadors hosted an engaging event featuring Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, who also happens to be a proud Pitt Business graduate. The event saw an enthusiastic turnout of students, faculty, and staff, all eager to hear from one of Pennsylvania's most influential leaders, as she spoke with Lead Tech Ambassador Fiona Langan.

Embracing Leadership

Innamorato shared her journey from Pitt to public service, highlighting the valuable lessons she learned along the way. She noted, "One of the things that I still use today that (my professors) explicitly taught us was how to give and receive feedback. I think that's a skill that is totally undervalued in our society. … The soft skills are so important to develop, regardless of what field you're in, because we need to be able to communicate openly and honestly when we're on a team."

The Allegheny County Executive is responsible for the third largest executive office in Pennsylvania (behind only the Governor’s Office and Philadelphia), representing over 1.25 million residents across 130 municipalities. Her north star is to provide the leadership and responsiveness needed to create an inclusive and equitable Allegheny County. That is encapsulated in the All in Allegheny Action Plan. The initiative was developed with input from over 19,000 county residents, reflecting the importance of community involvement in shaping the future of the county. "People were hungry to share their feedback and to say, here's where I want the county to go," Innamorato said.

The County Executive is also responsible for supporting the economy and business environment in the county, including the tech community. Innamorato notes that it is key to bring business and tech leaders to the table to get their buy-in for a shared vision for Allegheny County, and to consider where their industry fits into that puzzle. That includes having tech companies invest in our workforce beyond specific initiatives to increase tech skills. “Investments in childcare and senior care lower barriers to entry for the workforce. When we’re talking about diversity in the workforce, especially for women, and growing the tech sector, we really need to incorporate the care economy to connect all of the dots.”

Technology in Public Service

Langan then asked about the county’s use of technology in delivering county services. Innamorato discussed the significance of investing in technology to improve county operations and enhance transparency. For example, the county has implemented an online tool that allows citizens to see how their tax dollars are being spent. “We created an online budget tool so people can see, ‘Okay, if you're paying a dollar in property taxes, here's where it goes,’" she explained.

Innamorato’s administration also leverages the power of data analytics to better understand issues and make data-based decisions. The county has developed a range of dashboards that track everything from crime and incarceration rates, to air quality monitoring. Not only are they collecting that data, they are also making it public facing. These initiatives aim to make government more transparent to the public. The public availability of data can also be a resource to help avoid misinformation, she hopes.

Looking Ahead

Innamorato highlighted the potential of emerging technologies to transform government. She has been exploring AI applications, such as chatbots, so citizens can get the answers they need without having to go to a county office to get answers. She is keenly aware of the ethical and moral considerations of adopting AI and the need for safeguards to protect citizens' data. "I view AI kind of in a similar vein as other tools that government has employed. There are a lot of good outcomes that could happen. It could also have some terrible consequences if we don't put the right safeguards in place," she remarked.

Innamorato also sees Pitt and its students as a key factor in Allegheny County’s and Pittsburgh’s future. Her advice and encouragement for students is to consider a career right here. “Please stay and help build this community! The real key for me was to find my people. Find my neighborhood and get involved in my community. That’s when all the doors really opened for me. We want you to grow roots here, too.”

Sara Innamorato's talk was both inspiring and informative, offering valuable insights into the evolving role of technology in government and the importance of community engagement. The event was a testament to the impact that Pitt graduates can have on their communities and the world.

-- By Karen Beaudway, Pitt IT Blogger

Photos courtesy of Alex Jurkuta, Pitt News Visual Editor.