HPE CEO Meg Whitman on Politics & Technology
October 17, 2016 • Blog Post • BY MEG WHITMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Technology-focused policies have become a core part of candidates’ platforms and a key indicator of who wins and who loses
- Meg Whitman discusses the role of technology in our political discourse and its potential to help solve the world’s complex challenges
HPE CEO Meg Whitman shares her thoughts on the role of technology in today’s political landscape
As the CEO of a technology company, it is incredible to watch the growing role of technology in our democracy. Leading up to November's election, campaigns on both sides are leveraging data to more effectively reach constituents. We see candidates interacting directly with the public through social media. And, it's thrilling to see more and more Americans voicing their opinions online—even when we disagree.
As technology continues to influence almost every aspect of our lives, technology-focused policies have become core parts of candidates’ platforms as well. And that's really important.
Looking ahead, our country faces extraordinarily complex challenges. From education and healthcare to national security and space exploration, technological and social innovation will be at the heart of nearly every decision we make as a country. These challenges will undoubtedly require private and public investment, unparalleled collaboration and vision.
That's why we'rededicatingan entire issue of HPE Matter to a discussion aroundthe roles and responsibilities of technology in our political discourse. Leading up to Election Day and beyond, our writers will explore:
- How candidates are using data to understand and persuade voters. Data analytics firm BlueLabs is using HPE Vertica to unify databases and target voters with custom messaging.
- The growing demand for IT by political campaigns, and why composable infrastructure is key to operating in an unpredictable environment. Combine websites, apps and social media with volatile news cycles, and you can imagine how IT needs can change on a daily basis.
- And, perhaps most importantly, thefuture of national security and why the U.S. needs to boost spending on supercomputers. With warfare increasingly being waged through nontraditional means like cyber crime and drones, accurate data, real-time intelligence and clear lines of communication are more important than ever.
When I think about the potential of technology to improve transportation, healthcare and public safety, I am optimistic about our future. I believe we have both the talent and the technological expertise to overcome our toughest challenges and unlock the promise of a more connected world.