
The New IC - Ignite Round with Jennifer Ewbank
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Jennifer Ewbank is a transformational leader in U.S. national security, recognized for her strategic vision and groundbreaking work in digital innovation at the highest levels of government. As the Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation from 2019 to early 2024, Jennifer led the transformation of one of the world’s most sophisticated and secure digital ecosystems and leveraged its capabilities to ensure U.S. competitive advantage against its adversaries. With an unparalleled blend of technological insight, operational expertise, and strategic leadership, Jennifer guided the CIA's development of cutting-edge digital technologies to address complex global security challenges.
In her former CIA role, Jennifer drove innovation that has shaped the future of the intelligence discipline. Her leadership helped realign the agency’s digital strategy to prioritize mission-critical initiatives, even under significant budgetary constraints. Jennifer's commitment to public-private partnerships further positioned the CIA to collaborate more closely with industry leaders, fostering breakthroughs in technology and securing critical national security capabilities.
With a vision for the future, Jennifer was the driving force behind naming CIA's first Director of Artificial Intelligence, and she championed an ambitious AI strategy, setting a standard that other government agencies would follow. She led the CIA to reimagine the nature of cybersecurity by integrating the efforts of offensive and defensive teams, improving the agency's resilience against emerging digital threats.
Known for her bold decision-making, values-based leadership, and commitment to innovation, Jennifer broke new ground in the intelligence community. Her public outreach efforts as a senior intelligence official, including robust social media and speaking engagements, identified numerous cutting-edge technology companies poised to support the intelligence mission. Her efforts in recruitment were equally impactful, achieving record-breaking diversity and early fulfillment of hiring goals for STEM talent.
Jennifer’s nontraditional career beginning with decades in field operations and culminating in technology leadership has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Rank Award, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, and multiple CIA Director’s Awards. She also received the Donovan Award for Excellence, the George Washington Award, and international recognition with the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Knight’s Cross). In the private sector, she has been honored with numerous awards recognizing innovation and leadership in government technology, including the GovExec Federal 100 Award, the FedScoop 50 Award, and two Wash100 Awards.
Jennifer’s career in intelligence, much of it spent abroad working with foreign governments, uniquely positioned her to forge alliances across the digital landscape. Her efforts to strengthen national security through digital strategy deepened bonds with allies and opened doors for cooperation with new partners, paying dividends for U.S. national security as competition with a growing bloc of digital autocracies heats up.
Coevolution: The Future of Human-Machine Partnering
In this captivating keynote, Jennifer Ewbank shares groundbreaking insights into the future of human-machine collaboration. Charged with integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI/ML and cyber across the intelligence landscape, this dynamic leader takes audiences on a journey through the evolving partnership between humans and machines. Drawing on real-world examples from national security and beyond, the speech explores how artificial intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping global competition, and raising critical ethical questions. With a balanced focus on both the opportunities and risks of AI, this presentation highlights the urgency for innovation, leadership, and international cooperation to ensure a future where technology empowers rather than controls society.
This keynote is ideal for those seeking to understand the implications of AI on global security, business, and society—and how we can navigate this new frontier together.
The AI Race: Innovation and Our National Security
In this compelling keynote, Jennifer Ewbank, the former Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, sheds light on the urgent race to dominate artificial intelligence and its critical implications for national security. Drawing on decades of experience in global security and digital transformation, the speaker explores how AI is reshaping defense, intelligence, and global power structures. With a focus on the escalating competition with authoritarian adversaries, the speech highlights the need for public-private partnerships, ethical AI development, and the importance of innovation to maintain America’s strategic edge. From countering authoritarian uses of AI to the future of Artificial General Intelligence, this talk offers a realistic and optimistic vision of how the U.S. can lead the world in the AI revolution—securing both its prosperity and its security in the digital age.
The Digital Threat Landscape: Navigating a Dangerous World
In this powerful and timely keynote, the former Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation discusses the new battlefield—cyberspace—and how it’s reshaping national security. From state-sponsored cyberattacks to misinformation and AI-driven warfare, this speech takes the audience on a tour of the rapidly evolving digital threat landscape. With firsthand experience leading digital transformation within the U.S. intelligence community, Jennifer Ewbank explores the critical threats posed by adversarial nations, as well as emerging risks like quantum computing and AI-powered disinformation. Highlighting the importance of ethical leadership, international cooperation, and innovation, this talk equips future leaders with the strategic insights necessary to protect our nation in the digital age. This speech is ideal for audiences interested in understanding the complex intersection of cybersecurity, national defense, and global power dynamics.
Reinvention: The Adaptable Leader in a Changing World
In a world where change is the only constant, successful leadership demands reinvention. In this compelling keynote, the former Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation shares her personal journey of transformation—from an intelligence officer navigating foreign cultures to a tech leader spearheading digital transformation. Drawing on her decades of experience, she highlights the critical leadership qualities of adaptability, curiosity, and innovation. Through powerful anecdotes and insights, Jennifer explores how leaders can thrive in an era of rapid technological change and guide their teams through uncertainty with confidence. Whether you're facing a career pivot or leading through disruption, this talk offers valuable lessons on how to continually evolve and stay ahead in today’s dynamic world.
The Empathy Advantage: Unlocking Leadership’s Hidden Power
Presented by the former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, this insightful keynote reveals how empathy is one of the keys to effective leadership in today’s complex world. Drawing from her experience leading one of the most challenging missions in the US intelligence community, the speaker will show how empathy fosters innovation, drives team performance, and builds trust in high-stakes environments. Tailored for corporate leaders, decision-makers, and rising talent, this speech offers actionable strategies for unlocking empathy’s transformative power, translating lessons from the world of intelligence to the business community.
Walking Towards Purpose: Life Lessons from the Camino de Santiago
In this deeply reflective and inspiring lightning talk, Jennifer Ewbank shares personal insights from a transformative journey along the Camino de Santiago. Using the pilgrimage as a metaphor for life transitions, the speaker explores the powerful themes of reinvention, resilience, and finding renewed purpose. After decades of high-stakes service in intelligence operations, the speaker embarked on this pilgrimage to transition into a new chapter of life, reflecting on the importance of mindfulness, solitude, and embracing change. The speech is ideal for those navigating significant life transitions, offering profound lessons on letting go of the past, redefining identity, and discovering new purpose in the next phase of life. With wisdom drawn from ancient philosophy and modern leadership experiences, this brief presentation provides a roadmap for facing change with grace, gratitude, and an open heart.