Discriminators, Trust, and Agility in Federal Contracting with Joshua Rosenthal

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire is joined by her daughter Sydney, co-hosting for Take Your Child to Work Day, and featured guest Joshua Rosenthal, Director of Growth and Innovation at Cogent People. The conversation weaves through Joshua’s unexpected sailing background and segues into a rich discussion on government contracting. Joshua breaks down how to assess whether to pursue opportunities, emphasizing customer connection, corporate fit, and resource allocation. He also unpacks the importance of discriminators in proposals, the value of building genuine trust with stakeholders (not just "relationships"), and the need for agility in a rapidly evolving federal landscape. Shelley and Joshua agree that authenticity, awareness of policy shifts, and collaboration are key to staying competitive in today’s changing environment. To connect with Joshua, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Cogent People by visiting their website here.