Candid Leadership

Brigadier General (Retired) Dana Born and Sabrina Dalton join COL Frost to discuss the MMoment conference on Saturday, January 22. The one-day conference hosts ~50 national security professionals, both civilian and military. BG (R) Born serves at Harvard after 30 years of service to the nation ending with her serving as the first Dean of the United States Air Force Academy. Guest Sabrina Dalton is the Director of Programs for Military Mentors. Both participate in a conversation on mentorship, lessons learned from combat and working in the non-profit sector.   To participate go to: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/TheMMoment

Juliana Vida is a retired U.S. Navy military officer and experienced technology executive. She is now serving in the role of group vice president and chief strategy adviser at Splunk. Juliana discusses how technology innovation is an opportunity to not only drive business and mission outcomes but also motivate workers at all ages and levels of technological maturity to contribute in meaningful ways and do their best work.   

BG (R) Mike Meese shares his lessons learned from over 32 years of service in the United States Army. Mike serves as President of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA), overseeing all aspects of the Association to ensure the financial security and independence of the American Armed Forces Community. He is a leader in military and Veterans issues, including chairing the 2016-17 Transition Team for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Trish Martinelli is an accomplished senior intelligence professional who currently serves as a regional director for the National Security Innovation Network and is the Executive Director for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. She shares with listeners her ideas on innovation, collaboration, and how to get involved in this disruptive field. Trish intertwines her background in analysis, business, and planning in all that she does. A perpetual innovator, she lives up to the title of collaborative disruptor. Find out more about the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum at def.org  

Mariah Smith a board member of the non-profit "No One Left Behind", an organization ensuring that America keeps its promise to their Afghan allies and their families. Mariah is also a military veteran with over 20 years of experience as a Military Police officer and Legislative Liason. She earned her master's degree in Security Management, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and serves as a Term Member on the Council of Foreign Relations. For more information about "No One Left Behind" go to https://nooneleft.org

Intelligence and National Security Alliance's recommendation of Megan Jaffer speaks about leadership, strategic thinking, and learning something from every position you enter. She is the executive director for GeoData Cooperative and has a comprehensive background in working corporate, non-profit and in the government. She is one of the founding members of the Amazing Women of the Intelligence Community (AWIC) and most notably is the host of the "Iron Butterfly" podcast. In this episode she discusses meeting people and discovering new skills.  

Dr. Rebecca Patterson is the Associate Director of the Center for Security Studies and Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. She educates the next generation of analysts, policymakers, and scholars about the range of international and national security problems and foreign policy issues of the 21st century. In this episode, we discuss the importance of learning in national security and the culture of graduate programs. Rebecca shares the importance of mentoring and finding the right teammate in life that can walk with you through all phases of the journey.

Kim Scott and Trier Bryant joint candace to discuss, “Just Work” which builds on the imperative that EVERYONE needs to play a role in eradicating inequities in the workplace. Kim and Trier also discuss the importance of feedback on performance as another critical area leaders should use more time focusing on. Kim Scott is the author of “Just Work: Get *t Done Fast and Fair,” as well as “Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity.” She co-founded two companies that help organizations put the ideas in her books into practice. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. Kim previously held leadership roles at Apple and Google.  Trier Bryant is the Co-Founder and CEO of Just Work. She's previously held leadership roles at Astra, Twitter, Goldman Sachs, and proudly served as a combat veteran in the Air Force as a Captain leading engineering teams while spearheading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Chris Fussell serves as the President of McChrystal Group and is an author of the 2015 New York Times bestseller, “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World,” as well as the 2017 Wall Street Journal bestseller, “One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams.” During this episode, we discuss parallels of corporate experience to a military career, the importance of facilitating change, and challenging the ego. Chris' conversation on speed helps the listener think about the importance of empowering a team, communication, and structure of an organization. This conversation concludes with a discussion on diversity both in its importance and value.  

Dr. Jay M. Parker is a Distinguished Professor and Major General Fox Conner Chair of International Security Studies in the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University. We talk about his unique approach to mentorship and how you can apply these amazing principles to your own journey as both a mentor and mentee. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!  

Dan Ward, retired Air Force Officer and now an innovation catalyst.  A published author, several times over, his latest book, "LIFT" is centered on five important experimenters who tackled the seemingly impossible challenge of human flight decades before the Wrights. Check out Dan's book “LIFT” at lulu.com   Enjoy our candid conversation on advocacy for others in the workplace. Dan provides great advice on being both a good partner and team member. Lastly, Dan covers productivity and the importance of reconnecting, rediscovering, and experimenting. You can find more amazing guests at https://colonelcandid.com

In this episode, we talk about the importance of mentoring vertically and laterally, ambition, and the hard work of business and National Security. Maggie Feldman-Piltch is the Founder and CEO of Unicorn Strategies, an innovative human capital management company widely known for its project, #NatSecGirlSquad. #NatSecGirlSquad is an intentional community and ecosystem focused on building competent diversity in national security and defense. Maggie also serves as Co_chair of the Initiative Committee at LCWINS. Learn more about #NatSecGirlSquad at https://www.natsecgirlsquad.com/ 

Careers in national security come in all different shapes and sizes. Guest Shannon McGarry, a retired National Security expert, with over 30 years supporting the US Government in a variety of roles.  After retiring from the FBI with over 20 years as a Special Agent she now runs MCGARRY STRATEGIES, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to a small number of customers with high-end technical expertise dedicated to furthering the mission of National Security. In this episode, Shannon provides spot-on advice about going lateral during your career and she keenly reminds leaders how important it is to pick up their own brass.

Affecting change, understanding your environment, and then leading forward is clearly prescribed by Amanda Orson. She was among the first group of women to graduate from the Citadel and is currently Head of North America for Curve, a popular financial technology startup from the UK. During this episode she clearly walks through the importance of understanding intent, mission, winning people over, organizing effective teams, executing operations, and how teamwork compounds. You can connect with her on Twitter @amandaorson, learn more at curve.com/careers/ , or directly reach out to her. And if you’re interested in being one of Curve’s first US consumers, feel free to join the waitlist at curve.com/usa/

National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Candid Leadership's latest guest is going to discuss a topic that will definitely expand your mind.   Amelia Cohen-Levy is a communications specialist at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. She’s also served as a technical writer, translating, in her words, “geek into English”, and as an editor of analytic intelligence products. Amelia explains that the perfect poetic form for intelligence writing is the sonnet. It combines a finite format, since it’s only 14 lines, with room to explore a specific idea and then turn that idea around, otherwise known as the “volta.” Ultimately, poetry gives analysts a way to combine multiple trains of thought into one succinct piece of writing. For more leadership talks go to https://colonelcandid.com/

Guest Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jessica Ruttenber describes her work with the Air Force and assisting this service to reach its full potential. She's an Air Force pilot currently serving at the Pentagon with experience in cyber, Headquarters Air Force program management, and operational leadership roles. She works tirelessly on the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group Women's Initiative Team leader focusing on changing barriers to employment, accessions, advancement, and retention of women both civilian and military. During this episode, she provides great detail in how her combined efforts to remove legacy policies when combined with systematic engineering work to create space for a larger number of candidates to enter into the dynamic field of fighter pilots. If you want to learn more about her great work please check out her blog https://hidden-barriers.org/blog/.

Colonel Dan Blackmon, an Army Brigade Commander, discusses the importance of peer mentors. The episode discusses intersections of careers and why it’s important to have someone at your work who helps you engage with your employees. Colonel Blackmon talks about advocacy in positions of leadership. He provides examples of how to champion others for leadership positions and how giving feedback from a place of trust allows the recipient to make changes in their communication methods and in leading. For more Candid Leadership visit https://colonelcandid.com/

Dr. Marisa Porges, known for her work on leadership, education, and national security talks about her book, “What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous, and Resilient Women.” She provides lessons learned from her time in the Navy, serving in national security at the White House, and now as she heads The Baldwin School, a 130 year old all-girls school outside of Philadelphia renowned for academic excellence and for preparing girls to be leaders and changemakers. In this episode, Dr. Porges references the importance of competition and why collaborative problem-solving skills are critical for the future workforce. She speaks to academic research on empathy and how key leaders in national security reference its importance. Lastly, Marisa makes great points on why cognitive flexibility remains pertinent to our adaptability quotient and how we handle uncertainty. Enjoy the great tips on how to better parent and raise courageous women. Dr. Porges aptly ends with great advice to remember that little things make a big difference. For more leadership interviews go to www.https://colonelcandid.com/

Dr. Lamesha "MeMe" Craft, a faculty member at the National Intelligence University, joins Candid Leadership and discusses post-normal times, planning, and changes in our work place. She talks about succeeding by learning from failure and the feedback loops inherent with learning. Her definition of resilience and the ability to respond to change through adapting by her story of transitioning from the military. Lastly, she shares her three Es: engaging, educating, and empowering, and how she improves organizations and teams.  For more leadership interviews go to www.https://colonelcandid.com/  

Guest Melissa “Mel” Kepler is a Training Consultant and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach(TM) and has spent over a decade in government she gives great insight into followership. In this episode, she speaks about leadership as a muscle, the pertinence of trust, and sends praise to the people grinding out work. She’s a Certified Culture Facilitator and she’s got incredible energy and desire to inspire. Her website is http://capital-humans.com For more leadership interviews go to www.https://colonelcandid.com/

Step into a new understanding of how to prepare for a difficult conversation with guest Sergeant Major Julie Guerra. Both COL Candice Frost and SGM Julie Guerra discuss focusing on how to know yourself and seek out your own blind spots. Julie describes allowing oneself the space to speak with people so that they internalize what you say. She talks about setting the culture and being disruptive. For detailed show notes, links, and resources, go to www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills.  Link to Johari Window http://bit.ly/Johari_Window

Joan Harper, the Women Forward Director, discusses how she's working with her non-profit, Business Council for Peace. Joan is working to help this organization pivot and shift its focus to support black, minority, and women-owned and led small businesses that were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. For this reason, Joan is reaching out to businesses that were on a growth path, pre-Covid to help these businesses recover (businesses can apply at https://www.bpeace.org/u-s) To donate to Business for Peace go to https://secure.givelively.org/donate/business-council-for-peace-inc/preserve-and-create-jobs.

Lauren Zabierek, Cyber Security Project Executive Director at Belfer Center, discusses her lifetime of pivots and how she perpetually built and grew organizations wherever she landed. In this episode she discusses the challenges and growth in the military, intelligence community, at a startup, and now in academia at Harvard’s Belfer Center. In this episode, Lauren advocated for #NatSecGirlSquad (www.natsecgirlsquad.com) and Girl Security (www.girlsecurity.org). Her transformational moments will encourage listeners to explore national security in a whole new way.        

Candice Frost and Chevy Cook, the co-founder of Military Mentors, discuss mentorship. During this episode Chevy will discuss his organization and expertise in workplace mentoring, highlighting military approaches and veteran engagement. Military Mentors focuses on combining both the ART and the SCIENCE of mentoring. Find more information at www.militarymentors.org

What does Veterans Day mean to Veterans? This episode explores the history and meaning of Veterans Day with the host, Colonel Candice Frost. Then explores what Veterans Day means to Veteran Erica Jeffries Purdo, the Chief of Staff for Worldwide Global Services for Johnson & Johnson. She takes us through part of her own journey transitioning from active service and provides insight to those who she has helped through the process. Erica speaks to the criticality of having a strong network when transitioning. Lastly, she shares some of her key attributes for good leaders.

Do you realize how pivots and transitions in work require a lot of humility? Join Daphne Curtin, Director, People Business Partner within the eBay Classified Group for a discussion about taking a pivot from being a leader to a follower again. She discusses how you can focus on what you are great at and growing your strengths. Lastly, Daphne gives great advice on creating a development plan. For detailed show notes, links, and resources, go to www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

Ever wonder why it is best to remain politically neutral at work? Listen to Dr. Heidi Urben explain the norm of nonpartisanship of the military and her areas of concern with the gradual erosion of an apolitical military. She discusses her research on social media and the airing of politics by military leaders. You can access her research, “Like, Comment, Retweet The State of the Military’s Nonpartisan Ethic in the World of Social Media” or go to http://bit.ly/Candid_Leadership_DrUrben For detailed show notes, links, and resources, go to www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

Looking for an understanding of what a leader does? Author and guest Tony Marinello shares fundamental leadership lessons from his book, “Leadership Dark Matter.” Tony discusses with COL Candice Frost the importance of investing in others and the criticality of initial investments. He talks about knowing and taking pride in your role. Lastly, their conversation on the criticality of purpose when completing a mission for the organization. You can purchase Tony’s book “Leadership Dark Matter” or go to http://bit.ly/Amazon_LeadershipDarkMatter  For detailed show notes, links, and resources, go to www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

Want to help your organizations minimize risks, retain talent, and save costs through conflict resolution methodologies from labor lawsuits? Listen to Dr. Bina Patel, the CEO of Transformational Paradigms, as she walks through transformational paradigms. Dr. Bina Patel provides leadership and career coaching to upcoming leaders in organizations and millennials entering the workplace. Dr. Patel specializes in conflict management services, specifically consulting in how to reduce workforce turnover and workplace conflict, increase morale, and decrease costs in organizational systems to produce strong quality assurance. You can learn more about Dr. Bina Patel at http://www.transformationalparadigms.com For detailed show notes, links, and resources, go to www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

Many managers are willing to serve as someone’s mentor but how do you best mentor? This episode provides you a map to chart your mentorship journey. Colonel Candice Frost walks you through mentoring from your first meeting, through the challenges, transformation, and changes, until the conclusion of the mentorship relationship. Candice works to be the change for the next generation. She is a proven leader in the intelligence and national security and provides leadership and mentorship lessons organizations working to grow talent. You can learn more about Colonel Candice Frost, find detailed show notes, links, and resources at www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

The right time to find a mentor is now. Where do you begin? Listen to Colonel Candice Frost, the CEO of Colonel Candid, as she walks through steps to finding a mentor. You’ll appreciate her step-by-step strategies for finding a mentor. Candice, a proven leader in intelligence and national security, provides leadership and mentorship lessons to upcoming leaders in an organization and working to establish organizations that grow talent. You can learn more about Colonel Candice Frost, find detailed show notes, links, and resources at www.colonelcandid.com Be sure to leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This helps me support more people like you and move towards increasing our collective leadership skills. 

I'm very excited to share this brand new podcast with you! In this short introductory episode you'll learn a little bit about who I am, what this show is all about, and what you can expect to learn from each episode. Don't forget to subscribe and I hope you're ready for Candid Leadership!