Outspoken with Shana Cosgrove

Burnout, Impostor Syndrome, and Seeking Help.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Kathleen Fanone, psychotherapist and co-founder of the Baltimore Center for Psychotherapy. Kathleen tells Shana about building her career through a Master's in Social Work program at Smith College, doing further training at Walter Reed and Johns Hopkins before founding a group practice with a business partner. Shana and Kathleen talk about what's really behind burnout and discuss ways for thinking through impostor syndrome. Kathleen reminds us that every important relationship involves hard work, and she and Shana discuss the continuing need to destigmatize mental health care. Kathleen celebrates gentle, loving curiosity in the work of therapy. And she says that sometimes—even in a therapy session—it just makes sense to drop an F-bomb. QUOTES“One of the things that I explore first is what are all of the aspects of someone's life that's actually contributing to the burnout. While work may be at the forefront […] what are all of the things in someone's life that are tugging on them?  - Kathleen Fanone [17:15]“If part of what happens is your perfectionism elicits shame, which is super common […] chances are you would shift into another job, demand 110% from yourself, and find yourself right back in the same position.” - Kathleen Fanone [23:37]“Where along the way did they get the message that they're not enough?….You have this really confident part that you can step into when you have your work hat on, that you project confidence and expertise […] And then when you get home you're not always in that part.” - Kathleen Fanone [31:20]“It is hard to take a step back and to step out and think, ‘This is not the sum of all of my parts' […] Is there something that I need to be accountable for in this, and what of this belongs to the other person?” - Kathleen Fanone [37:58]TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Kathleen Fanone[03:23] Unpacking the Labels: Psychotherapists and Psychotherapy[05:51] Helping with Trauma: Knowing When to Push on the Gas and When to Hit the Brakes[09:49] Relating to That Wish to Be Done[12:45] Everyone Can Benefit from Working with a Therapist[17:45] Identifying What's Behind Burnout: What Is On Your Plate?[20:18] Is There a Magic Wand for Burnout? Internal and External Factors[22:39] When Perfectionism is the Problem[29:05] Thinking Through the “isms,” Getting Past Impostor Syndrome[36:36] Seeing What Belongs to You—and What Does Not[42:55] Success in (and out of) Relationships and Partnerships[48:07] On Leaving the DMV for Smith College, Walter Reed, and Johns Hopkins[57:08] Destigmatizing the Ask for Help[59:10] OutroRELEVANT LINKSKathleen Fanone at the Baltimore Center for PsychotherapyNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Your quick, to the point, podcast.

Your quick, to the point, podcast.

Planning, Resilience, and Honesty.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Garrett Yee, Vice President and General Manager at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). Garrett talks about his transition to the private sector after 35 years with the U.S. Army, serving in the Middle East and ultimately as Deputy Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He recalls learning perseverance after a difficult early-life experience—getting kicked out of Navy ROTC in his freshman year for poor grades—and then starting over with the Army. He talks about learning how important it is for leaders to keep smiling and about his efforts to stay honest and open. Garrett tells Shana his early vision for his life was that he'd grow up to be a teacher and a park ranger and says he's now back in nature following his passion for photographing birds.QUOTES“When things are important to us, we find the time to do it. So why wouldn't we find the time to plan for the next phase? . . . People in the military in particular are known for planning.” - Garrett Yee [05:21]“We try so hard to do everything and be everything and be perfect and we just fall short. That's just the way it is. We just can't do it all.” - Garrett Yee [15:49]“You choose to do what you do, and therefore you accept that challenges are part of the deal. But that's not going to stop you from enjoying what you're doing.” - Garrett Yee [29:13] TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Garrett Yee[02:59] On Transition Planning[07:28] Life Happens: From Navy ROTC to the Army[11:38] Tough Times Lead to Resilience [13:05] Marrying Young, Starting a Family, and Feeling Behind[18:25] Starting in Signal, Ending at DISA[21:50] DISA's Core Mission: Transport, Connectivity, Cybersecurity[25:52] Training the Next Generation at GDIT [29:10] Smiling in the Photos[33:19] Staying Honest and Accessible[35:15] Losing a Family Member, Talking about Mental Health[40:23] Career High Point: Deployed to the Middle East in 2014[42:17] What's Your Leave-Behind? Treating Every Job as Your Last [46:20] Sharing Copies of the Constitution  [49:33] When Your Family Is Happy[51:57] Great Leaders Know What's Good for the Organization[55:26] OutroRELEVANT LINKSGarrett Yee on LinkedIn@garrettyee66 on InstagramNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Leadership, STEM, and Social Problem-Solving.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Violet Apple, CEO at Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Violet tells Shana about her thirty-year career with the Girl Scouts, working with the 111-year-old organization as it has moved its focus from informal education and service to leadership and action. Violet describes introducing new Girl Scout STEM programs, working with Johns Hopkins to teach healthy eating and exercise in schools, and introducing girls to women leaders in STEM. She stresses the Girl Scouts' commitment to sustainable action that addresses inequity, and she shares with Shana the joys of reading for pleasure and winning at recreational softball.QUOTES“You do get better, I think. You get more seasoned, so that you're not sweating the small stuff.” - Violet Apple [02:25]“Some days it feels heavy. [...] It's a heavy lift when we hear about some of the things that children are going through. But there is this resiliency in girls and in the Girl Scout organization. And I lean on that. Because it may not happen; I may not see it today. But tomorrow I will.” - Violet Apple [46:21]“I would love to see every girl coming out of college—or even before—have a mentor. And I'm talking about someone who's going to challenge you, someone who's going to be in your corner, someone who's going to talk you through what your career path can look like. Not talk you into something, but talk you through.” - Violet Apple [50:08] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:37] Meet Violet Apple[03:15] Girl Scouts Is a Leadership Development Organization[06:23] The Cookie Sale: From Fundraiser to Youth Entrepreneurship[11:10] Top Seller Lessons: Look Them in the Eye, Always Say Thank You[16:28] Own the Experience That You Have[19:22] Learning by Doing[22:21] STEM and Girl Scouts: Robotics and Think Like a Programmer[25:57] Camping with Girl Scouts in the Twenty-First Century[31:35] Healthy Living in Schools: Addressing Inequity[36:51] Thin Mints Still the Favorite [41:06] A Long Career with the Girl Scouts[46:54] Distinguished Women [49:34] Advice to Young Professional Women: Have a Mentor[51:10] Reading (and Listening) for Pleasure and Laughter[56:38] OutroRELEVANT LINKSViolet M. Apple on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, ShanaSend your resume to hello@nyla.io

Information, Transformation, and Mission.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Lauren Knausenberger, Chief Information Officer at the Department of the Air Force, about guiding the Air Force and Space Force in the rapidly expanding endeavors of enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data and AI. Lauren talks about how “missing the mission” pulled her into the Air Force in 2017 after a successful stint as an entrepreneur. Lauren expresses her conviction that “the family is a team”—whatever form that family takes—and she admires the Air Force tradition where families make career decisions together. Lauren shares how her martial arts training taught her the importance of getting back up and reveals her occasional joy in dressing down (though always sporting a blazer) amidst the formal work environment of the Pentagon's E-ring.QUOTES“I also had a rule as an entrepreneur that if I didn't want to drink a beer with you, I wasn't doing business with you [...] You have to be able to look someone in the eye and know that a handshake means something even before a contract would.” - Lauren Knausenberger [14:09]“If you asked every stakeholder in your life, ‘What is the most important thing that I can do for you, and what are the things that you don't care about?' and if you could get an honest answer, [...] how much time do you get back? How often do you knock yourself out trying to meet an expectation that maybe someone doesn't even have of you?” - Lauren Knausenberger [19:49]“I've never not felt empowered anywhere, even when I probably wasn't. No matter what the job was, I was going to crush that job. [...] I really didn't care who got credit for it, I was going to make a difference.” - Lauren Knausenberger  [48:39] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Lauren Knausenberger[06:06] Running Hard: Working as a Civilian at the Pentagon [09:32] Post-Pentagon Plans[13:28] Adding Value While Raising Young Children[14:38] Falling into the Air Force by Accident[17:39] The Career and Family Arc: Beautiful Time and Prioritizing Ruthlessly[22:12] Keeping Yourself in Balance[27:32] Intelligence Community at 17, then Decision and Information Sciences[40:45] An Innovation Ecosystem: Just What Did Lauren Sketch on That Napkin?[48:12] Turnarounds: Fixing and Growing Programs[53:40] Collaboration in the Era of Zero Trust[57:34] Measuring Product Success and User Experience in the DoD[1:02:44] Supporting the Mission[1:05:13] Books to Read[1:08:14] Making Missteps, Remembering Recovery, and Building Empathy[1:15:01] OutroRELEVANT LINKSLauren Knausenberger on LinkedInLauren Knausenberger biography on SAF/CNNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, ShanaSend your resume to hello@nyla.io

Engineering, Creativity, and Confidence.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Latisha (Tish) Rourke, Vice President, Cyber & Intelligence & General Manager at Lockheed Martin. Tish tells Shana about her leadership role at Lockheed Martin and offers good advice about selecting in for challenging work. She describes being “a unicorn”—a woman studying electrical engineering—and explains what mentoring looks like when you're in a field that's still only 20% women. Tish talks about her long and varied career at Lockheed Martin, where she has worked dockside on submarine systems, in business development, as a program manager, as a systems engineer, and then even developing software with assembly code. She shares with Shana her passions for reading Tom Clancy and binge-watching Jack Ryan and explains why as a person working in a team-driven industry she turns to the lost art of quilting when she really wants a solo project.QUOTES“I encourage people to take risks, to take chances. You've proven yourself up to this point, and your organization's going to believe in you. And if it doesn't work out, hey, we're a big organization and we're going to find another role for you.” - Latisha Rourke [09:00]“In school you're rewarded for doing the job by yourself and solidifying that knowledge individually. In industry you're rewarded for getting something done efficiently. And if somebody has already solved 50% of your problem and you get that solution from them [...] and you get it done in half the time, you're rewarded for that.”- Latisha Rourke [17:22]“Don't just think about the next job. Have a much larger, longer view so that you make sure that the steps that you take in your career path don't derail you from getting to the job you ultimately want.” - Latisha Rourke [36:54] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Tish Rourke[04:02] Moving up and Moving over from Electronic Warfare to Cyber & Intelligence[07:52] Learn to “Self-Select in” for Leadership Roles[12:09] Surround Yourself with People Who Cover Your Gaps[13:40] In the 20%: Being a Woman Studying Electrical Engineering [17:04] Problems, Problem Sets, and Learning to Work with a Team[20:34] From College to a Career at Lockheed Martin[22:04] How the Customer Really Is Right [25:38] Finding Breadth of Opportunity within the Organization[28:42] Building Skills in a Stretch Position[32:51] Mentoring and the Value of Mid-Course Corrections[35:58] Advice to Young Engineers[37:47] Be Calm and Confident, But Recognize You Might Be Wrong[42:28] On Crucial Conversations in the Office and at Home[48:26] Reaching out to Students: Lockheed Martin's CYBERQUEST and CodeQuest[52:39] OutroRELEVANT LINKSLatisha Rourke on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, ShanaSend your resume to hello@nyla.io

Technology, Timing, and the Metaverse.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Dr. Corinna (Cori) Lathan, Chief Science Officer at DANA Brain Vital, about her current role and her two decades as founder and CEO of AnthroTronix. Cori tells Shana about how she pursued her interests in neuroscience and human space flight into lab jobs (the “vomit comet”) and then a PhD in Neuroscience and an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT (in that order). They discuss her decision to leave a tenured university position to start up AnthroTronix, and Cori retells the company's history of groundbreaking inventions, moving from educational robotics to designing VR experiments for the International Space Station to making “sensors for soldiers.” Cori talks about how she wrote her 2022 book, Inventing the Future: Stories from a Techno-Optimist, as a legacy memoir of her company, as an inspiration to younger generations, and as a way to honor the memory of her parents. She tells Shana that we are already living in the metaverse, urges listeners to make STEM a creative endeavor again, and remembers when her fifth-grade classmates voted her “most likely to go to Mars.”QUOTES“I think we're going to move in and out of the physical-digital convergence. ‘Physical-digital convergence' is how I think of the metaverse. And It's going to be a spectrum of technologies, and it's going to be a spectrum of uses, and it's going to be pervasive. Our day will be moving in and out of this physical-digital continuum.” - Cori Lathan [13:05] “Call it whatever you want. Get the tools you need to get [things] done. . . . If you need to have the label, you can always tack the label on.” - Cori Lathan [48:23]“We very much have done ourselves a disservice by making math the end-all, be-all. . . . I happen to love math and I happen to have been good at it. If I hadn't, I would have been completely steered out of a STEM career.” - Cori Lathan [50:19] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Cori Lathan[04:30] Writing the Stories of AnthroTronix's Inventions [09:35] Emerging Technologies That Improve Human Performance[12:12] Living in the Metaverse? How Pervasive AR/VR Will Be[14:32] Finding the Authentic as New-Generation Digital Natives[16:49] On Tech and Timing: When Technology Meets Market Readiness[21:42] Starting up AnthroTronix[27:45] Winning a National Science Foundation SBIR Grant[29:10] From Disability Product Development to DARPA[34:07] Growing Up Fearless, Inventing a College Major at Swarthmore[40:50] Researching Human Space Flight, Earning a Neuroscience PhD at MIT [48:15] Find Cool Projects with Cool People[51:36] Maker Spaces: Let's Change the Way We Do STEM Education[57:58] OutroRELEVANT LINKSCori Lathan on LinkedInCori Lathan at Outspoken AgencyNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Creativity, Collaboration, and Staying Collected.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Kristen Parks, Owner and Chief Creative Officer at Eleven Peppers Studios. Kristen shares the challenges and excitement of being a creative professional in the world of government contracting, emphasizing the importance of creative engagement as a "have-to-have." She recounts the journey of founding a creative services company that delivers a wide range of solutions, from UX to branding and marketing. Kristen sheds light on the collaborative structure at Eleven Peppers, highlighting the value of stepping back and allowing others to create exceptional work. She underscores the significance of scheduling—even for breakfast—in maintaining a work-life balance, and she smiles at the younger self who thought a two-hour commute on the DC Metro Orange Line was a good idea. QUOTES“The business is kind of a baby in itself . . . especially in the beginning. Right now it feels like a third child.” - Kristen Parks [17:10]“I rely on relationships of all kinds to kind of support that mentorship piece. Like I wouldn't say I have one mentor. I would say I have a lot of confidence in colleagues that I trust . . . . I have different pieces that make up the puzzle of a mentor.” - Kristen Parks [30:25] “I would just say don't be afraid to let us in. Don't look at it as an added expense, an extra, a ‘nice to have,' if we have it in the budget. . . . Look at it as a ‘have to have.' Just as much as you need an engineer, you need a creative person, because it's like two superpowers combined.” - Kristen Parks [42:04] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Kristen Parks[04:33] Mixing It Up: Working with Government and Commercial Clients[08:32] Seeing an Opportunity, Starting Eleven Peppers[12:53] Building an Entrepreneurial Perspective[16:45] Blending in Family[21:10] Education in Visual Communications Design and Graphic Design[27:27] Pushing Back on “Don't Be Too Creative!”[29:18] Putting Together the Pieces of the Mentorship Puzzle[33:29] Stepping Back to Watch the Team Create Amazing Things[37:11] Being Proud When People Choose–and Stay with–Eleven Peppers[38:19] Learning Lessons and Managing Stress[41:09] For the Engineers: Welcoming Creativity, Marrying Art and Technology[45:52] Looking at Yourself . . . and Making Sure You Know Your Own Lane[53:11] OutroRELEVANT LINKSKristen Parks on LinkedInBryan Parks on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsEleven PeppersEleven Peppers on InstagramI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Mentorship, Trailblazing, and Financial Confidence.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Meena Nankani, Vice President at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Meena shares how her mother's experience with money after her father's death inspired her to enter the banking space and help clients feel secure in their finances. As a black woman in finance, Meena discusses the challenges and rewards of navigating the industry and serving as a role model. She details the various offerings of JPMorgan Chase & Co, emphasizing that money shouldn't be intimidating and that facing it head-on makes it more manageable. From individual assistance to comprehensive wealth management solutions, Meena explains how J.P. Morgan supports its clients. Lastly, she offers advice to young professionals, talks about building her network, and reveals her shared love for Formula 1 with her daughter.QUOTES“My father passed away when he was 63. And when my mom had to deal with finances for the first time, she was very uncomfortable with all of the decisions. [...] She was very nervous throughout the experience, and I think that almost solidified the work that I do now, because I wanted to make sure that you feel comfortable. [12:29]“What we like to say is that there's a place for everyone within J.P. Morgan Chase [...] From if you walk into a branch and you want to open a personal or business account; or if you are at a point of inflection; or if you just want to have day-to-day banking or day-to-day business and you want to work with an individual. At any level and at any type, there's always the right fit, so we just want to help where we can.” - Meena Nankani [44:06]“I like a challenge. And I, sort of like this idea of, let's get messy, let's figure it out. [...] It's not gonna be pretty at the outset, but you learn from everything along the way, right? And so if you're scared of it and you sort of shy away from it, then you're doing yourself a disservice.” - Meena Nankani [47:13] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Meena Nankani[06:37] The Emotional Component of Money[18:06] Becoming a Banker[28:43] Meena's Time as an Analyst[37:27] Shifting from a Hedge Fund to Private Banking[42:29] Chase Wealth Management Compared to J.P. Morgan Private Bank[46:37] Getting Educated About Wealth Management[49:10] Meena's Experience as a Black Woman in Banking[54:59] Book Recommendations[56:55] Meena's Advice to Her Younger Self[59:04] Meena and her Daughter's Love for Formula 1[01:00:33] OutroRELEVANT LINKSMeena Nankani on LinkedInJPMorgan Chase & CoNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Presence, Ambition, and Balance.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Frankie Velez, President of Praxis Engineering, a General Dynamics Information Technology (GD-IT) company working to support U.S. military and intelligence agencies in solving complex problems. Frankie tells Shana about growing up between Puerto Rico, Connecticut, and Florida, then choosing to join the Navy which led to his start in intelligence. Frankie talks about the path he took to reach his current leadership position at Praxis and discusses with Shana the shift in perspective that goes with moving up from project management—where technical proficiency is paramount—to executive roles—where critical thinking and communicating with team members become vitally important. He explains how he knew he wanted to be a company president, how he learned to seek balance and develop a ‘leadership compass' along the way, and how it all might have turned out differently if, as a long-haired teenage surfer, he had accepted that invite to train for Pro-Am competition. QUOTES“I always, always, always run my decisions through my team—specifically, my immediate leaders. Because I want to make sure that I'm putting my best foot forward and I want to make sure that I've thought through the risk. There's no way I can have all the answers, so I have to depend on my team.” - Frankie Velez [27:24]“What makes you happy? You need to focus on that. Because your better self is never going to be what you bring forth if you're not happy. If you're living for somebody else, or for something else, or for some ideal that's not what you really believe in, it doesn't help you.” - Frankie Velez [37:29]“I publish my [leadership compass] and I put myself on notice. In other words, ‘Here are my expectations, here is what I expect from you, and here is how I am going to lead you to success [ . . . ] and you are more than welcome to hold me accountable if I am not living to those expectations.'” - Frankie Velez [33:45] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:54] Meet Frankie Velez[04:51] On Being Present as the President of Praxis[08:39] From Boeing Intelligence to Praxis[11:18] Critical Thinking and the Executive Interview[14:08] Praxis as Industry Leader and Employee-Focused Entity[15:50] On Being a GDIT Subsidiary: Who Do We Want to Be?[18:58] Growing up in Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and Florida[21:54] Choosing the Navy, Building Knowledge and Networks Post-Retirement[25:30] On Stepping Stones and Ambition [29:50] Learning on and off the Job, Getting Past “Failing at Leadership”[32:49] Does Your Team Know What Your Expectations Are? [36:30] To Young People: Do What Makes You Happy[40:07] Pause and Make Change[43:45] Holding Yourself Accountable and Doing the Right Thing[48:53] OutroRELEVANT LINKSFrankie Velez on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Collaborating, Gaming, and the STEM Talent PipelineIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Cynthia Jenkins, founder and CMO of Skillsgapp, maker of Skillionaire Games. Cynthia describes how her company is developing video games that school districts and industry leaders can use to teach middle and high school students about STEM careers in their local communities. Cynthia describes her training in journalism and advertising as well as her mid-career transition—together with collaborator Tina Zwolenski—from marketing to the world of gaming. Shana and Cynthia talk about the need for soft skills in every field and the increasing recognition that reaching and teaching kids earlier about opportunities in STEM is crucial to filling an anticipated 700,000 new tech jobs with industry and government employers. Cynthia says that, yes, sometimes you actually should go to bed angry, and she tells Shana a surprising story about a chance meeting with The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood.QUOTES“It's a testament to this generation. They want to advocate for their own future, and they don't want you to hide it.” - Cynthia Jenkins [27:01]“You spend a lot of time looking at what's behind you, what's behind you, what's behind you. And it's that pivot, looking right next to you all the way to the front, and that runway ahead of you.” - Cynthia Jenkins [32:57] “You shouldn't have to rely on trust. Get everything in writing and legal [. . . ] Get it really buttoned up. And then you both are safe, you've already made the hard decisions, and then you just get to be partners.” - Cynthia Jenkins [36:45] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:54] Meet Cynthia Jenkins[04:19] Connecting Kids to Life-Changing Careers Though Game-Changing Play[09:50] From Marketing to Making[13:44] Bringing Games to Schools and Industry[16:06] Getting Kids in the Game as Testers and as Players[19:18] Long Hours and Steep Learning Curves[24:14] Instructional Design for the Smartphone Generation[28:17] Having Fun at Work, Being the Funniest in the Room[32:11] Reaching and Teaching Kids Earlier[34:36] Collaborating with Tina Zwolenski in Zwo and Beyond[36:46] First, Get It in Writing[39:54] Sleep on a Problem, Wake up with a Fresh Perspective[41:06] Doing Hard Things and Inspiring a New Generation [46:39] On Kissing Ron Wood[51:50] OutroRELEVANT LINKSCynthia P. Jenkins on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsSkillsgappSkillionaire GamesCyber WatchdogI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Taking Time, Refining the Process, and Creating a Unicorn FarmIn this special episode of The Outspoken Podcast, Rebecca Scott of TallSmall Productions interviews podcast host Shana Cosgrove, founder and CEO of Nyla Technology Solutions. Shana describes how her goals changed over time: at first she'd hoped to climb the corporate ladder, and then she realized she could start a company of her own. Shana tells Rebecca the story of how she named her company after her mother, Nyla, creating a people-centered company rooted in the values that her mother lived by. She talks about navigating the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic as a contractor in the defense sector, where remote work is common but security constraints mean “work from home” can't work for every employee. Shana explains that she started Outspoken because she wanted to hear from female experts—and she reminds us that you don't have to make every single sandwich to be a great mom. QUOTES “I'm a huge risk-taker professionally. I never was attracted to going to the big companies. I was never attracted to the long-term stability of the company. I was always very interested in the work that was going to be done.” - Shana Cosgrove [15:26]“There's an endless amount of work to be done, but not all of that is valuable. Sometimes you are gold-plating or making something better or making something bigger that doesn't need to be done [. . .] It is really understanding the limits, which will force a prioritization of what needs to be done. And that's why they say, ‘You want something done, you give it to a busy person.'” - Shana Cosgrove [34:19]“The best thing you can do is just really enjoy where you are and embrace all that's good of where you are.” - Shana Cosgrove [53:23] TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro[02:14] Meet Shana Cosgrove[04:18] On Understanding Business and Starting Nyla Technology Solutions[09:58] On Learning to Like the Defense Industry[13:20] Getting Ready to Launch[17:17] Just Know That You'll Figure It Out[22:35] Naming for Values, Naming for a Woman[25:13] Navigating COVID-19 in a People-Centered Company[31:50] When to Wind Down . . . and When to Double Down[36:13] Nourishing Yourself While Managing a Company[39:36] Inviting Women to Be Outspoken [43:04] Making Money is Freedom[45:46] Envisioning Nyla's Future[49:34] Raising Children While Running a Unicorn Farm[53:35] Winning Friends and Influencing People in Tech[57:16] OutroRELEVANT LINKSShana Cosgrove on LinkedInTallSmall ProductionsNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Balancing, Pivoting, and Innovating Through DiversityIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Jennifer Walsmith, Vice President of Cyber and Information Solutions at Northrop Grumman. Shana and Jennifer talk about the capacity for remote work to broaden access to decision-makers and increase organizational agility. Jennifer talks about her 20+ years at NSA—from a GS-2 to being the Senior Acquisition Executive (SAE)—and her experiences earning a degree in computer science, leaving government for a stint in industry, and prioritizing her family all along the way. She describes her role in relation to Northrop Grumman's Global Ballistic Strategic Deterrent contract, developing and then seeing through their pivot to cyber solutions. Lastly, Jennifer tells Shana why she originally picked computer science over engineering and describes her surprise when a recent Meyers-Briggs test indicated that she may not be as extroverted as she thought.QUOTES“As you go through a major change, they used to talk about it in the terms of sailing [ . . . ] When you decide to tack to get better wind, it's so important that you not get caught in what is called irons, which is that lull as you are trying to move to the new wind. [ . . .] Races are won or lost not on the decision to tack, but the execution of that move.” - Jennifer Walsmith [12:48]“Trust is one of the most important things that you have to build. Trust is really the thing that comes after you've built all the relationships.” - Jennifer Walsmith [36:47]“I'm not convinced that more hours is more effective. You have to keep getting more effective with your time. You have to think about how you empower others around you, how you leverage that team. [ . . . ] It doesn't have to be the 80-hour work week, and it doesn't have to be the way we've always done it.” - Jennifer Walsmith [43:54] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:56] Meet Jennifer Walsmith[07:02] Bridging Intelligence and Defense at Northrop Grumman[08:25] On the Cyber Segment of Global Ballistic Strategic Deterrent (GBSD)[11:24] Strategizing—and Executing—the Pivot to Cyber Solutions[15:51] NSA to SAIC, and Back to NSA[23:10] High Energy, the Drive to Achieve, and Following Family Passions[25:31] Choosing Computer Science over Engineering[30:03] Seven Jobs at NSA, All the Way to SAE (Senior Acquisition Executive)[36:47] Trust is the Key to Building a Strong Team[39:29] Being a Woman in Senior Leadership [43:40] Finding New Models for Leadership[46:39] Diversity of Thought Delivers Innovative Solutions[51:08] Be Brave, Have Courage, and Find a Job that Inspires You[56:04] Outro RELEVANT LINKSJennifer Walsmith on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Cyber Diversity, Running Heels, and Working Toward the Metaverse.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Angel Smith, PhD, Partner, Mission Solutions and Customer Expansion (MSCE) at Microsoft. Angel talks to Shana about how data and data cooperation matter in today's changing security environment, where the U.S. must consider the potential for conflicts with peer (no longer “near-peer”) adversaries. She describes the career path that led her from a career in the Marines as a C-130 pilot to a Congressional staff role overseeing the Military Intelligence Program and most recently to Microsoft. Angel shares what it feels like to get a second chance at life after a cancer diagnosis at age 23, and she explains what a PhD in organizational psychology brings to conversations about building a future metaverse. She tells young people to trust in their capabilities and learn how to win friends and influence people.  QUOTES“If you think about it - the threats that are starting to come at us - we're used to [being able to] clearly define an adversary space geographically. We knew where wars were taking place. The way that things work now is everything is global all the time, and we are starting to see the advantage is actually decision superiority: who can get as much information as possible to make the smartest real-time decision?” - Angel Smith [11:58]“One big takeaway was that service looks very different from a lot of different angles. And so I was working with people that had never served a day in their life in the military or anywhere else outside of tech, but they were some of the most incredible patriots I had ever met in my entire life. Some of the most brilliant people who were so, so, so dedicated to mission in such a passionate way. - Angel Smith [26:27]“There's also this component of We've always done it this way, not realizing that we must evolve, because things are—everything around us is changing. We must change alongside that. We must continue to do things a little bit better. - Angel Smith [51:54] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:54] Meet Angel Smith[05:01] Building Connections with Australia and the UK[08:01] Microsoft Mission Solutions: Data and Resiliency[12:31] Digital Action as Military Action[17:48] From Marine Corps to Microsoft and JEDI (and JWCC)[25:38] Post-Corps Culture Shock: From Combat Boots to Running Heels[30:42] Choosing the Marines and Surviving Cancer[37:05] Flying God's Chariot (C-130s)[41:33] Using Deployment Downtime to Earn a PhD[48:41] Conversing about the Metaverse[1:01:56] OutroRELEVANT LINKSAngel Smith on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Creativity, Technology, and Making Geek ChicIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Julie Lenzer, Chief Innovation Officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI). Julie talks about her early start in computer science and manufacturing and why she recently completed a master's degree in machine learning alongside working a fulltime job. She discusses her work in the biotech sector at ARMI, where she has joined innovator Dean Kamen to support and scale new processes for tissue regeneration. Julie shares the story of starting and growing her own tech business—while parenting young children—and her commitment to women's empowerment, including via a longtime leadership role with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Together Shana and Julie celebrate summer camp as a special chance for girls to be in nature and build confidence, and Julie tells us about mostly saying yes to opportunity (including a chance to represent the U.S. on the G20 Innovation Task Force) and occasionally saying no (turning down a post-college invite to try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders).  QUOTES“Technology for itself? It is what it is. But if you look at its ability to change things and change the world? That's what kept me going.” – Julie Lenzer [07:02]“I had read articles about the bias inherent—and bias, not algorithmic bias, but bias as in data bias—in machine learning and I wanted to understand what that meant. I wanted to understand how to avoid it [. . . ] How do we make sure that we're not just supercharging our biases and our bad behavior into making faster bad decisions?” – Julie Lenzer [10:09]  “Building a business isn't rocket science, but a rocket scientist doesn't know how to do it. I'm helping these brilliant scientists figure out how to raise capital, figure out how to attract a CEO [. . .] helping them figure out what's their next milestone and how to get there.” – Julie Lenzer [17:29]TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:31] Meet Julie Lenzer[04:50] Computer Science and Being the Only Woman in the Room[09:57] Mastering Machine Learning and Managing Bias in AI [14:54] When Biofabrication Is Your Day Job[18:12] Choosing a Mission When You Can Do Anything You Want[19:55] Starting Your Own Company Before Age 30[24:38] Building Something Bigger Than Yourself [28:13] Knowing When to Walk Away [31:12] Building Girl Leaders Through Girl Scouts [38:02] Ignoring Old Programming[43:19] Taking Pride in Letting Teams Shine[46:23] On Failing and Lessons Learned[49:03] Writing about ParentPreneurship[53:20] Saying Yes to the G20 Innovation Task Force[1:00:03] OutroRELEVANT LINKS Julie Lenzer on LinkedInNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Collaboration, Transparency, and Family Legacy.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Bailey Bickley, Chief Strategy Officer for the NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. Bailey discusses The NSA's journey from a private organization to one that is now discussing cybersecurity publicly to help ensure online safety. Bailey's family has been a part of The NSA for 3 generations, and Bailey explains why this family legacy is so important to her. She also explains SolarWinds and other hacking incidents, and why the mission of The NSA is so vital to protect the national interests of The United States. Lastly, Bailey reveals to us her favorite book, future TED talk topic, and the popular movie franchise that puts her to sleep!QUOTES“You want to build trust through transparency. Folks won't take action on our cybersecurity guidance, unless they trust the source of that guidance.” - Bailey Bickley [05:32]“I realized very early on that my enthusiasm, my ability to connect with people was a skill. It wasn't just a personality aspect, but it was something that I could leverage in the workplace to get the job done.” - Bailey Bickley [21:38]“If you don't lean into identifying what you don't understand and remediating that, you'll only get so far. [...] Making sure you put the work in first, versus relying on other people to teach you, I think is really important.” - Bailey Bickley [38:00] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:31] Meet Bailey Bickley[05:01] The Shift into a Public-Facing NSA[14:42] SolarWinds Cybersecurity Incident[17:15] NSA's Missions[21:01] How Bailey's Personality Fits into NSA[24:07] Bailey's Start with NSA[34:57] Mistakes and Moments of Failure[37:14] Advice for Young People[39:38] Bailey's Book Recommendation[43:49] Bailey's Surprising Fact[46:48] Outro RELEVANT LINKShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bailey-bickley-b76196128/ (Bailey Bickley) on LinkedInhttps://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nsa (Intelligencecareers.gov/nsa)https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions)I'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Collaboration, Transparency, and Family Legacy.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Bailey Bickley, Chief Strategy Officer for the NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. Bailey discusses The NSA's journey from a private organization to one that is now discussing cybersecurity publicly to help ensure online safety. Bailey's family has been a part of The NSA for 3 generations, and Bailey explains why this family legacy is so important to her. She also explains SolarWinds and other hacking incidents, and why the mission of The NSA is so vital to protect the national interests of The United States. Lastly, Bailey reveals to us her favorite book, future TED talk topic, and the popular movie franchise that puts her to sleep!QUOTES“You want to build trust through transparency. Folks won't take action on our cybersecurity guidance, unless they trust the source of that guidance.” - Bailey Bickley [05:32]“I realized very early on that my enthusiasm, my ability to connect with people was a skill. It wasn't just a personality aspect, but it was something that I could leverage in the workplace to get the job done.” - Bailey Bickley [21:38]“If you don't lean into identifying what you don't understand and remediating that, you'll only get so far. [...] Making sure you put the work in first, versus relying on other people to teach you, I think is really important.” - Bailey Bickley [38:00] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:31] Meet Bailey Bickley[05:01] The Shift into a Public-Facing NSA[14:42] SolarWinds Cybersecurity Incident[17:15] NSA's Missions[21:01] How Bailey's Personality Fits into NSA[24:07] Bailey's Start with NSA[34:57] Mistakes and Moments of Failure[37:14] Advice for Young People[39:38] Bailey's Book Recommendation[43:49] Bailey's Surprising Fact[46:48] OutroRELEVANT LINKSBailey Bickley on LinkedInIntelligencecareers.gov/nsaNyla Technology SolutionsI'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.Live well, Shana

Seeing Abundance, Supporting Women, and Shifting the Narrative.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Nic Cober, Esq., Principal Managing Partner of CJR and founder of The BOW Collective. Nic describes her journey to and through serial entrepreneurship, from her unexpected first small business venture as owner of a hair salon and day spa to her current role as cofounder of a multi-million dollar legal and consulting firm based in Washington, DC. She talks about the joy she finds in working directly with small businesses and consulting with banks, municipalities, and others to support small-business owners. She shares how her new nonprofit venture, the Black Owner and Women's Collective, came to be and how she got to ring the bell at the NYSE. Nic encourages women to support women-owned businesses and to realize that partnerships are power, and she has ideas for what to read even when you're tired of reading. QUOTES  “What I realized and what I think has been my forever light bulb moment is whatever you had you can have again. Because I had the intellectual property to do it the first time. And so: OK, you've lost that, well, what did you do right? What relationships did you make? How can you repurpose your gifts in order to get it again?” - Nic Cober [13:35]  “I don't see a lot of married CEO women that are able to have tremendous success personally and professionally without a truly supportive person. And when you own a business together, it stands to reason that it works because you both want it to work. You are both aligned. [. . .] We are both alpha personalities, but we do the beta. We do the beta dance.” - Nic Cober [35:16]  “Partnerships are the best key to success. It's people. [. . .] If you don't have a collaborative nature on how you can make your business a win-win and triangulate that, you won't be successful. But if you do, you will always have advocates and allies out there that will come to your aid when you need it the most.” - Nic Cober [46:07]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:55] Meet Nic Cober [03:25] From Practicing Law to Owning a Small Business [11:50] From Running a Small Business to Advising Small Business Owners [14:22] Dealing with Adversity, Getting Past Fears [19:25] Consulting with Small Businesses [24:52] Narrowing vs. Broadening Your Business's Appeal [26:40] On Partnerships, Relationships, and Inspiring Parents [33:40] Spouses Who Work Together and Marriages That Work [38:38] The BOW (Black Owner & Women's) Collective [46:07] Partnerships Are the Secret to Success [51:31] On What to Read Even When You're Too Tired to Read [53:40] Women Supporting Women and Women-Owned Businesses [56:04] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/504-loans (Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program) https://thecjrgroup.com/ (Cober Johnson Romney (CJR)) https://cjrbuilds.com/ (CJR Development) https://www.wbcollaborative.org/ (Women Business Collaborativ)https://www.thebowcollective.org/ (e) https://enterprisingwomen.com/ (Enterprising Women) https://www.thebowcollective.org/ (The BOW Collective) https://www.wbenc.org/ (WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council)) https://www.ted.com/talks (TED Talks) https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-w-johnson-ii-b746215 (Harold W. Johnson II), cofounder of CJR, on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eason-pamela-prince-eason-3bb2258 (Pamela Prince-Eason), President and CEO of WBENC, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-smiley-5660075 (Monica Smiley), Editor and Publisher of Enterprising Women, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/edie-fraser-38b4466 (Edie Fraser), CEO of Women Business Collective, on LinkedIn https://eckharttolle.com/ (Eckhart Tolle)     RELEVANT LINKS https://niccoberesquire.com/ (Nic Cober, Esquire) https://www.linkedin.com/in/niccoberesquire (Nic Cober, Esquire) on...

Equity, Taking Chances, and Keeping it Fun.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Amit Singh, Chief Architect for the Intel Sector of BlueHalo. Amit explains how he ended up studying electrical engineering at the University of Virginia. He also discusses the recent sale of Asymmetrik to Blue Halo, revealing why giving equity to his employees felt natural and how the sale affected him emotionally. Pranks and humor are how Amit keeps things light in the business world, and we hear how they not only helped him survive college but found their way into software on April Fools' Day. Lastly, Amit argues for the importance of executive coaches, lists impactful books, and divulges his collegiate athletic achievement. QUOTES “I like to start things, I don't necessarily have to finish them. I think of myself as a zero to one kind of guy” - Amit Singh [16:50] “I've tried to reduce the barriers or eliminate the barriers between the engineers and the end user. Because [there's] all kinds of ways to separate the engineers from the mission, and I feel like it's very important to remove those obstacles to be successful.” - Amit Singh [34:56] “As a subcontractor, you have the luxury of saying no. As a prime, you don't have that luxury anymore, so you're going to have to say yes to some things that you may not have done before. But that's where partnerships and relationships with other companies can help fill those gaps.” - Amit Singh [45:53]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meet Amit Singh [05:20] Amit's Role Today [06:40] How Amit Decided on Electrical Engineering [12:10] Leaving NASA and Starting Asymmetrik [15:23] Working for Himself [22:50] Finding a Partner [25:40] Reflections on how Asymmetrik Handled Equity [28:46] Amit's Emotional Reaction to Selling [29:59] Where Amit's Confidence to Take Risks Originated [35:37] Easter Eggs in Grapevine [38:06] How Amit Found Balance in Responsibilities as CTO [41:44] Discussing Marriage [46:43] Books that have Impacted Amit [48:15] The Value of Having an Executive Coach [50:31] Outro     RESOURCES https://arlingtoncap.com/ (Arlington Capital Partners) https://bluehalo.com/ (BlueHalo) https://www.vsu.edu/ (Virginia State University) https://www.virginia.edu/ (University of Virginia) https://www.odu.edu/ (Old Dominion University) https://www.nasa.gov/ (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)) https://www.nasa.gov/goddard (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) https://vt.edu/ (Virginia Tech) https://www.jhu.edu/ (Johns Hopkins University) https://www.nro.gov/ (National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)) https://www.darpa.mil/ (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)) https://www.inscom.army.mil/ (United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)) https://www.idc.com/ (International Data Corporation (IDC)) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency (NSA)) https://www.saic.com/ (Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)) https://www.esop.org/ (Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)) https://www.cia.gov/ (Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)) https://datacommons.cancer.gov/cancer-data-aggregator (Cancer Data Aggregator at National Cancer Institute) https://www.airforce.com/ (United States Air Force) https://www.synopsys.com/glossary/what-is-cicd.html (CI/CD) https://osintframework.com/ (Open Source Intelligence (OSINT Framework)) https://www.amazon.com/Small-Giants-Companies-Instead-10th-Anniversary/dp/014310960X (Small Giants by Bo Burlingham) https://www.radicalcandor.com/ (Radical Candor by Kim Scott) https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 (Good to Great by Jim Collins) https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What/dp/1984878107 (Think Again by Adam Grant) https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296 (Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters) https://simonsinek.com/ (Simon Sinek)...

Philanthropy, Cybersecurity, and Bringing the Energy.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Tasha Cornish, Executive Director at Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI). Tasha discusses how her work has helped improve the nation, from running a human services nonprofit during COVID to defending the country from cyber attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also explains why cybersecurity is important for every business and why information truly is power within the IT sector. Tasha gives advice to those entering the world of cybersecurity and reveals what advice she's seeking out for where she's at in her own career. Lastly, Tasha tells us about her adventure journey from snowboarding, scuba diving, running marathons, and possibly even CISSP. QUOTES “There's a very interesting debate when it comes to the human factor of cybersecurity. It's a combination of training your staff but also making sure that your networks are not over privileging your staff, that they have access to all these systems they don't need to access. [...] Which gets a lot of pushback of course from people who are trying to work hard and be productive, but it does help protect our systems” - Tasha Cornish [29:13] “Like anything else, if you don't have the people and processes in place to use these [cybersecurity] products, they're kind of useless.” - Tasha Cornish [30:20] “[Local governments] are a huge target [...] It's a lot, for schools and hospitals really, so we are out here trying to be a good source of information. And those folks are understaffed often, their security teams are strapped ” - Tasha Cornish [33:42]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meet Tasha Cornish [03:38] Tasha's Work at a Nonprofit During COVID [04:32] How Tasha Started on her Career Path [08:56] Tasha's Experience During COVID [10:15] Starting at CAMI [14:04] CAMI's Mission [16:24] Size, Scale, and Impact of CAMI [24:32] CAMI's Cybersecurity Role in the Russo-Ukrainian War [25:56] CISA [32:00] CAMI's Goals for 2022 [33:14] Cybersecurity Bills in the Maryland House [38:06] Choosing Priorities in the Cybersecurity [39:04] CAMI's Board [43:51] Advice for People Getting Started [45:36] WiCyS [49:40] Tasha's Book Recommendation [50:40] Tasha's Surprising Fact [52:27] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/shiba-inu/ (Shiba Inu) https://www.smocbaltimore.org/ (Saint Mary's Outreach Center) https://www.nei.nih.gov/ (National Eye Institute (NEI)) https://www.thebodypro.com/article/prevention-works-close-end-month (Prevention Works!) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://www.jhu.edu/ (Johns Hopkins University) http://honfest.net/ (HONFest) https://www.nps.gov/places/star-spangled-banner-flag-house.htm (Star Spangled Banner Flag House) https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/making-the-flag.aspx (Mary Pickersgill) https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/ (History of The Star Spangled Banner) https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithdaw/ (Keith Daw) https://www.linkedin.com/in/emrosenberg/ (Eric Rosenberg) https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyjlombardo/ (Shelley Lombardo) https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/programs-for-businesses/buy-maryland-cybersecurity-tax-credit (Buy Maryland Cybersecurity (BMC) Tax Credit) https://www.linkedin.com/in/rongula/ (Ron Gula) https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndigula/ (Cyndi Gula) https://datatribe.com/ (Data Tribe) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency (NSA)) https://www.cybercom.mil/ (United States Cyber Command) https://www.ftmeadealliance.org/ (Fort Meade Alliance) https://hubzonecouncil.org/National-HUBZone-Conference (National HUBZone Conference) https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine (Russo-Ukrainian War) https://www.cisa.gov/shields-up (CISA's Shields Up Initiative) https://www.cisa.gov/ (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA))...

Perseverance, Transparency, and Breaking the Glass Ceiling.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Megan Jaffer, CEO of IAI Strategies LLC and host of the Iron Butterfly Podcast. Megan discusses the origins of her desire to get into the intelligence community and how she persevered until she got what she wanted. We hear the importance of Ellen McCarthy, INSA, and the many women along her professional journey that boosted her up. Megan opens up about the Iron Butterfly Podcast, revealing how it started and what her missions are with the show. Lastly, we hear Megan's favorite book, her surprising fact, and some bonus advice on how to have a successful marriage with two professionally-driven partners. QUOTES “We wanted this to be a podcast where we were telling the real stories of women in intelligence. And it's not just about what they do, but it's the fascinating stories about who they are as women.” - Megan Jaffer [28:59] “Part of the reason that AWIC has been successful is that not everybody grows up in this area, around this community. I'm one of those people that had no touch points, I didn't know anyone.” - Megan Jaffer [33:36] “I have always been taught that you have to tell people how you feel when you love them and you appreciate them - and if they've done something well or they've touched your heart in some way. And so, I try to do that in my life. ” - Megan Jaffer [39:59]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meeting Megan [04:01] The TIM Collective [08:28] Ellen McCarthy [13:13] Discussing INSA [14:19] Megan's Desire to Enter the Intelligence Community [19:12] Where Megan Gets Her Perseverance [25:38] Starting the Iron Butterfly Podcast [33:36] The Importance of Accessibility in the Intelligence Community [36:13] Getting Over Nervousness Around Senior Women [40:51] Dream Sessions [46:02] Advice Given and Advice Received [49:36] Megan's Book Recommendation [51:01] Megan's Surprising Fact [51:53] Making Marriage Work with Two Professionally-Driven People [56:54] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/spotlight-diversity-amazing-women-intelligence-alexandra-mccargo/?trk=read_related_article-card_title (Amazing Women of the IC (AWIC)) https://commandpurpose.org/ (Command Purpose) https://www.insaonline.org/ (Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA)) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-mccarthy-0ba3787/ (Ellen McCarthy) https://www.nga.mil/ (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)) https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/chuck-alsup/ (Chuck Alsup) https://www.linkedin.com/in/letitia-long-156aa883 (Letitia Long) https://noblis.org/ (Noblis) https://www.dia.mil/ (Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)) https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-meyerriecks-bba7b9/ (Dawn Meyerriecks) https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-gordon-55ab1738/ (Sue Gordon) https://www.insaonline.org/events/baker/ (William Oliver Baker Award Dinner) https://www.winsmediafest.com/ (Women In National Security Media Festival) https://www.army.mil/article/121984/miss_virginia_hall (Virginia Hall) https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Marala-Scott/dp/1449497276 (With Gratitude) by Marala Scott https://the.ismaili/ (Shia Ismaili Muslims)   RELEVANT LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-jaffer-692616181 (Megan Jaffer) on LinkedIn https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iron-butterfly/id1530244949 (Iron Butterfly Podcast) https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions) I'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5 stars. I'll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” so you'll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday. Live well, Shana

Discovery, Immersion, and Breaking the Mold.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Christie Getman, Country Director for Nepal at Mercy Corps. Christie describes how she landed on her path of international work, explaining her desire for a unique career. She also discusses the value of athletics and how she met her husband through a running club. Shana and Christie dive into the technical side of the work of Mercy Corps, illuminating the ways in which the mechanisms of foreign aid have evolved. Lastly, listen to the end to hear why Shana's voice provides Christie comfort while she's flying through mountains in the cabin of a small propeller plane. QUOTES “One of the messages that I always say to people is that this is a whole life career. This is not like ‘this is my job and this is my life.' When you're in this line of work, it affects your entire life - you have to be all in.” - Christie Getman [34:14] “The best thing that you can do if you want to support emergency response is send cash. It is the most cost effective, it's the most efficient, it's the lowest overhead, we can trace it the best, it gives people dignity, and it supports the local economy.” - Christie Getman [56:08] “What I've learned is that I need to just sit with it. Just lean into the silence for an extra minute or two, and inevitably someone who's less assertive will come forward, start, and give their opinion if I hold back. But if I don't hold back - and I jump in - that other person may never speak up.” - Christie Getman [62:51]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meeting Christie [04:34] Christie's Time in Baltimore [08:46] Christie's Childhood [18:38] Athletics as a Part of Building Community [21:43] Getting her Masters in Anthropology [25:22] Christie Explains what an NGO is [26:55] What Drew Christie to International Work [32:15] Countries that Christie Lived in [35:21] Motherhood When Working Internationally [39:42] Christie's Work in Nepal [44:02] Experiencing COVID in Nepal [47:00] Getting Technical [58:38] Christie's Advice for her Younger Self [63:42] Impactful Book [64:27] Christie's Surprising Facts [67:08] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.richmond.edu/ (University of Richmond) http://www.baltimorefamilies.org/ (Baltimore Family Alliance) https://www.thebreakers.com/ (The Breakers Palm Beach) https://www.pasc.net/ (Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils) https://www.gotothehash.net/ (Hash House Harriers) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://www.worldbank.org/en/home (The World Bank) https://www.ngosource.org/what-is-an-ngo (What is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)?) https://www.accenture.com/us-en (Accenture) https://www.britannica.com/place/Martinique/History (History of Martinique) https://www.history.com/news/deadliest-tsunami-2004-indian-ocean (2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami) https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nepal-earthquake-of-2015 (Nepal Earthquake of 2015) https://kpi.org/KPI-Basics (Key Performance Indicator (KPI)) https://www.agilealliance.org/agile101/ (Agile) https://venmo.com/ (Venmo) https://www.zellepay.com/ (Zelle) https://www.paypal.com/us/home (Paypal) https://nepal.mercycorps.org/mercy-corps-nepal-covid-19-second-wave-emergency-response/ (Mercy Corps Nepal COVID Response with Christie's CNN Appearance) https://english.onlinekhabar.com/qr-code-payment-is-getting-popular-in-nepal-how-does-it-work-is-it-secure.html (QR Code Payment in Nepal) https://www.mercycorps.org/who-we-are/our-team/tjada-doyen-mckenna (Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rapid-response-on-the-ground-in-ukraine-w-mercy-corps/id1227971746?i=1000553538254 (Masters of Scale Podcast with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna) https://www.whatsapp.com/ (WhatsApp) https://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416 (The Alchemist) by Paulo Coelho   RELEVANT LINKS...

Identity, Family, and Protecting the Nation.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Vimesh Patel, Chief Technology Advisor at World Wide Technology and Board of Directors Member at INSA. Vimesh and Shana discuss how they first met and what she learned from him. Vimesh details his early experience with the NSA and how he was able to secure paternity leave for the birth of each of his 3 children. Vimesh also explains how he found meaning during his career journey, realizing that service to his country gave the work that he was doing a deeper meaning. Finally, Vimesh tells us what he reads to stay informed and how his extroversion is not an endless resource. QUOTES “So many people say, ‘People are natural leaders or they're just really good at what they do.' And I say, ‘you can train yourself in anything.' I think it's learning and practicing.” - Vimesh Patel [06:18] “At 16, they're putting me on a polygraph and asking me if I've ever revealed classified information, not that I ever knew any classified information at the age of 16. And somehow I got cleared right, and I walked into the world of the intelligence community.” - Vimesh Patel [08:06]  “And I think it was something towards the end of my career that I was always conscious of - well now I'm in that senior seat right, and people are looking at me. What do I do to make it so that people are comfortable? So that we have more diversity and that people don't feel like they can't advance in the government.” - Vimesh Patel [17:02]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meeting Vimesh [05:07] Vimesh's Body Language Talk [06:45] Beginning a Career with The NSA [08:23] Vimesh's Parents [09:24] Choosing Electrical Engineering [10:28] How Vimesh Became a Senior Relatively Quickly [11:00] Advice on Finding a Mentor [13:25] Vimesh's Two Master Degrees [15:22] How Vimesh Met his Wife [16:06] Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [23:17] Vimesh's Time at The National Counterterrorism Center [26:43] Vimesh's Location When 9/11 Occurred [28:09] After NCTC and Vimesh's Paternity Leave [31:33] Balance Within Marriage [32:49] Leaving The NSA [36:40] Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) [40:35] Vimesh's Advice to Young People [42:02] What Vimesh is Reading [43:20] Vimesh's Surprising Fact [45:20] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.moogsoft.com/resources/aiops/guide/everything-aiops/ (AIOps) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency (NSA)) https://www.howardcountymd.gov/ (Howard County) https://www.wsscwater.com/ (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water)) https://www.umd.edu/ (University of Maryland) https://www.jhu.edu/ (The Johns Hopkins University) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://dei.extension.org/ (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)) https://www.dni.gov/index.php/nctc-home (The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)) https://www.dni.gov/index.php/careers/joint-duty (Joint Duty Opportunities) https://www.dni.gov/ (Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)) https://9-11commission.gov/report/ (9/11 Commission Report) https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-people-organization/support-functions/office-of-strategy-and-innovation/#:~:text=The%20Office%20of%20Strategy%20and,Group%20and%20Survey%20Analysis%20Group. (The Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI)) https://www.optiv.com/ (Optiv Security, Inc.) https://www.insaonline.org/event/8a-national-security-showcase/ (8(a) National Security Showcase) https://hbr.org/ (Harvard Business Review)   RELEVANT LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/vimeshpatel-dc/ (Vimesh Patel) on LinkedIn https://www.wwt.com/ (World Wide Technology) https://www.insaonline.org/ (Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA)) https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions) I'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you...

Support, Communication, and Simplifying Complex Problems.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Ashley Spurr and Lisa Harris, Co-Owners of Elevare, LLC. Ashley and Lisa discuss starting Elevare and how they landed on the name over chips and salsa. They also explain how narrowing their offerings resulted in a more refined approach for Elevare. Ashley and Lisa dive deep into the world of GWACs, Polaris, Service MACs, and more. Finally, Ashley tells us about the many animals she has living on her property while Lisa reveals how she became a Guinness World Record holder. QUOTES “They fall into that sales pitch that they're going to have the tool, and automatically poof they'll have a pipeline. But it's not that easy, and that's why the service that Ashley and I offer is so important. We can manage the tool, and we can take it and give them just the opportunities that they should be looking at” - Lisa Harris [12:00] “I have a list of everybody I have ever talked to on the phone about Elevare's services. And every six months I'm shooting them an email - ‘hey, still here, what do you need?' Because that repetition is letting them know that even though you're not supporting them, you still think about them.” - Ashley Spurr [28:10] “The average is 18 months before you win something in the federal space as a prime or sub [contractor], so you have to stick with it. And I think we bring that calmness of telling you ‘just stay with it, and it will work out.'” - Ashley Spurr [33:38] “When you get started, do not skimp on your attorney, do not skimp on your accountant. Make sure you do everything right from the beginning because you don't want to be playing catch-up. Don't start your business first and then go back and try to put all these things in place.” - Lisa Harris [46:17]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meeting Ashley and Lisa [06:27] Starting Elevare [09:00] How Ashley and Lisa Met Shana [11:48] Getting Comfortable with Business Tools [15:24] Lisa's Transition from a Full-Time Job to Elevare [17:42] Ashley and Lisa's Morning Meetings [18:29] Ashley's Family [20:07] Refining the Services Elevare Offers [23:29] Lisa's Family [24:37] Picking Elevare's Name [29:22] Landing New Clients [31:33] What Elevare Offers [39:25] GWACs [41:30] Polaris and Service MAC [43:20] Ashley and Lisa's First Jobs [44:24] Unique Benefits to a Woman-Owned Business [47:40] Ashley's Surprising Fact [49:35] Lisa's Surprising Fact [51:16] Advice for their Younger Selves [53:02] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.visitfortwayne.com/ (Fort Wayne, Indiana) https://www.in.ng.mil/ (Indiana National Guard) https://www.todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs (Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)) https://briljent.com/ (Briljent, LLC) https://theniic.org/news/launch-women-pitch-competition-winners-selected/ (Elevare Wins Launch Women Pitch Competition) https://www.defense.gov/ (Department of Defense (DOD)) https://www.nps.gov/ (National Parks Service (NPS)) https://www.national8aassociation.org/ (National 8(a) Association) https://www.colts.com/ (Indianapolis Colts) https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JackLa00.htm (Lamar Jackson) https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TuckJu00.htm (Justin Tucker) https://www.purdue.edu/ (Purdue University) https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm (HubSpot) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/excel (Microsoft Excel) https://www.naics.com/what-is-a-naics-code-why-do-i-need-one/#:~:text=A%20NAICS%20(pronounced%20NAKES)%20Code,related%20to%20the%20US%20Economy. (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/prime-subcontracting (Prime Contracting and Subcontracting) https://www.intelligence.gov/ (United States Intelligence Community) https://www.va.gov/osdbu/ (VA Office of Small And Disadvantaged Business Utilization...

Curiosity, Focus, and Forging a Path.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Gerard Spivey, Senior Systems Development Engineer at Amazon Web Services. Gerard speaks in detail about Amazon's interview process, giving us insight into their procedures and how he prepared himself. We also hear about Gerard's time at Amazon and the types of work he's taking on. Side hustles are a way of life for Gerard, and he speaks about his latest experiences managing his YouTube channel, Gerard's Curious Tech. Lastly, Gerard talks about his time at NYLA and how he was able to bring his full self to work thanks to NYLA's culture. QUOTES “I can do slow and steady, I can find my target audience, and then once I have that I can figure out what I want to parlay that into later.” - Gerard Spivey [25:59] “‘I'm a Senior Director [at Intel], and I can do what I want' is basically what he told me. He's like ‘the company has a 3.0 thing, but for someone like you who actually knows what they're talking about it's not a problem.' So I said, ‘Ooh this is my time, they're letting me in'” - Gerard Spivey [42:07] “You're in a good spot in your career when you're valued for the thing you're going to do next versus the thing you did previously. What you're going to do next is your competitive value - that is what you bring to the table.” - Gerard Spivey [48:27]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Gerard's Wedding Ceremony [02:32] Working at Amazon Web Services (AWS) [05:33] Amazon's Interview Process [12:06] Gerard's Experience with the Job Market [15:54] Working at Amazon [19:11] Starting a New Job During COVID [19:43] Side Hustles [23:21] Gerard's YouTube Channel [31:08] Gerard's Childhood [31:52] How Gerard Decided to Study Electrical Engineering [34:19] Choosing a College [45:13] Gerard's Advice to his Younger Self [47:42] Favorite Books [50:57] Gerard's Time at NYLA [55:36] Outro RESOURCES https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/ (Amazon EC2) https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/ (Amazon EC2 Instance Types) https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/ (Amazon DynamoDB) https://sre.google/ (Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)) https://www.c2stechs.com/ (Commercial Cloud Services (C2S)) https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-the-star-interview-response-technique-2061629 (STAR Interview Response Method) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/exchange/email (Microsoft Exchange) https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/ (Microsoft Azure) https://www.synopsys.com/glossary/what-is-cicd.html (CI/CD) https://mlt.org/ (Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)) https://www.hbs.edu/ (Harvard Business School) https://a16z.com/ (Andreessen Horowitz) https://www.youtube.com/ (YouTube) https://www.nsbe.org/K-12/Programs/PCI-Programs (NSBE Pre-College Initiative Program) https://www.jhu.edu/ (Johns Hopkins University) https://www.abet.org/ (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)) https://www.ncat.edu/ (North Carolina A&T State University) https://www.morgan.edu/ (Morgan State University) https://howard.edu/ (Howard University) https://www.rit.edu/ (Rochester Institute of Technology) https://www.psu.edu/ (Penn State University) https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/teach-and-assess/classroom-resources/topics/digital-systems/ (Digital Systems) https://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon-devices/fpga/what-is-an-fpga.html (Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html (Intel) https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/pci-express (PCI Express) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/serial-ata/serial-ata-developer.html (Serial ATA (SATA)) https://consortium.org/ (Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area) https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296 (Zero to One) by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters https://www.richdad.com/...

Persistence, Service, and Making a Difference.Content warning: This podcast episode contains brief discussions of sexual assault. In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Laura Neuman, Entrepreneur, CEO, and former candidate for Governor of Maryland. Laura discusses how persistence and a love for work allowed her to leap every hurdle on her path to a career in tech. We hear how Laura turned a difficult experience into a powerful lesson about the importance of equity. Laura explains how reopening the investigation into her sexual assault created positive change not only for her but for countless other women. QUOTES “That path just wasn't going to happen for me. I mean I wasn't able to afford college, at that point I was choosing between gas, food, and shelter. And so, college just wasn't an option for me. I did try, and I just couldn't afford it.” - Laura Neuman [08:30] “I actually really enjoy working, I find it fun. And part of the fun for me is the interaction with other people. I get energy from being around people, and so I like that environment of being in an office. But what I really wanted was a path to opportunity - I wanted to be able to build a career.” - Laura Neuman [14:01] “I really, truly thought that I was the smartest person in the room. And then they did their IPO, and I realized in fact I'm not as smart as I thought I was. Because I got all those great perks and I had this lifestyle to go with it, but what I didn't have was ownership.” - Laura Neuman [25:12]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:10] Intro [01:37] Laura Talks About Raising Children [02:07] What Motivated Laura to Run for Governor [06:39] Laura's Experience with the School System [08:43] Laura's Harrowing Experience [10:31] Applying for T. Rowe Price [13:59] Laura Loves to Work [21:45] Paying for College [23:14] Early Experiences with Tech Companies [28:37] What Motivated Laura to Work for Equity [31:24] The Sale of Matrics [32:04] Laura Reopens the Investigation into her Case [36:22] After her Assailant's Prosecution [43:35] Running for Governor [46:46] Laura Believes in Tech [48:45] Discussing Laura's Campaign [52:07] Advice to Young People [53:47] Laura's Book Recommendation [55:04] Laura's Surprising Fact [56:53] Outro     RESOURCES https://atlanticmidwest.org/middle-and-high-schools/institute-notre-dame (Institute of Notre Dame (IND)) https://www.vox.com/2016/7/27/18089352/freddie-gray-baltimore-riots-police-violence (Freddie Gray Protests) https://www.troweprice.com/corporate/us/en/home.html (T. Rowe Price) https://www.loyola.edu/ (Loyola University Maryland) https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat (The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)) https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-rockefeller-523ba0b/ (Parker Rockefeller) https://livingclassrooms.org/ (Living Classrooms) https://www.american.edu/magazine/article/donors-make-a-diifference-george-maureen-collins.cfm (George Collins) https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1995/04/10/digex-flourishes-with-internets-popularity/12a4e3ed-d9ef-413d-9197-54fd452e87b0/ (Digex) https://oneringnetworks.com/what-is-a-t1-line-and-how-fast-is-t1-internet/ (T1 Lines) https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1998/06/29/newscolumn2.html (CAIS Internet) https://www.hilton.com/en/ (Hilton Hotels) https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sec-form-s-1.asp (SEC Form S-1) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency (NSA)) https://spotsee.io/blog/passive-rfid-tags-find-innovative-use#:~:text=Active%20and%20Passive%20RFID%20Systems&text=Passive%20RFID%20tags%20don't,data%20back%20to%20the%20reader. (Passive RFID) https://www.ibm.com/us-en/ (IBM) https://www.microsoft.com/ (Microsoft) https://www.princeton.edu/ (Princeton University) https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/matrics (Matrics) https://www.cbs.com/shows/48_hours/ (48 Hours) https://www.propublica.org/article/this-is-how-you-get-your-power-back...

Consistency, Impact, and Versatility.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Benjamin Harvey, Founder & CEO of AI Squared, Research Professor, and Data Science Leader. He takes us on his multifaceted journey, spanning from Harvard to The NSA to Johns Hopkins University to his most recent endeavor, AI Squared. Benjamin gets technical, discussing everything from Hadoop to Apache Spark to ACID transactions. We hear how Benjamin's new journey as founder of AI Squared is rooted in his discipline and the simplicity of consistent hard work over time. Finally, Benjamin's NCAA basketball dominance is revealed, as he impresses us with his performance against Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. QUOTES “Having that mindset of being focused on helping others, and not having to go back to that environment is really what kept me focused and gave me that grit, those habits to be able to be successful” - Benjamin Harvey [20:12] “General Nakasone is really focused on figuring out how to even enable folks that are in mission spaces to be able to do tours in industry and then come back. Because the point of the matter is that a guy like myself - I was interested in doing a tour in industry, but I didn't come back because programs like that don't exist.” - Benjamin Harvey [30:21] “How can I leave my mark for the next generation of Ben Harveys that come from similar backgrounds, face similar challenges - how can I take the experiences and the knowledge of navigating through some of these challenges and make it easier for that next generation to be successful?” - Benjamin Harvey [47:40]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:39] How Benjamin Knows Stephanie Beben [03:38] Benjamin's Day Job [05:33] Discussing JHU COVID-19 Risk Tools [09:19] Benjamin's Family [11:17] Was Benjamin This Driven as a Kid? [14:01] High School Experience [16:35] Benjamin's Scholarship [19:05] Benjamin's Discipline [21:24] From Harvard to Bowie [25:07] Highlights of Benjamin's Time at NSA [28:24] Why Benjamin Left the NSA [32:56] Advantages of Spark Over Hadoop [35:55] ACID Transactions [38:56] Moving on From Databricks [41:25] Creating AI Squared [44:47] Benjamin's Experience as Founder [46:16] Advice Benjamin Would Give His Younger Self [47:32] What Does Success Look Like? [48:05] Benjamin's Favorite Books [49:13] A Surprising Fact About Benjamin [50:05] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-beben/ (Stephanie Beben) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency (NSA)) https://www.boozallen.com/ (Booz Allen Hamilton) https://www.nsa.gov/Signals-Intelligence/Overview/#:~:text=SIGINT%20is%20intelligence%20derived%20from,capabilities%2C%20actions%2C%20and%20intentions. (SIGINT) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysha-camacho/ (Jaysha Camacho Irizarry) https://www.nea.com/ (New Enterprise Associates) https://www.jhu.edu/ (Johns Hopkins University (JHU)) https://www.cdc.gov/ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) https://covid19risktools.com:8443/ (COVID-19 Risk Tools) https://www.army.mil/ (United States Army) https://www.american.edu/ (American University) https://www.att.com/ (AT&T) https://www.mvsu.edu/ (Mississippi Valley State University) https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/archive/fcat/ (FCAT) https://www.gwu.edu/ (George Washington University (GWU)) https://www.harvard.edu/ (Harvard University) https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/42421 (Vincent James Carey, Ph.D.) https://www.bioconductor.org/ (Bioconductor) https://www.bowiestate.edu/ (Bowie State University) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/ (Good Will Hunting) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120660/ (Enemy of the State) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance (Edward Snowden) https://www.dni.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=572&Itemid=991...

Family, Education, and City-Living.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to J'aime Drayton, Executive Director of Baltimore Family Alliance and Scott Kashnow, the President of the board. They explain the ins and outs of leading a non-profit and the significance of keeping families in Baltimore. They discuss how the non-profit came to be and how the three board members view changes in the city. Scott and J'aime walk us through many of the programs Baltimore Family Alliance offers, including Adopt-A-Family and Playground Crawl. Tune in until the end to find out how you can get involved! QUOTES “I work for a non-profit! So I literally get paid to serve families. Which is unique… I actually get to serve people, so if people are pissed, I'm not having a good day.” - J'aime Drayton [03:20] “We're coming together as families that are committed to great schools, safe streets, and great neighborhoods. And all of [that] starts with people.” - J'aime Drayton [06:21] “Managing volunteers is probably the hardest thing I think I've ever done. Learning how to do that has been really rewarding for me, personally. It's  extraordinary to me how many people are actually willing to give of themselves so much time and so much effort.” - Scott Kashnow [34:48] “We are the face of families, but we don't speak for all families. We want families to speak for themselves.” - Scott Kashnow [45:57]    TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:45] Meet J'aime [03:45] Meet Scott [04:17] Scott's IT Stack [05:55] The Baltimore Family Alliance [08:18] Scott's Role at Baltimore Family Alliance [09:37] The Origin of Baltimore Family Alliance [14:15] The Main Thrusts of Baltimore Family Alliance [15:49] Walkability and “The Black Butterfly” [18:56] Programs of Baltimore Family Alliance  [21:24] Naming the Non-Profit [23:47] Living in a City [26:25] Systemic Racism and Poverty [27:37] Baltimore Family Alliance Offerings [29:54] Hosting the School Fair [32:57] Playground Crawl [34:18] Being the President of a Non-Profit [35:28] Adopt-A-Family and Starting a Family in Baltimore [43:28] School Funding and Pushing Change [50:00] Inspiring Reads [52:28] How You Can Help [53:55] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.baltimorecitycollege.us/ (The Baltimore City College) https://www.ednorgardenslakeside.org/ (Ednor Gardens - Lakeside) https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/44 (Montebello Elementary/Middle School) https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/76 (Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School) https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/ (.NET Core) https://www.salesforce.com/ (Salesforce) https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/ (Microsoft Dynamics) https://www.linkedin.com/in/shariccaboldon (Sharicca Boldon) https://www.umbiopark.com/ (University of Maryland BioPark) https://www.facebook.com/ (Facebook) https://www.target.com/ (Target) https://crossstmarket.com/ (Cross Street Market) https://www.harristeeter.com/ (Harris Teeter) https://www.fourseasons.com/ (Four Seasons) https://ncrc.org/the-black-butterfly/ (The Black Butterfly) https://baltimorecityparks.com/patterson-park-park-profile/ (Patterson Park) https://www.creativealliance.org/signature-events/great-halloween-lantern-parade-and-festival (The Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival) https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-getman-26150a21/ (Christie Getman) https://www.jhu.edu/ (Johns Hopkins University) https://www.tesla.com/ (Tesla) https://wftda.com/wftda-leagues/charm-city-roller-girls/ (Charm City Roller Girls) https://www.wypr.org/show/on-the-record/2017-09-15/more-than-a-marching-band-west-baltimore-christian-warriors (The Christian Warriors) https://www.avam.org/ (American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM)) https://www.afyabaltimore.org/tunbridge (Tunbridge Public Charter School) https://hha47.org/ (Hampstead Hill Academy) http://www.pppcs.org/ (Patterson Park Public Charter School)...

Leadership, Tenacity, and Staying Curious.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Roxanne Wood, President and CEO at Boeing Intelligence & Analytics. Roxanne discusses her experience becoming CEO and why we should all lean into leadership roles. She also explains the path that she took to rise up the ranks, focusing on her commitment to complete the task by learning from those around her. Roxanne has always been fearless when taking on new challenges, and she discusses everything from computer science to riding horses to playing music. Lastly, Roxanne tells us where she hides her power tools - it's not where you'd expect! QUOTES “They told me, ‘give that up you'll never get finished, you don't come from smart stock.' I was like alright, that is really a game on for me.” - Roxanne Wood [14:20] “I think everybody is your mentor - everybody's your safety net, you're their safety net, everybody is your mentor. You take the good pieces from everybody that you meet, and you make that part of your own.” - Roxanne Wood [25:59] “I think that everybody can do everything. I think when people say ‘oh I can't do that, I'm not flexible enough' - baloney! You can do anything that you want to do as a person. You just gotta do it.” - Roxanne Wood [44:13]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:53] Meet Roxanne Wood [03:07] What Boeing Intelligence and Analytics (BIA) encompasses [05:27] How Roxanne Became CEO [07:09] Searching for Team Members [08:00] Main Differences as CEO [11:43] Should you Avoid Leadership Roles? [13:45] Why Roxanne Majored in Computer Science [17:20] Working After College [19:10] Living in Maryland [22:28] Working at Lockheed Martin [24:54] What is the Secret to Climbing the Ranks? [27:58] Struggles that Roxanne Pushed Through [31:34] Shana's First Time Meeting Roxanne [36:12] Advice for People Starting Out [37:55] Impactful Books [39:39] Roxanne's Surprising Fact [40:58] What's Next for Roxanne [42:15] Roxanne's Fashion [43:44] Riding Horses and Playing Music [45:48] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/whollyownedsubsidiary.asp (Wholly Owned Subsidiary) https://www.socom.mil/ (United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)) https://www.dia.mil/ (Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)) https://www.nga.mil/ (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)) https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)) https://www.dhs.gov/ (Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) https://www.energy.gov/ (Department of Energy (DOE)) https://slack.com/ (Slack) https://www.towson.edu/ (Towson University) https://www.ccbcmd.edu/About-CCBC/Locations/CCBC-Catonsville.aspx (CCBC Catonsville Campus) https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/assembly-language.asp (Assembly Language) https://fortran-lang.org/ (Fortran Programming Language) https://www.britannica.com/technology/Pascal-computer-language (Pascal Computer Language) https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/security/glossary/what-is-zero-trust/ (Zero Trust) https://www.boeing.com/defense/b-1b-bomber/ (B-1B Lancer) https://www.military.com/equipment/m1a2-abrams-main-battle-tank (M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank) https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/index.html (Lockheed Martin Corporation) https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104492/c-5m-super-galaxy/ (C-5M Super Galaxy) https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104506/f-22-raptor/ (F-22 Raptor) https://www.java.com/ (Java Programming Language) https://livebaltimore.com/neighborhoods/westport/ (Westport, Maryland) http://places.baltimoreheritage.org/structure/hanover-street-bridge/ (Hanover Street Bridge (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge)) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariarosemarinelli/ (Maria Marinelli) https://eblingroup.com/products/the-next-level/ (The Next Level by Scott Eblin) https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Girls-Dont-Corner-Office/dp/1455546046 (Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner...

Entrepreneurship, Standing Out, and Empowering Small Businesses.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Robb Wong, CEO and Founder of Fedsolve. Robb discusses his lifelong entrepreneurial drive starting at 11 years old, stringing tennis rackets with his brother, and holding 7 part-time jobs in college. He also talks about his email hack to avoid spam and whether or not he feels like a Government Contracting Celebrity. Robb's experience with HUBZone and the SBA has had a major impact on small businesses in America, and he discusses that path and the potential effect of recent developments. Lastly, Robb recommends a book that you may not have read in a while! QUOTES “I would say this about leadership in general. I practice this. I try to practice this at home. What I say to my daughter is, I'm trying to be the dad that you expect me to be, not the dad that I want to be. And so, I say that to my wife about me trying to be a husband. And I tried to apply that to SBA. I tried to be the type of leader that other people expected me to be, not the person that I wanted to be.” - Robb Wong [26:59] “What's going to happen is if you continue to try to help people, they're going to come to you and they're going to say, Shana, I know this isn't what NYLA does, but we have this other problem. And if you answer and honestly say, listen, I'm not the expert in that, but I can figure it out. That's how you, that's how you evolve, that's how you change as a company. And you have to be open for change.” - Robb Wong [50:50] “I love helping small businesses who can help our government because I think it makes for a stronger government. And I devoted my life to government service. I was inside, I was outside. I was inside again, now I'm outside, but I think if we have a strong government then we have a strong country.” - Robb Wong [54:00]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [02:12] Meet Robb Wong [04:09] Robb's College Experience [05:22] Ursinus College [07:57] Born an Entrepreneur [12:52] Robb's Email Address Hack [15:02] Robb's Experience with Race-Based Assumptions [20:37] The Advantages of Living in America [22:34] Does Robb feel like a Government Contracting Celebrity? [25:43] Robb's Experience with HUBZone and the SBA [34:44] Recent Developments with the SBA and Category Management [37:38] It Comes Down to Business Development [41:47] Lowest Price Technically Acceptable [45:00] Role of the Contracting Officer [48:32] The Personal Aspect of Government Contracting [50:03] Advice Robb Would Give to his Younger Self [51:20] Robb's Interest in Curious George [51:53] Robb's Surprising Fact [54:44] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.ursinus.edu/ (Ursinus College) https://www.georgetown.edu/ (Georgetown University) https://www.nih.gov/ (National Institutes of Health) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://www.wikihow.com/String-a-Tennis-Racquet (How to String a Tennis Racket) https://www.berkeley.edu/ (University of Berkeley, California) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/8a-business-development-program (8(a) Business Development Program) https://hubzonecouncil.org/National-HUBZone-Conference (National HUBZone Conference) https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/category-management#:~:text=Category%20Management%20is%20the%20practice,and%20effectiveness%20of%20acquisition%20activities. (Category Management) https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-biden/ (President Joe Biden) https://discover.dtic.mil/section-809-panel/ (Section 809 Panel) https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/ (Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) Program) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs (Information on SDVOSBs from the SBA) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/joint-ventures (Joint Ventures)...

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Your quick, to the point, podcast

Remote Collaboration, Tech Efficiency, and Career Journeys.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Lauren Lockwood, Founder & Principal, Bloom Works LLC, and Emily Wright-Moore, Principal at Bloom Works LLC. Lauren and Emily give their insight on the very real effects of outdated vital government services and what can be done to mitigate those effects. They also discuss their very different paths that led them to starting Bloom and why following their passion has been so powerful. Lauren and Emily also reveal their favorite projects with Bloom and how those projects reflect Bloom's mission. Finally, we hear what they wanted to be when they grew up, combating ageism and sexism within tech, and their advice to their younger selves! QUOTES “One of my favorite moments in a meeting was early on, working with the state. Me, Emily, and this other woman show up for our first meeting with their team to redesign some of their systems. The people from this agency walk in and the Commissioner is a woman, her deputy is a woman... they sit down with us, and they were so relieved that we weren't just a team of dudes walking into the room.” - Lauren Lockwood [50:10] “I feel like we default to this specialist mindset. And I think being a generalist is pretty, pretty great. I like knowing a lot of things and I like pulling in a lot of past jobs and past skills. So I feel like I would just stop worrying about that. Like, it's fine” - Emily Wright-Moore [52:33] “Switching careers is not a failure, I don't think. I think it is like you learned a lot and it was good for that time, but not necessarily forever. Think of this time as an exploratory time, rather than a first step on a journey.” - Lauren Lockwood [53:14]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:43] Meet Lauren Lockwood and Emily Wright-Moore [02:11] How Lauren and Emily met [03:04] What is Digital Transformation? [04:57] The Cost of Inefficiencies in Vital Services [05:26] Updating Outdated Technology [08:28] What is Bloom Works? [10:04] Bloom's Tech Stack [11:30] Bloom's Ideal Sample Size of Users [12:51] User Groups [15:45] Lauren's Favorite Bloom Projects [18:30] Emily's Favorite Bloom Projects [19:57] Sharing Bloom's Work with the World [21:00] Starting Bloom Works [21:58] Lauren's Experience after Harvard [26:14] Lauren's Unique Career Path [29:09] Lauren's Work with the Mayor of Boston [30:53] Redesigning Boston.gov [31:30] What Lauren Wanted to be as a Kid [33:31] What Emily Wanted to be as a Kid [36:39] Emily's Experience at Parsons School of Design [39:46] Correcting Misperceptions in the Industry [41:35] What is United States Digital Service [43:56] Emily's Journey after her Tour [44:27] Lauren's Work Background [46:31] Combating Ageism within Tech [50:04] Sexism in Tech [52:17] Advice to their Younger Selves [54:01] Lauren's Book Club [54:37] Final Thoughts [57:44] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.va.gov/ (US Department of Veterans Affairs) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/09/coronavirus-unemployment-benefits-claims-are-the-worst-in-history.html (Issues with Unemployment during COVID) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/outlook/email-and-calendar-software-microsoft-outlook (Microsoft Outlook) https://maps.google.com/ (Google Maps) https://reactjs.org/ (React) https://dotnet.microsoft.com/ (Microsoft .net) https://www.microfocus.com/en-us/what-is/cobol (COBOL) https://www.figma.com/ (Figma) https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/ (I-Corps) https://usds.gov/ (United States Digital Service) https://www.thinkof-us.org/ (Think Of Us) https://www.thinkof-us.org/about/who-we-are/ceo (Sixto Cancel) https://www.hbs.edu/ (Harvard Business School) https://www.morganstanley.com/ (Morgan Stanley) https://www.boston.gov/departments/mayors-office/martin-j-walsh (Marty Walsh) https://www.python.org/ (Python) https://www.defense.gov/ (US Department of Defense)...

LinkedIn, Consistency, and the FutureIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Colleen McKenna, CEO and Founder of Intero Advisory, LinkedIn Trainer, Author of It's Business, Not Social™, and Leader in LinkedIn Branding, Sales and Recruiting Enablement. Colleen gives her insight and professional tips on marketing yourself and your business on LinkedIn. She goes into what it is like working alongside her family, what her business work environment is like, and the way she looks at the future. Colleen also shares the catalysts of her starting her book and what that experience has been like for her. Lastly, we get to hear books that have impacted Colleen and her fun fact about Oprah Winfrey! QUOTES “Most CEOs don't love social media. But, they will be open-minded to a business tool that will help them increase productivity and sales, find talent, help their salespeople connect with the right people, and share their content and build their brand.” - Colleen McKenna [18:10] “I'm pretty driven once I say I'm going to work on something and I like creating things...I always say I'm like the baker…So, I'm usually the person that puts it in the oven, pulls it out, puts it on the table, then other people on the team finish it up and make it beautiful. - Colleen McKenna [30:28] “I think everyone should take a look at their [LinkedIn] profile and really make sure that their profile is built out as a marketing tool.” - Colleen McKenna [37:31] “Always add value to a conversation. I think that's my 2021 motto. Are you adding value to the conversation?” - Colleen McKenna [42:27]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:44] Meet Colleen McKenna [03:55] Starting a Business [06:46] HubSpot [07:48] Business Establishment [10:00] Remote Work and COVID-19's Effect [11:05] Look-Back of the Year [13:08] LinkedIn as a Business Search Engine [14:37] Growing as a Business [18:36] Delegation and Building a Team [21:32] Pricing Services [22:33] Joyful Moments [25:23] Digital Communication and Relationships [27:01] It's Business, Not Social™ [31:18] Colleen's Children [33:41] Technology and Being a Futurist [34:29] Colleen's Husband and Work Environment [37:27] Colleen's Tips for LinkedIn [42:57] Treating LinkedIn Like Facebook? [45:20] Cons of LinkedIn [48:12] Connecting With New People [49:48] LinkedIn Networking and Features [52:07] Creating Content on LinkedIn [54:58] Data and ROI [58:09] LinkedIn in the Hype Cycle [01:00:25] Colleen's Impactful Reads [01:02:06] Colleen's Fun Fact [01:04:06] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.hubspot.com/ (HubSpot) https://marcussheridan.com/ (Marcus Sheridan) http://riverpoolsandspas.com (River Pools) https://www.vistage.com/ (Vistage Worldwide) https://www.facebook.com/ (Facebook) https://twitter.com/ (Twitter) https://www.instagram.com/ (Instagram) https://www.google.com/ (Google) https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbmiller1/ (Bob Miller) on LinkedIn https://www.millerheimangroup.com/ (Miller Heiman Group, Inc.) https://zoom.us/ (Zoom) https://www.xerox.com/ (Xerox) https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidhoffman/ (Reid Hoffman) on LinkedIn https://www.startupofyou.com/ (The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career) by Reid Hoffman (Permanent Beta) https://www.amazon.com/Alliance-Managing-Talent-Networked-Age/dp/1625275773 (The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age) by Reid Hoffman https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-i-learned-young-professional-during-pandemic-sarah-bentley/ (What I Learned as a Young Professional During a Pandemic )by Sarah Bentley https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-m-bentley/ (Sarah Bentley) on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/premium/products-v2/?intentType=FIND_LEADS&upsellOrderOrigin=guest_login_sales_nav (LinkedIn Sales Navigator) https://www.amazon.com/Life-Transitions-Mastering-Change-Any/dp/1594206821 (Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age)...

Public Speaking, Observation, and Standing Out.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Rebecca and Keith Scott from TallSmall Productions, LLC. We get to hear all about how they started and what it's like being partners in both life and business. Communication experts, the pair provide several great tips and tricks on public speaking - omitting filler words, using anchor words, listening, having fun, and presenting yourself with open body language. Keith and Rebecca also explain how looking at the world as a stage doesn't have to cancel out the fun or genuineness of conversation. Finally, the two share many of their experiences working with clients and how observation of others can help you be a better speaker! QUOTES “We help people communicate better. We strip away all the junk. We're almost home organizers, but we do that for your brain and your presence.” - Rebecca Scott [04:23] “There's nothing better than the feeling of watching somebody think they can't do something, and then seeing that light come on in them [when they] realize they can.” “Plus, everyone can do public speaking, but the problem is… something happened between third and fifth grade that shot them down, created judgement, and they lost the ability to do it... So, it's taking people back to a time before they had judgement, before they felt shot down by society.” - Rebecca and Keith Scott [08:03] “But, the fact is, watching people's body language tells you more than anything else. Because typically their bodies change before the words vocalize. You'll notice a change in their bodies, and then you'll hear words. And then you've got to figure out, do the words and the body language, do they match? Or are they polar opposites? And that's where you figure out [if] people are being real or not.” - Keith Scott [25:29]  “For you to make connections, you have to be open. When we close our body, we don't make a lot of connections. When we're open, and we're relaxed, that's where we invite people in.” - Keith Scott [28:16]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:53] Meet Rebecca and Keith Scott [03:34] LinkedIn [04:23] What The Scotts do at TallSmall [07:37] Public Speaking [09:17] Working with Teams [12:04] Filler Words [14:32] Speaking Speed [15:29] Letting Others Be Heard [18:14] Anchor Words [24:23] Body Language [29:45] Self-Care and Self-Talk [34:08] Narrowing Yourself or Business [36:39] Have Fun! [38:23] Starting TallSmall [40:20] Rebecca Growing Up [41:00] Keith Growing Up [41:25] Making Public Speaking a Living  [42:15] Marriage [46:16] Working with a Partner [48:23] Sharing the Stage [51:08] Communicating Virtually [52:29] Learning by Observing the World [54:24] Advice for Younger Selves [57:29] Wrap-Up Questions [01:01:40] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 (How to Win Friends & Influence People) by Dale Carnegie https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeare-biography/ (William Shakespeare) https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56966/speech-all-the-worlds-a-stage (All the World's a Stage )by William Shakespeare https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56966/speech-all-the-worlds-a-stage (Rolls-Royce) https://www.bk.com/ (Burger King) RELEVANT LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/tallsmallkeithscott/ (Keith Scott )on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalklein/ (Rebecca Klein Scott) on LinkedIn http://www.tallsmallproductions.org/ (TALLsmall Productions, LLC.) https://tallsmallcareercoaching.com/ (TALLsmall Career Coaching) https://www.facebook.com/TALLsmallproductions/ (TALLsmall Productions, LLC.) on Facebook https://www.instagram.com/tallsmall.productions/?hl=en (TALLsmall) on Instagram https://twitter.com/TALLsmall21 (TALLsmall Productions) on Twitter https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions) I'd love to hear from...

Impact, Air Force, and Information Technology.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Roy White, a leader in the world of Information Technology. Roy's upbringing, be it tough, was no match for the success he would have throughout his future. Roy speaks on all he's accomplished, including joining The Air Force, obtaining experience in many senior information technology positions, and being a positive mentor to many, including his children. As someone who has been very driven since his childhood, Roy goes into the life experiences that drive him even further and make him the entrepreneur he is today. Roy also talks about what it's like having his busy schedule all while being a good husband and father. Finally, we hear Roy's secret to success, his “why,” and his real thoughts about public speaking!  QUOTES “I did have a lot of trauma. I dealt with a lot of things, but I can say I persevered. A lot of my drive is based upon not having to go back or not wanting to go back to dealing with that and protecting my kids from dealing with whatever I dealt with.” - Roy [15:26] “A lot of the underclassmen started teasing me about “well what are you going to do Roy?... Because I never really voiced my plans of what I was wanting to do and things like that. And I said ‘Well one day I'm going to own my own business' and everybody just busted out laughing, even the coaches and all of that. And so, that's been my fuel for years… To kind of really push me toward business and entrepreneurship and things like that.” - Roy [18:54] “[The secret to success is] being relentless. And understanding that there is no escalator, there's no elevator, you know, there's no catapult or anything like that to the top. You have to take the stairs.” - Roy [34:27]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:33] Meet Roy [03:52] Roy's Schedule and Working Out [06:58] Roy and Shana Meeting [09:11] Golf [12:03] Roy's Wife [13:15] Managing Services [14:30] Growing Up [15:43] Ending Up in IT [19:37] Entrepreneurship [20:47] Air Force and Losing Scholarship [24:26] Marriage and Social Life [25:40] Party Promoter [27:55] Consortium [31:56] Wife and Children [34:24] Secret to Success [36:18] Year Plans [37:18] What Roy Would Do Differently [38:26] Roy's Reads and Inky Johnson [42:50] Mentors [43:50] Impact, Opposition, and the “Why” [47:04] Roy's Surprising Fact [50:08] Roy's Ask [52:23] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface (Microsoft Surface) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365?rtc=1 (Microsoft 365) https://www.google.com/ (Google) https://www.godaddy.com/ (GoDaddy) https://www.apple.com/ (Apple) https://www.webroot.com/us/en/about/events (Webroot) https://www.pax8.com/en-us/ (Pax8) https://www.af.mil/ (United States Air Force) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-turner-9323871/ (Nathan Turner) on LinkedIn https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/ (The Pentagon) https://www.boozallen.com/ (Booz Allen Hamilton) https://park14.com/ (The Park at 14th) https://www.eventbrite.com/ (Eventbrite) https://nitaac.nih.gov/gwacs/cio-sp4 (CIO-SP4) https://www.tiktok.com/en/ (TikTok) https://www.grubhub.com/ (Grubhub) https://www.acq.osd.mil/cmmc/ (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)) https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Bucket-Inky-Johnson/dp/B01L800C4O (Empty the Bucket) by Inky Johnson https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366389/ (Kevin Hart) https://www.mosaicsgroup.com/about-us/leadership/ (Michael Grier with MOSAIC Technologies Group) https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-lienert-pmp-1a753453/ (Angie Lienert) on LinkedIn https://intelligenesisllc.com/ (IntelliGenesis LLC)   RELEVANT LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwmbapmp/?trk=public_profile_browsemap (Roy White) on LinkedIn https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions) I'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I...

Intelligence, NSA, and the Fort Meade CommunityIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Doreen Harwood, President of DEHarwod LLC, a small consulting business that provides acquisition support to large and small businesses within the Intelligence Community. The bulk of Doreen's career was spent as a civilian serving the National Security Agency (NSA), in which she rose to become a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). In this episode, we talk about the ins and outs of Doreen's time - her varying positions, what the technology was like, and being a working mom. She also offers great insight on building a high-performance team and earning trust from companies you may have yet to build a relationship with. As President of the Fort Meade Alliance (FMA), Doreen gives insight into how to lead a successful nonprofit that supports its community's most pressing needs. Finally, we get to hear about Shana and Doreen's first time meeting, Doreen's favorite reads, and a surprising fact! QUOTES “[Life after high school for me] was all about living in the moment… Still very tied to my high school group. And then, at the same time, meeting lots of new people… Kind of the integration of all the new people and all the new happenings... It was all about learning and… just soaking in everything that you could. And I had a really diverse set of friends and I loved every minute of it.” - Doreen Harwood [17:23] “...there are a standard set of reliable processes and procedures that guide everyone through, …there are certain tough decisions that have to be made and they need to be made based upon facts, …but then, on top of it all, it's the ability of… leaders to communicate and the common trust that they have that make it all work.” - Doreen Harwood [44:02] “...I said ‘I vouch for him' So basically, “Even though you haven't spent twenty years with him, you've spent twenty years with me. Treat him the same. I trust him that way. I would recommend you trust him that way.' And it actually worked. I don't know if that works in every instance, but [it did] in this case… Get somebody to vouch for ya'. I know it sounds kind of crazy.”- Doreen Harwood [45:33]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:52] Meet Dorene Harwood [04:50] Growing Up [08:22] After High School and FBI [11:35] Working After High School [14:44] Doreen's Family [17:13] Marriage [18:42] NSA [21:43] Bachelors and Masters [23:48] Program Management [26:05] Maternity Leave and Moms at NSA [30:12] Getting into Program Management [33:35] Program Management to IT [35:51] Programming Class and Technology Back Then [37:28] Senior Ranks [41:10] Building a High-Performing Team [44:27] Building Trust at NSA [46:51] Doreen and Shana's First Meeting [52:17] Fort Meade Alliance Board [59:54] Being Your Best Self [01:01:54] Doreen's Favorite Book [01:04:07] Doreen's Surprising Fact [01:05:32] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home.html (The Hershey Company) https://www.army.mil/ (United States Army) https://www.att.com/ (AT&T) https://www.bwiairport.com/ (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058796/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt (Days of our Lives) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059978/ (Dark Shadows) https://www.oprah.com/app/the-oprah-winfrey-show.html (The Oprah Winfrey Show) https://www.wheeloffortune.com/ (Wheel of Fortune) https://www.jeopardy.com/ (Jeopardy!) https://www.fbi.gov/ (Federal Bureau of Investigation) https://www.nsa.gov/ (National Security Agency) http://www.clui.org/ludb/site/nsa-friendship-annex-0 (National Security Agency Friendship Annex (FANX)) https://www.ndm.edu/ (Notre Dame of Maryland University) https://www.st.philip-neri.org/ (St. Philip-Neri) https://www.youngschool.com/ (The Young School ) https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Kunia_Regional_SIGINT_Operations_Center (Kunia Regional SIGINT Operations Center)...

Game Design, Speaking Up, and Passionate Visions.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Ashley Guchhait, CEO and Game Designer of Boba Studios and Co-Chair of International Game Developer's Association, D.C. Chapter. Ashley talks all about her company, Boba Studios. We get to hear what it was like finding her team throughout college, at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), how the company was built, and her experience of entering competitions and conventions. Ashley also goes into the details of her game, Squirrely Roo Rabbit. Lastly, we get to hear what Ashley has learned throughout her experiences in the industry and the ways she and her studio have improved. QUOTES “I never raised my hand in class, and when teachers called on me—even in high school—I would be so quiet because you know somebody calls on you and my throat would close up. And I didn't know what to say and my voice would barely come out… Ironically, at this point, I am the person that talks the most at our studio.” - Ashley Guchhait [09:32] “Things that are worth it. They take hard work.”– Ashley Guchhait [29:18] “Sometimes you might get feedback that, you know, it doesn't necessarily apply. But we always really appreciate anybody who will give us critique and talk about it from their perspective. Because all of those things are super helpful and they make what we do clearer no matter what it is. - Ashley Guchhait [38:11]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:53] Meet Ashley Guchhait  [03:53] Boba Studios [04:27] Deciding on College [06:47] Managing Self-Talk While Creating [07:45] Maryland Institute College of Art [10:30] Ashley's Studio Partners and MICA Majors [11:30] Life Visions and Welcoming Passions [13:22] Meeting TJ and Kyrstin [18:26] Technology Used [19:57] Boba Studios Entering Competitions [31:45] Making Money After College and Conventions [36:34] Ashley Expressing Her Visions to Others [38:30] Squirrely Roo Rabbit [44:19] Books That Impacted Ashley [47:24] Outro   RESOURCES https://winniethepooh.disney.com/ (Winnie the Pooh) https://peabody.jhu.edu/ (Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University) https://www.mica.edu/ (Maryland Institute College of Art) https://soundcloud.com/tj-martin-composer (TJ Martin) on SoundCloud https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrstincooksey/ (Kyrstin Cooksey) on LinkedIn https://store.steampowered.com/app/1246870/Harvest_Moon_One_World/ (Harvest Moon) https://bobastudios.itch.io/squirrely-roo-rabbit (Squirrely Roo Rabbit) by Boba Studios https://www.dell.com/en-us/gaming/alienware (Alienware by Dell) https://peabodyinstitute.wordpress.com/2018/04/10/tj-martin-and-boba-studios-wins-20000/ (Boba Studios Wins Up/Start Venture Competition) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imangi.templerun&hl=en_US&gl=US (Temple Run) https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/business/shore-hatchery/ (Shore Hatchery) https://ditavonteeselingerie.com/pages/dita-von-teese (Dita Von Teese) https://super.magfest.org/ (Music And Gaming Festival (MAGFest)) https://www.amazon.com/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/0671027344 (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) by Stephen Chbosky https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/ (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) Film https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914612/ (Emma Watson)   RELEVANT LINKS https://bobastudios.com/ (Boba Studios) https://twitter.com/bobastudios#_=_ (Boba Studios) on Twitter https://www.facebook.com/bobastudiosplay (Boba Studios) on Facebook https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9MVTqbHxxLNb-xYUG2PJ8A#_=_ (Boba Studios )on YouTube https://www.instagram.com/bobastudios/ (​​bobastudios) on Instagram https://soundcloud.com/user-172176952 (Boba Studios) on SoundCloud https://nylatechnologysolutions.com/ (Nyla Technology Solutions) I'd love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you'll give us 5...

Leadership, Cybersecurity, and Transformation.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to retired Rear Admiral Danelle Barrett, former deputy CIO of the US Navy, Director of Operations at Cyber Command and Author of ‘Rock the Boat'. Danelle talks about what it was like to be a wife and mother while serving the Nation. She goes into the values of communication and importance of the transformational opportunities in life. We also get to hear about the writing and production process of Danelle's book, Rock the Boat and what made her decide to write. Lastly, Danelle allows us to hear about her past experiences working at Disney World, what she wishes she did differently, and her ‘embarrassing mom moment.' QUOTES “So, I think sometimes we have to really be mindful and open to whatever's coming our way. Be a little Semper Gumby, a little flexible, and leap at that opportunity that we just wouldn't have seen or didn't see because we were so blind [with] everything we thought we wanted.”– Danelle Barrett [12:20] “So, her dream was just as important as mine and my husband's. So, there's ways in families to manage that, but it takes effort, takes some coordination and stuff like that, but you know, you can't be solely focused on your career yourself. You got to make sure that everybody else's dreams and aspirations are just as important as yours and taken care of.”– Danelle Barrett [28:56] “...I do believe, you know, as a leader you have to look for those opportunities that are transformational. That will change something for the better.”– Danelle Barrett [36:53]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:52] Meet Danelle Barrett [02:59] Rock the Boat  [03:37] Corporate Boards [04:58] Leaving the Navy [06:58] Going into the Navy and Working in the Pentagon [09:37] Evolution of Technology [10:10] Shifting to Leadership Roles [12:34] Women Going to Sea and the Ships [15:25] Danelle's Husband and Daughter [16:58] Danelle's Parents and Siblings [18:47] Being in the Navy as a Mom [22:05] Danelle's Mother [24:40] Marriage Tips and Familial Communication [28:06] Danelle's Daughter [30:02] Women in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science [33:11] Hair and Clothing [36:12] Rock the Boat [38:51] Ideas, Visions, and Evolution [41:53] Communication Systems Impacting Cybersecurity [43:51] Writing a Book and the Distribution Process [48:08] Ping Pong and Piano [50:53] Danelle's Favorite Book [52:02] What Danielle Looks Back on [53:27] Working at Disney World [54:17] Funny Mom Moment [58:39] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.navy.mil/ (United States Navy) https://marineparents.com/marinecorps/sempergumby.asp (Semper Gumby) https://www.navysite.de/ships/lcc19.htm (USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)) https://www.c6f.navy.mil/About-Us/Our-Task-Forces/CTF-63/USS-Mount-Whitney-LCC-20/ (USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20)) https://www.va.gov/ (U.S. Department of Federal Affairs) https://explorehealthcareers.org/career/nursing/occupational-health-nurse/ (Occupational Health Nurse) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218839/ (Best in Show) https://www.uky.edu/UKHome/ (University of Kentucky) https://www.sears.com/ (Sears) https://www.amazon.com/ (Amazon) https://www.tesla.com/elon-musk (Elon Musk) https://www.waltdisney.org/walt-disney (Walt Disney) https://www.neilgaiman.com/ (Neil Gaiman) https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ (The Salvation Army) https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Adano-John-Hersey/dp/0394756959 (A Bell for Adano) by John Hersey https://www.pulitzer.org/ (The Pulitzer Prize) https://www.amazon.com/All-Light-We-Cannot-See/dp/1501173219 (All The Light We Cannot See) by Anthony Doerr https://www.janeausten.org/ (Jane Austen) https://www.amazon.com/Far-Madding-Crowd-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1853260673 (Far from the Madding Crowd) by Thomas Hardy https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Leadership-Executive-Strategies-Tough/dp/0446394599 (Lincoln on Leadership) by Donald T. Phillips...