Immigrant Impact Spotlight: Ethics at the Interface

Technology: “Ethics at the Interface”

​What happens when a software engineer refuses to separate code from conscience?

For Kathy Pham—a Vietnamese-born technologist and civic leader—this question has guided a groundbreaking career at the intersection of technology, ethics, and public service.

Born in Vietnam and raised in Georgia, Kathy is the daughter of refugees who fled war and rebuilt their lives in the United States.  Their journey instilled in her a deep commitment to equity, community, and service.  After earning degrees in Computer Science and Human–Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech and Supélec, Kathy began her career in tech with roles at IBM, Google, and Harris Healthcare.

But it was her move into public service that set her apart.

In 2014, under President Barack Obama, Kathy became a founding product and engineering member of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS)—a team created to modernize federal technology and improve how government serves the American people.  She worked on essential services in healthcare, veterans' affairs, and criminal justice, applying human-centered design and modern engineering to systems that impact millions.

Kathy later served as Deputy Chief Technology Officer at the Federal Trade Commission, where she focused on data ethics and consumer protection.  She also became the inaugural Executive Director of the National AI Advisory Committee, advising the White House on artificial intelligence governance and public interest technology.
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Beyond government, Kathy continues to lead in education and innovation.  She co-founded the Ethical Tech Group at the Harvard–MIT Berkman Klein Center and helped launch the Responsible Computer Science Challenge, which integrates ethics into technical training across U.S. universities.

“People with diverse backgrounds hold various views and wide‑ranging perspectives arising from their unique culture and history.  These are invaluable in all aspects of work.”  — Kathy Pham

Kathy Pham’s journey—from refugee roots to shaping national technology policy—is a powerful reminder that the people who build our digital future must reflect the public they serve.  Her work ensures that ethics, accountability, and accessibility remain central to innovation.

Did You Know?

• More than half of U.S. tech startups valued at over $1 billion were founded by immigrants, according to the National Foundation for American Policy.
  
• Immigrants have played pivotal roles in shaping open-source platforms, AI governance, cybersecurity, and ethical innovation.
  
• In recent years, immigrant technologists have helped modernize public systems—bringing agile, human-centered design into healthcare, veterans’ services, and public benefits delivery.
  
• As digital infrastructure becomes essential to everything from education to elections, immigrant leaders are driving ethical, secure, and inclusive solutions at scale.