Advertise on podcast: Start At Zero

Essay. From Start at Zero. State CIOs just made AI their #1 priority. Meanwhile, 88% of AI agent projects never reach production. What that gap means for public buyers. Read the essay: https://avavero.substack.com/p/state-cios-just-made-ai-their-1-priority Type: Essay (solo). Guests remain biweekly. Navigator: govai.averoadvisors.com Start at Zero: startatzero.averoadvisors.com This episode uses a digital voice modeled on Abhijit Verekar where noted by the platform. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

AI is already inside your organization — whether you’ve approved it or not. In this episode of Untangled, we break down what responsible AI governance actually looks like for local government leaders. This isn’t about buying tools. It’s about building structure before scale. We cover: • Why AI adoption without governance creates hidden risk • The four pillars of readiness: data hygiene, strategy alignment, governance, and management capability • Why traditional monthly IT committees won’t work for AI • How to balance innovation with public trust and transparency • What the NIST AI framework means in practical terms • Why understanding your AI maturity level is the first real step AI doesn’t remove risk. It multiplies whatever foundation already exists. If your organization hasn’t defined ownership, decision rights, monitoring, and policy guardrails — AI is already running ahead of you. This conversation is designed for CIOs, city managers, department heads, and governing bodies who want to deploy AI responsibly — without becoming the next cautionary headline. #LocalGovernment #GovTech #AIinGovernment #AIGovernance #PublicSectorLeadership #TechnologyGovernance #DigitalTransformation #DataGovernance 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

How long should digital transformation actually take? Nine months? Twelve? Eighteen? Two years? In this episode of Untangled, we break down what truly determines a realistic public sector transformation timeline — and why the answer has far less to do with technology and far more to do with change management, staff capacity, contract negotiations, sunset pressures, and governance. We cover: • Why readiness and selection can move quickly — but implementation cannot • The role of change management in timeline compression • What “go-live” really means (and why vendors don’t get to define it) • How sunset dates and vendor pressure distort planning • Why agencies without an independent advisor often overspend and overextend If you're planning an ERP implementation or facing a system sunset, this conversation will help you separate urgency from reality. #LocalGovernment #GovTech #ERP #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement #PublicSectorLeadership #TechnologyGovernance 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of Untangled, an experienced public-sector consultant walks through the five critical technology areas local governments must prioritize as they prepare 2026–2027 budgets. With AI now overtaking cybersecurity as the top strategic priority among state CIOs, agencies face mounting pressure to modernize—without overspending, reacting impulsively, or locking themselves into the wrong tools. This discussion covers: Why budgeting for AI products is a mistake—and what to fund insteadHow data quality and governance determine whether automation succeedsCybersecurity as an operational utility, not a one-time projectCloud and infrastructure modernization strategies that enable—not block—innovationERP replacement decisions and the 80/20 trap most agencies fall intoThe episode also outlines eight common budgeting mistakes to avoid, including reactive spending, software bloat, and underfunding foundational capabilities. Designed for city managers, finance directors, CIOs, procurement leaders, and elected officials, this conversation provides a strategic framework for making disciplined technology decisions that will impact agencies for the next decade—not just the next fiscal year. #LocalGovernment #GovTech #AIinGovernment #ERP #Cybersecurity #ITStrategy #DigitalTransformation #PublicSectorLeadership 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

ERP implementations don’t fail because of software. They fail because people were never prepared to change. In this episode of Untangled, we unpack why so many government ERP projects stall after go-live — even when the technology works — and why treating change management as “training and emails” is a costly mistake. Using real public-sector examples and the Prosci ADKAR framework, we break down what effective organizational change management actually looks like, why awareness and desire matter more than training, and how underinvesting in the people side of ERP leads to resistance, workarounds, and wasted millions. If your agency is planning an ERP modernization — or struggling with adoption today — this episode explains what must happen before go-live to make the investment stick. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Over 90% of enterprise AI pilots never make it to production — and in local government, the consequences go far beyond wasted budgets. In this episode of Untangled, we break down why so many AI initiatives collapse after impressive demos, and what successful agencies do differently. From misaligned problem selection to messy data, vendor-led hype, and the absence of human judgment, this conversation cuts through the noise to explain what AI can actually do today — and where it still falls short. If your agency is feeling pressure to “do something with AI,” this episode offers a grounded framework for choosing the right pilots, protecting public trust, and investing in technology that delivers real service outcomes — not AI theater. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

AV sits down with Vidhu Shekhar, AI thought leader and Microsoft executive, to explore what it really means to lead in the age of artificial intelligence—from space-based data centers to responsible AI adoption in local government. They unpack the realities behind the "AI race": rapid innovation, vendor hype, overwhelmed agencies, and the hidden costs of chasing shiny tools without a strategy. Learn why the real path to dominance isn't about speed—it's about service delivery, policy alignment, and building infrastructure that lasts. This one goes beyond buzzwords. It’s a masterclass in how AI, energy, and public trust all connect. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Most ERP failures don’t come out of nowhere. They announce themselves early — usually within the first 90 days. In this episode of Untangled, we break down why the first three months of an ERP implementation determine the entire trajectory of the project. From vendor staffing substitutions and early scope conflicts to filtered communication and executive disengagement, the same warning signs appear again and again — long before budgets explode and timelines collapse. We walk through real public-sector examples, explain why organizations miss these signals, and outline what leaders can still do while leverage exists. Early intervention is uncomfortable, but late intervention is expensive — financially, politically, and organizationally. If you’re within your first 90 days, this episode is an early warning system. If you’re past them, it’s a diagnostic you can’t afford to ignore. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Most government AI pilots don’t fail because the technology is bad. They fail because the problem was wrong, the data wasn’t ready, the demo lied, and no one defined what success actually meant. In this Untangled episode, we break down why 90%+ of AI pilots never make it to production — and why flashy demos are often the biggest warning sign. Using real government examples, we explain the difference between AI theater and real operational value, why citizens ask messy questions that demos never show, and how agencies waste millions by buying solutions before understanding their workflows. This conversation walks through the five most common AI failure points — wrong problem selection, dirty data, demo environments, lack of human oversight, and fake success metrics — and outlines a practical readiness framework agencies can use before spending a dollar. AI isn’t magic. It’s software. And it only works when you treat it that way. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Most ERP projects don’t fail because of bad software or poor intent. They fail quietly, months or years earlier, when decisions are rushed, assumptions go unchallenged, and foundational work is skipped. This Untangled episode breaks down the early warning signs most organizations miss: unclear ownership, unrealistic timelines, unvalidated requirements, underestimating change management, and treating ERP as a technology project instead of an organizational transformation. By the time issues surface at go-live, the outcome is already locked in. ERP success isn’t about perfection — it’s about discipline, sequencing, and honesty early in the process. This conversation focuses on where projects actually go off the rails, and what leaders can do differently before the damage is done. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

The best-of-breed versus all-in-one ERP debate is framed as a choice — but that framing is the problem. Both sides are selling you something, and neither is telling the full truth. In this Untangled conversation, we break down why this isn’t an ideological decision and why agencies that treat it that way lock themselves into a decade of frustration. Best of breed brings depth and specialization — but also integration risk and operational overhead. All-in-one offers simplicity and accountability — but often at the cost of compromised functionality. Using real government examples, this episode walks through the five questions that actually determine the right approach: how specialized your requirements really are, what your IT team can realistically support, how critical integration is to daily operations, your vendor management maturity, and whether you’re modernizing all at once or in phases. Most organizations don’t need purity. They need fit. The right answer is usually a deliberate middle ground — one vendors don’t sell, but leaders have to design. 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Your data is dirty. Not because your staff is careless — but because legacy systems were designed to be forgiving. Over decades, phone number fields became notes, dates changed meaning, duplicates piled up, and rules were quietly broken to keep operations moving. The problem is what happens next. Agencies try to lift that data straight into a modern ERP and are shocked when the system rejects records, reports fail, billing breaks, and audits don’t balance. That isn’t a software failure. It’s a data hygiene failure. This Untangled episode breaks down why “lift and shift” migrations collapse, how semantic drift corrupts history, and the four-step data hygiene protocol agencies must follow before selecting a vendor. Data cleanup isn’t glamorous — but it’s the difference between a smooth go-live and a public disaster.  #UntangledPodcast #GovernmentIT #ERP #DataMigration #PublicSectorTechnology 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Most government RFPs aren’t vague because teams are careless — they’re vague because people are trying to be “fair.” Broad language feels safe. In reality, it’s exactly what gets agencies sued, protested, and stalled for years. In this episode of Untangled, we break down why subjective RFP language turns procurement into a beauty contest — and how vendors use that ambiguity to file protests that agencies can’t defend. We walk through a real-world permitting system case where a city lost two years, millions in revenue, and public trust because the evaluation relied on feelings instead of math. You’ll learn how to: • Replace vague requirements with binary, defensible questions • Use weighted scoring matrices that hold up in court • Eliminate “support” language that shifts work back to staff • Turn demos into measurable outcomes instead of gut reactions • Build an RFP that vendors — and their lawyers — can’t argue with Procurement doesn’t need to be an art. When you treat it like a science, math does the defending for you.  #Procurement #GovernmentIT #UntangledPodcast #RFPStrategy #PublicSectorLeadership 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

Software demos are built to sell you a story — not to show you what a product can actually do. And in government, that story can cost millions. Vendors walk in with polished screens, AI “prototypes,” and roadmap features presented as if they’re ready to deploy. But once the contract is signed, the reality looks very different. In this episode, we untangle the truth behind vaporware: why governments trust demos too much, how “coming soon” features get used to win deals, and the red flags that show up long before implementation begins. We also talk about what real verification looks like — proof-of-life demos, driving the mouse yourself, sandbox access, and contracts that hold vendors accountable when the promises don’t match the product. If you’ve ever walked out of a software demo thinking, “This feels too good to be real,” this episode explains exactly why — and how to stop falling for it. #GovernmentIT #Leadership #SoftwareSelection #UntangledPodcast #TechnologyTruth 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.

A lot of government CIOs step into the role carrying years of technical experience — but almost no preparation for the executive expectations that come with it. The shift from practitioner to CIO is bigger than most people realize, and it has very little to do with technology. In this Untangled episode, AV and former CIO Robert Kornovich unpack what the job actually requires: communicating without jargon, framing risk for non-technical leaders, navigating politics, aligning teams, managing expectations, and learning how to lead people instead of tasks. They also dig into why many IT professionals struggle with this transition and how mentorship, environment, and organizational culture shape someone’s ability to grow into a true executive. If you're building a career in government IT — or trying to make sense of the leap into leadership — this conversation clears the fog. #Leadership #GovernmentIT #CareerGrowth #CIOPath #UntangledPodcast 📅 Let’s Stay Connected: Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help! Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation ➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report Top  Public Sector ERP Systems: :  ➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml Learn More About Avero: ➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com Connect With Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors Connect With AV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar (865) 415-3848 | [email protected] ©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.