Innovating Across Borders: Lawrence Etta's Global Technology Leadership Journey

In this episode of Innovators of Things, host Jillian Kaplan sits down with Lawrence Eta, an experienced technology leader with an extensive background in driving innovation across multiple countries. Lawrence shares his journey from Nigeria to the UK, Canada, the US, and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of data-driven policies and effective governance in fostering technological advancements. He discusses his significant projects, including transitioning Toronto's workforce to remote operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, developing solutions for homelessness using AI, and advising on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. Lawrence also offers insights into his methodologies for mobilizing large teams and ensuring successful project implementations. Finally, he highlights his book 'Bridging Worlds: Technology Leadership in the Public Sector,' designed to guide future technology leaders.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:16 Lawrence Eta's Early Life and Education
00:43 Career Beginnings in Technology
01:21 Dotcom Era and Network Engineering
02:07 Telecommunications and Television Innovations
02:52 Industrial IoT and Deputy CIO Role
03:45 Chief Technology Officer During COVID-19
04:40 Move to the Middle East and Vision 2030
06:21 Global Perspective on Innovation
07:26 Data Sharing and Government Policies
10:01 AI and Homelessness Project
16:30 Frameworks for Innovation and Leadership
22:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Lawrence and his book at https://lawrenceeta.com/