Welcome to RELI Group’s Leadership Spotlight series! In this series, we’ll delve into the background, passions and philosophies of some of Team RELI’s best and brightest minds. Each post includes the same five questions, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the folks that make RELI great.
In today’s Leadership Spotlight, get to know Jason Balser, Senior Director of AI & Data Strategy at RELI Group. Jason brings more than two decades of experience across IT leadership, digital transformation and emerging technologies. With a background that spans programming, consulting and organizational strategy, he is focused on helping mission-driven organizations align technology with purpose in meaningful, measurable ways.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that influenced your path in public sector contracting?
A few years ago, I began working more closely with mission-driven organizations and nonprofits. What immediately stood out was how grounded they were in a single, clearly defined priority. Even when the work itself was complex, the mission acted as an anchor. That clarity was refreshing and gave me a new perspective on what meaningful work looks like.
As I saw how those organizations used their mission to guide every decision, it became natural for me to gravitate toward work in service of the public. I was drawn to environments where the mission is clearly defined, widely shared, and used as a practical guide for progress.
What drives your passion for working in government contracting?
I’m driven by the opportunity to cut through noise and help organizations focus on what truly matters. There’s so much distraction in the technology world – new models, new tools, new debates – and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement without ever asking the foundational question: What are we actually trying to accomplish? My passion comes from helping uncover that through line. Whether the solution involves AI, designing a different process or even choosing to stop doing something, I’m motivated by identifying the objective and aligning efforts toward it. For me, that clarity is what makes the work rewarding.
How do you approach leadership and team-building?
I believe everyone is a leader at some point, whether they realize it or not. The way we work, behave and communicate becomes a model for others, so I try to stay mindful of what I’m signaling through my actions. Awareness is the starting point for effective leadership.
In terms of building teams, I value transparency, honesty and openness. I look for people who share a similar mindset about how to approach the work, even if their perspectives and experiences differ. You don’t want a team that thinks the same way about everything, but you do want a team aligned in how they collaborate, interact and move toward shared goals.
What innovations or trends in the public sector excite you the most?
AI is certainly part of the conversation, but what excites me most is the broader shift to embrace innovation. Agencies are being encouraged, and in some cases instructed, to reduce technical debt, remove long-standing roadblocks and find more efficient paths forward. It’s becoming less acceptable to maintain outdated systems just because someone is reluctant to let go of them. That creates a real opportunity for progress, but it also comes with responsibility. Any push for optimization must be paired with an understanding of how changes affect the people delivering and receiving services. If we get that balance right, this moment has the potential to lead to significant improvements across government operations.
Can you discuss a project or initiative you’re particularly proud of?
Since joining RELI, I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done to create our AI guiding principles. We grounded them in a mission-first philosophy – the idea that we should begin with what we’re trying to achieve and let that drive every technology decision that follows. It can be tempting to start with the technology and work backward, but that approach rarely leads to meaningful outcomes. By centering our principles on mission alignment, we’ve established a foundation that ensures our work stays focused on the purpose behind the effort. I’m proud to see that mindset reflected across the organization as we continue shaping our strategy and supporting our clients.
