Her Story
About Ariane
Ariane Schmidt, MBA, PMP, MCSE, is a transformational public-sector executive with nearly three decades of experience leading complex technology, infrastructure, and governance initiatives. She currently serves as Executive Director of Broadlinc, the Spokane Regional Public Broadband Development Authority, a special purpose district responsible for advancing public-benefit broadband, fiber optic, cable, and fixed wireless infrastructure throughout rural, unserved, and underserved communities in Spokane County, Washington. Under her leadership, Broadlinc secured more than $110 million in federal and state funding, including a landmark $90 million Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) award. Broadlinc became the first entity in Washington State to execute a BEAD contract and one of the first organizations in the nation to actively deploy a hybrid broadband network, helping bridge the digital divide and expand access to critical connectivity services.
Recognized for her ability to navigate the intersection of public policy, technology, and community development, Ariane is helping shape the future of broadband governance at a pivotal moment in the industry's evolution. She often describes the current broadband policy landscape as “wet cement,” reflecting the rare opportunity to help establish frameworks and standards in an area where public policy is still emerging. Her work extends beyond infrastructure deployment to developing governance models, funding strategies, and collaborative partnerships that create lasting public value. By aligning stakeholders across local, regional, state, federal, tribal, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations, she has built a reputation for turning ambitious visions into executable strategies with measurable impact.
Prior to her role at Broadlinc, Ariane managed a $101 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) portfolio for Spokane County and spent nearly 30 years serving in public-sector leadership roles focused on information technology, geographic information systems (GIS), public safety, emergency communications, capital programs, and crisis stabilization. Her career reflects a unique ability to adapt, evolve, and lead across diverse disciplines, developing the strategic insight and operational expertise necessary to address increasingly complex public challenges. With a foundation in mathematics, business, and technology, Ariane brings a systems-thinking approach to leadership that enables organizations and communities to innovate, grow, and thrive in an increasingly connected world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ariane
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think for me, understanding it's not about me - and sometimes that's been easier, sometimes that's been harder - and I think attributing the success to remember that no matter where I am, I'm a steward. I'm a steward of public funds, I'm a steward of influence, I'm a steward of people that are directly impacted by my decisions for the good or not. That really guides in such a way that no matter what happens, you are looked at as a person of honor and integrity, and that will always ring through in the end. Sometimes the successes look different than what you think they would be, but at the end of the day, you feel good and confident of your path in such a way that you know you treated everyone well on your journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that the right idea at the wrong time might be the wrong idea. So wait and look for the right time. For somebody who likes to work at a fairly high clip, it just reminds you that timing is important.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering my industry that they're needed. I think that industry overall, doesn't matter what vertical it is, through a number of events generational shifts coming out of COVID, technology enhancements - needs what women can bring. You need to understand what the intellect and the persona of a woman of excellence can bring to a firm that can't be found anywhere else, and learn and see how what you can bring uniquely is essential to bringing value add that might not come from anywhere else.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the importance of context is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now. My journey started with mathematics and chemistry and what people called STEM, and I think that's really important, and if you're wired for that, lean into that. But it doesn't matter what industry you're going into - and I'm speaking specifically to Gen Zers, because most of all my kids are Gen Z - they didn't grow up with the context that existed 20, 30 years ago that what they're facing in an AI paradigm world is assuming they have. For them to either in learning or in establishing human relationships, get context that exists before they were born is going to set them apart in ways I don't think they can even wrap their minds around. Gen Z or Gen Alpha need to understand the why behind when AI and technology is wrong. If you don't have context, you can get spit back at you something that sounds wonderful, but it's context that allows you to ferret out what large language model has done incorrectly, or what AI hallucination or token was queried incorrectly. Those are things that are desperately needed in the days ahead.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really feel that in your personal and professional life, they should overlay one another so that there aren't any inconsistencies. And so I feel that the ability to live a transparent life is really important. At the core of it, what I believe in as a faith and how that guides everything that I do, understanding that your family is the thing you're first and foremost accountable to, and then as you work in any aspect, particularly professional, making sure that you are creating space so that every person impacted by the policy decisions that you make promotes their personal freedoms and sets you up for success.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.