Dr. Maya Shankar

that would persist beyond my unique tenure in the White House and actually be able to keep doing this work well beyond my departure.

that would persist beyond my unique tenure in the White House and actually be able to keep doing this work well beyond my departure.

And that can take a lot of effort and time because instead of just trying to get discrete projects done, you're trying to convince the federal government and Obama leadership that they should actually build out a new functioning government, right, a behavioral science team.

And that can take a lot of effort and time because instead of just trying to get discrete projects done, you're trying to convince the federal government and Obama leadership that they should actually build out a new functioning government, right, a behavioral science team.

And on day one, I started off with zero budget, no team, and I'm a 27-year-old at the time with no public policy experience trying to make this happen.

And on day one, I started off with zero budget, no team, and I'm a 27-year-old at the time with no public policy experience trying to make this happen.

Now, I will say there was one advantage to lacking that experience at the time, which is that I came in so optimistic about what it was that I could accomplish.

Now, I will say there was one advantage to lacking that experience at the time, which is that I came in so optimistic about what it was that I could accomplish.

I didn't see barriers because I didn't know where they existed.

I didn't see barriers because I didn't know where they existed.

And I think had I been a seasoned government official, I would have been like, okay, I've done this rodeo six times and I failed four to six times.

And I think had I been a seasoned government official, I would have been like, okay, I've done this rodeo six times and I failed four to six times.

And so I'd be somewhat disenchanted and a bit jaded.

And so I'd be somewhat disenchanted and a bit jaded.

But actually, I think my light naivete served me well, which is that I came in and I was just absolutely resolute in my commitment to building this team.

But actually, I think my light naivete served me well, which is that I came in and I was just absolutely resolute in my commitment to building this team.

But I had to get very creative.

But I had to get very creative.

So I recognized early on that the only way that I would succeed at this mission is if I could inspire organic interest in my government colleagues to translate insights from behavioral science into public policy improvements.

So I recognized early on that the only way that I would succeed at this mission is if I could inspire organic interest in my government colleagues to translate insights from behavioral science into public policy improvements.