E340: Jennifer Saha on Navigating Government Procurement and Technology

SacTown Talks

In this episode of SacTown Talks, Jarhett Blonien welcomes Jennifer Saha, Founder and CEO of Golden Bridge Strategies. Jennifer shares her extensive background in government service and her transition to the private sector. She discusses her career journey from working in the Governor's office under Schwarzenegger, to the challenges of managing large-scale procurements and IT modernization projects. Jennifer also talks about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on government procurement, the growing importance of cybersecurity, and the cautious adoption of generative AI in government operations. Additionally, she provides insights into the complexities of working with government contracts and offers advice for businesses looking to navigate this sector.

This Episode was recorded on 6/13/24

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:29 Jennifer's Background and Early Career

01:17 Working in the Governor's Office

03:07 Transition to Economic Development

04:52 International Trade and Travel

08:16 Economic Crisis and Recovery Task Force

10:39 Transition to Jerry Brown's Administration

13:25 Modernizing Government Technology

18:28 Starting Golden Bridge Strategies

22:39 Early Clients and Pandemic Impact

23:45 Navigating Government Procurement

24:39 Growing the Team

25:09 Procurement Lobbying

26:53 Challenges in Government Contracts

31:11 Public Procurement Process

41:17 Adoption of AI in Government

45:42 Conclusion and Contact Information