The Governor’s Innovation Fellows are state employees solving real public sector challenges. The program brings them together to improve services for Californians.
The first cohort includes 21 employees. For 6 months, the Fellows will work on priority projects. They will make government more efficient, effective, and responsive to the public.
What the Fellows do
- Spend 80% of their time on projects that improve efficiency, service delivery, and customer experience
- Get training and hands-on help from the Office of Data and Innovation, CalAcademy, and partners in the private sector and academia
- Work with executive sponsors and subject matter experts get measurable results through:
- Applying product approaches
- Using data
- Conducting customer research
Why it matters
Governor Newsom launched this program as part of a broader executive order. Its goal is to make state government efficient, engaged, and effective. We chose the Fellows for their initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
The Innovation Fellows Program isn’t like a traditional leadership program. We designed it to be a delivery engine. It develops leaders while creating real improvements that help Californians.
Looking ahead
The program will grow over time. New Fellows will join every 4 months. They will overlap with the earlier cohort so they can share knowledge and work together.
Meet the Fellows
Meet the 21 inaugural Fellows. They come from 9 agencies and 15 departments.