Outspoken with Shana Cosgrove

Send us Fan MailStill Here: The Fight Within with Erica Dobbs, CEO of Dobbs Defense SolutionsHost Shana Cosgrove interviews Erica Dobbs of Dobbs Defense Solutions on the Outspoken podcast about building a boutique cybersecurity, enterprise IT, and business intelligence firm based in Landover, Maryland that supports DevSecOps, T&E, AV/VTC, network/software/systems engineering, satellite, and emerging geospatial work. Dobbs describes the company’s certifications (Woman-Owned, HUBZone, 8(a), SDVOSB) and selectively disclosed credentials (CMMI, CMMC, ISO), explains HUBZone’s community impact, and notes primary DOD customers while pursuing commercial clients. She recounts a 36.5-year Navy career rising from undesignated seaman to O-5 via the Limited Duty Officer Program, roles at NCMS, Cyber Command, DISA, and carrier assignments, and how those experiences shaped her CEO leadership. Dobbs discusses relationship-driven cybersecurity, early business redlining and limited PPP funding, the importance of focus, favorite books, and the pride of changing employees’ lives.Quotes[3:13] "We're your unicorn. We're your company to come to for anything that you need to do because... we also have those unique certifications called Woman-Owned, Hubzone, 8(a), and SDVOSB." – Erica Dobbs[25:09] "The most rewarding memory that I had was... you're running around doing a lot of things, but what you're doing the most is you're changing lives." – Erica Dobbs[26:57] "I've gone from quotes to just one single word... The thing that I use to keep me going is the word focus." – Erica DobbsTimestamps[00:00] Welcome[01:58] Dobbs Defense Overview[02:55] Certifications And Strategy[05:47] Customers And Going Commercial[07:32] Erica Origins And Education[09:41] Joining The Navy[11:08] Bootcamp To Leadership[12:23] Rising Through The Ranks[14:16] Top Navy Roles And Lessons[16:51] Why Stay 36 Years[18:55] Choosing Entrepreneurship[22:50] Winning Through Value[24:26] Cybersecurity Is People[25:04] Leadership Moments[29:53] Competing With Yourself[30:34] Books Family And FarewellResourcesU.S. Navy Defense Information Security AgencyCyber CommandNaval Communications Security Material SystemsFlorida Institute of TechnologyMorris Brown CollegeWhoever Tells The Best Story WinsRelevant LinksErica Dobbs on LinkedInNyla Technology Solutions

Send us Fan MailStill Here: The Relentless Incrementalist with Dan Folliard, Former Chief Digital and AI Officer at USSOCOMHost Shana Cosgrove welcomes listeners to Outspoken and interviews Dan, whom she met at the NDIA Emerging Tech Conference, about accelerating adoption of AI and digital capabilities across defense through practical, solution-focused partnerships. Dan recounts 20 years in government service, including roles in the Secretary’s immediate office, helping stand up OSD’s Chief Digital and AI Officer organization, and serving as Chief Digital and AI Officer at SOCOM, where he focused on execution and translating technology value to senior and mid-tier leaders. They argue digital transformation is largely cultural, requires trustworthy data governance, and should prioritize collapsing slow decision cycles with probabilistic, timely answers. Dan advocates “relentless incrementalism,” greater IT investment, and treating data/AI as a strategic warfighting advantage, while also stressing public support, career frameworks, and maxims like being a “get stuff done” person.Quotes[5:03] "The distinction in my mind is, like you said, do we have a vector nationally? Do we have sort of that north star that we're all swimming towards? - Dan Folliard[7:43] "I left government service in December of 2024 and it followed a, a 20 year career, uh, civil service job uh, in DOD..." - Dan Folliard[22:54] "This is a source of war fighting advantage. You need to put it on par when you think about investment relative to your other sources of war fighting advantage in your capability portfolio." - Dan FolliardTimestamps[00:00] Welcome[01:51] Meeting Dan at NDIA[03:52] China vs US AI Race[07:32] Dan Career Background[12:01] Leading Digital Change[15:37] Culture Beats Tech[17:51] Data Governance Trust[21:00] Time Is The Enemy[21:59] Relentless Incrementalism[24:24] AI Across Warfare Spectrum[26:34] Handling Intense Personalities[28:19] Learning From Mess Ups[31:14] Career Frameworks And Maxims[36:28] Life In North Carolina[37:37] Final Takeaways And WrapResourcesNDIA Emerging ConferenceUnited States Special Operations CommandDepartment of WarThe FlywheelThe Better Angels of Our NatureUNC Chapel HillRelevant LinksDan Folliard on LinkedInNyla Technology Solutions

Send us Fan MailStill Here: Beyond the Uniform with Mary O’Brien, CEO of Mary O'Brien StrategiesHost Shana Cosgrove interviews retired three-star General Mary O’Brien on Outspoken, discussing empowerment and innovation across organizations, illustrated by O’Brien’s “smart majors” story where junior officers combined existing government capabilities to solve complex problems. O’Brien recounts 38 years in uniform (34 active duty plus the Air Force Academy), why she applied to the Academy (interest in the space shuttle and college affordability), and how a STEM background in intelligence led into cybersecurity as technology, data, classified networks, and adversary threats evolved. She shares how she managed cyber safety at home, reflects on parenting during separations due to dual military careers, and advises defining your own “normal” rather than comparing to others. O’Brien describes an exciting retirement transition, recommends Ethan Mollick’s “Co-Intelligence,” and notes she has six grandchildren and supports the Cyber Guild’s workforce mission.Quotes[15:26] "I do. I, you know, I love a challenging problem and I used to experiment with technology at home."  - Mary O’Brien[16:54] "What I found is we ended up having our own little cyber wars at home as my kids learned, especially my son, about VPNs to get around." - Mary O’Brien[20:33] "My advice is, you know, what you decide is best for you, is your normal. And that There's nothing to be gained by trying to compare yourself or allow other people who have made different choices to pass judgment on your choices."  - Mary O’BrienTimestamps[00:00] Welcome to Outspoken[02:00] Meet Mary O’Brien[03:28] Smart Majors Story[05:06] 38 Years in Uniform[05:41] Why Air Force Academy[09:55] Academy Life Lessons[11:32] Into Cyber Intelligence[15:26] Home Cyber Parenting[17:58] Career and Family Normal[20:59] Social Media and AI Fakes[22:43] Retirement Transition[25:57] AI Book Recommendation[27:41] Cyber Guild Plug[28:11] Closing and ThanksResourcesPurdue UniversityAir Force AcademyCo-Intelligence: Living and Working with AIThe Cyber GuildRelevant LinksMary O’Brien on LinkedInNyla Technology Solutions

Send us Fan MailStill Here: Make Yourself Valuable with Ross O’Rourke, CEO of Crimson PhoenixHost Shana Cosgrove interviews Ross O’Rourke, CEO of Crimson Phoenix, on the critical topics of recruiting cleared engineers and driving authenticity in the competitive world of government contracting technology businesses. Ross shares his powerful journey: from an underprivileged Ohio upbringing and service as a Marine infantryman to founding iC-1 and scaling it to nearly 250 employees specializing in full-scope polygraph engineers. Discover his candid strategies for recruiter evaluation, metrics, and quick performance decisions. Ross also details the challenges and lessons learned from building and selling an in-house SaaS startup (Agile ATS) to ClearanceJobs, and offers non-negotiable leadership advice on building disciplined routines, visualizing goals, and balancing high-level travel with family prioritiesQuotes[04:08] "You just gotta be yourself and some people are gonna hate your flavor and some people are gonna love your flavor, but at the end of the day, you get to be authentic.." - Ross O’Rourke[23:55] "Recruiting is frankly a numbers game. It really is a numbers game like. It comes down to how many people you can connect with on a daily basis." - Ross O’Rourke[34:38] "You have to set your plan based upon principles. Principles are greater than feelings. Feelings will deceive you.." - Ross O’RourkeTimestamps[00:00] Welcome[03:54] Authenticity Builds Trust[06:32] From Ohio to Marines[10:12] Success Mindset and Sacrifice[15:53] Leap to Entrepreneurship[20:34] Building Agile ATS System[22:49] Traits of Great Recruiters[24:22] Interview Tests and Hiring Fast[25:45] Firing with Radical Candor[30:04] GovCon Talent and Standards[36:33] Family and Time Management[38:53] Office Items and Deal Toys[41:36] Closing Thanks and OutroResourcesStrayer University: Acquisitions MajorAmerican PsychoThe Pursuit of HappynessThink and Grow RichRich Dad, Poor Dad21 Irrefutable Laws of LeadershipAgileATSGodspeed CapitalRelevant LinksRoss O’Rourke on LinkedInCrimson PhoenixNyla 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

Send us Fan MailStill Here: Breaking into the Cleared World with Lindy Kyzer, VP of Content and Market Engagement at Clearance JobsIn this episode of Outspoken Podcast, Host Shana Cosgrove interviews Lindy Kyzer, a ClearanceJobs leader based in Omaha, Nebraska about security-clearance careers, recruiting market shifts, and building opportunity through networking and referrals. Lindy describes hosting ClearedCast and Federal News Network’s “Security Clearance and Security,” explains common clearance questions and misinformation (especially on Reddit), and plugs ClearanceJobs.com, a compensation survey, and her book and audiobook on the clearance process. She recounts how 9/11 and a ninth-grade trip to DC led to George Washington University, an Army internship, and Pentagon work before joining ClearanceJobs after being recruited via Twitter. As a solo parent of four, she shares travel and parenting strategies, emphasizes giving kids responsibility, and discusses authenticity in a male-dominated industry, advising competence, showing up, and not overworking for the same pay. The conversation also touches on clearance reform, reciprocity challenges across IC agencies, and Omaha highlights like the zoo and steakhouses.Quotes[19.39] "This is what I have is single parenting, solo parenting for kids... my kids are gonna have a strong female role model, whatever that looks like to say Hey, we just had to get things done. We're just making it every day and one day at a time." - Lindy Kyzer[30.49] "The networking piece of it is huge. Nobody wants to be sitting applying for jobs all the time. You have to do both." - Lindy Kyzer[39.58] "...build the job that you think you should be doing. Either your current employer will recognize that, or that's when you know you can pivot and find your next one." - Lindy KyzerTimestamps[00:00] Welcome to Outspoken[02:06] Clearance Podcast Breakdown[03:01] Recruiting Market Shifts[03:34] Omaha Roots and 9/11[04:51] Falling for Washington DC[09:00] Joining ClearanceJobs via Twitter[13:20] Writing the Clearance Book[14:45] Moving Home for Support[17:21] Solo Parenting and Responsibility[20:58] Authenticity at Work[26:22] Clearance Job Search Tips[36:17] Tenacity and Flexibility[40:16] Omaha Surprises and Food[42:28] Final Thanks and WrapResourcesClearedCast PodcastFederal News Network Podcast: Security Clearance InsecurityLindy Kyzer and Brian Drake PodcastClearanceJobsTrust Me: A Guide to SecretsRelevant LinksLindy Kyzer on LinkedInClearanceJobsNyla 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

Send us Fan MailStill Here: The Power of a Wish with Lesli Creedon, CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-AtlanticIn this episode of the Outspoken podcast, host Shana Cosgrove delves into the Make-A-Wish Foundation with Lesli Creedon, CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. They discuss the profound impact of granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, sharing personal stories and highlighting how these wishes bring hope, resilience, and joy to the kids and their families. The conversation also explores the complexities and challenges of leadership, the power of community support, and various ways individuals and businesses can contribute to making a difference. Additionally, Creedon discusses her personal journey, including her involvement with Make-A-Wish as a 'Wish Mom' when her son was diagnosed with leukemia. The episode is a heartfelt tribute to the life-changing work of Make-A-Wish and an encouragement for listeners to support this impactful cause.Quotes[02:49] “It has taken me a while to realize that I can say to them. I don't know. I don't know the answer, but we're all gonna figure it out together.” - Lesli Creedon[05:31] “Life isn't a flat line, so you know, when you're really struggling at home or have a health issue or a child with a health issue, work unfortunately has to take a back seat.” - Lesli Creedon[12:04] “...the ripple effects of the wish and the good vibes, for lack of a better word, that it gives to our staff, our volunteers, the doctors and nurses who treat these children, our donors who get to see the impact of their contributions. That ripple effect is really powerful.” - Lesli CreedonTimestamps[00:00] Introduction to Outspoken[00:42] Sponsorship and Guest Introduction[01:35] Challenges of Leadership[03:19] Insights from Vistage[06:02] The Impact of Make-A-Wish[06:54] Personal Story: Becoming a Wish Mom[14:03] Types of Wishes and Their Impact[19:17] Fundraising and Community Support[22:32] Personal Reflections and ClosingResourcesMake-a-Wish Mid-AtlanticVistageVolunteer at Make-A-WishEvents at Make-A-Wish Mid-AtlanticDonate to Make-A-WishEmail Lesli CreedonDestiny of the RepublicUnreasonable HospitalityRelevant LinksLesli Creedon on LinkedInMake-a-Wish Mid-AtlanticNyla 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

Send us Fan MailStill Here: Be Unruly with Lauren Wittenberg Weiner, Founder and Former CEO of Wittenberg Weiner ConsultingIn this episode of the Outspoken podcast, Host Shana Cosgrove interviews Lauren Wittenberg Weiner about her book Unruly and her journey building a government contracting firm that grew organically from overseas consulting work into a $100M annual-revenue company, including winning a $200M contract after months of protests, and later selling the business after 18 years. Lauren credits her willingness to take on unfamiliar work by leveraging experts, trusting her gut over outside pressure to scale, focusing on customer service and ethics rather than metrics, and leading through relationships, transparency, and “don’t be an asshole” leadership with candid feedback. She discusses non-transactional relationships, finding an unconditionally supportive and moral “village,” mentors’ guidance that “success is new problems,” balancing family priorities, outsourcing to buy time, therapy’s value, and practical GovCon growth advice: define a distinguisher, align need/funding/vehicle, and persevere past obstacles.Quotes[08.28] "The one thing I think I did probably better than anything else, was to trust my own gut in what we did, and what was comfortable for us, and what was right for us." - Lauren Wittenberg Weiner[21:13] "When you are non-transactional, when you don't keep score, that's where the deep relationships I think come." - Lauren Wittenberg Weiner[38.20] "You've gotta find what your distinguisher is and it cannot be... you're a small business and it cannot be... you're cheaper than everyone else 'cause that's a race to the bottom.” - Lauren Wittenberg WeinerTimestamps[00:00] Introduction to Outspoken[00:52] Sponsorship[01:23] Meet Lauren Weiner[02:28] Starting Overseas[03:56] Organic Early Growth[07:29] Scaling and Gut Trust[10:30] The $200M Win[14:52] Leadership Not Metrics[18:22] Kind-Hard Feedback[22:53] Non Transactional Bonds[25:16] Building Your Village[29:41] Success Means New Problems[30:59] Knowing When To Sell[33:48] Life After The Exit[35:08] Writing Unruly[37:44] Three Growth Lessons[50:24] Work Life Equilibrium[54:16] Therapy And Coaching[58:28] Almost Joined The Circus[59:34] ClosingResourcesWWC GlobalTools of TitanUnrulyGive and TakeThe Psychology of MoneyRelevant LinksLauren Wittenberg Weiner on LinkedInWWC GlobalNyla 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

Send us Fan MailCyber Defense, Mental Health, and HopeIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Capt. Lindsay Dady, Cyber Operations Officer at the United States Air Force working at US Cyber Command. Lindsay shares her journey from studying mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech to becoming a cyber operations officer. She discusses the challenges of her undergraduate years, her experience in ROTC, and how she unexpectedly ended up in cyber. Lindsay provides insights into the world of cyber warfare, the importance of defensive thinking, and the realities of working in classified environments. She also opens up about her experiences with burnout, the importance of mental health, and finding balance in high-stress situations. Lindsay reflects on her proudest career moments and shares her personal mantra for navigating military bureaucracy.The views expressed by Lindsay on this episode are hers as the author and don’t reflect the official policy or position of The United States Air Force, United States Cyber Command, Department of Defense, or The United States Government.QUOTES"My favorite part is that I don't know what I'm going to walk into that day. It can also be like the negative part, like I have no idea what I'm going to walk into today, but that every day is a surprise. [...] I don’t know what I’m going to walk into each day as part of the fun." - Lindsay Dady [39:02]“You both need to somehow balance being assertive but not too assertive because then you're just being bossy. You want to be in touch with your emotions, but you can't be emotional. “Why are you crying at that? You shouldn't cry at that” But then they'll also reverse like “well, why aren't you crying when this happens? Like shouldn't you care?” What do you want from me? Do you want me to do everything?” - Lindsay Dady [47:57]"Where there's a will, there's a waiver." - Lindsay Dady [50:34]TIMESTAMPS[01:34] Meet Capt. Lindsay Dady[05:24] Studying Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech[09:05] The Challenges of Engineering School[18:17] Lindsay’s Determination[21:37] Current Role as a Cyber Operations Officer[29:44] Career Path in Cyber Operations[34:25] Thoughts on a Potential Future Cyber Force[40:36] Proudest Career Moments[44:35] Dealing with Mental Health and Burnout[48:21] Book Recommendations[49:18] Lindsay’s Surprising Fact[50:36] Personal Mantra[51:55] OutroRELEVANT LINKSCapt. Lindsay Dady 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

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shana’s Soapbox, Shana speaks at Anne Arundel Community College’s Women in STEM event. As the keynote speaker, Shana discusses the journey that took her from an interest in computer science to founding Nyla Technology Solutions. She offers advice to students: go deep technically, embrace the difficult times, and be brave. Finally, Shana answers questions from the audience.Here now is the third part of Shana’s keynote talk, in which she answers questions from the audience.TIMESTAMPS[01:04] What was Shana’s First Computer[01:20] How Should Students Develop Soft Skills[03:15] The Effect of Early Career Experiences on Forming Nyla[05:46] How Healthcare Professionals can Attain and Utilize Data Science[08:49] Combating Negative Bias of Women in STEM and Positions of Power[13:11] Combining Family Life With Career Aspirations[15:33] Applying for Jobs and Knowing Your Worth

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shana’s Soapbox, Shana speaks at Anne Arundel Community College’s Women in STEM event. As the keynote speaker, Shana discusses the journey that took her from an interest in computer science to founding Nyla Technology Solutions. She offers advice to students: go deep technically, embrace the difficult times, and be brave. Finally, Shana answers questions from the audience.Here now is the second part of Shana’s keynote talk, advice for students and young professionals navigating the ever-evolving world of STEM.TIMESTAMPS[01:00] Go Deep Technically[05:45] The Obstacle is the Way[09:35] Move Forward Despite the Fear

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shana’s Soapbox, Shana speaks at Anne Arundel Community College’s Women in STEM event. As the keynote speaker, Shana discusses the journey that took her from an interest in computer science to founding Nyla Technology Solutions. She offers advice to students: go deep technically, embrace the difficult times, and be brave. Finally, Shana answers questions from the audience.Here now is the first part of Shana’s keynote talk - her journey from computer science student to CEO.

Send us Fan MailInnovation, Energy, and Space.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Michael Contreras, Founder and President at Ensemble Consultancy. Michael began his education in civil engineering, with a focus on structures and vibration. Through analyzing patterns, he was able to make a leap into innovation consulting, transmuting this knowledge from structural analysis to business models and marketing. Michael's journey through academia—boasting a PhD and Master’s from UCLA, a Master's from Rice, an MBA from Wharton, and a Fulbright scholarship that took him to Mexico City—was a series of steps aimed at filling the knowledge gaps he felt he needed to address. Download Spot The Station to see the Space Station as it moves across our sky: Michael and his team made it easy for everyone to witness our progress in space exploration from their front yards!QUOTES“A lot of the best companies are startups with a background in marketing and sales, and I realized I needed to get that.” - Michael Contreras [11:45]“Sometimes when people fund an idea, they want to keep it going when it shouldn’t necessarily keep going. It’s having comfort with letting things die versus letting ego be the driving motivation.” - Shana Cosgrove [17:52]“When I was doing research, I was always more applied than theoretical. I always wanted to create something that had a market.” - Michael Contreras [24:20] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Michael Contreras[03:40] Working With A Spouse[06:08] What Is Ensemble Consultancy?[08:01] How Did a PhD in Civil Engineering Turn Into Digital Consulting?[09:54] Leap to Marketing[13:03] What is Innovation Consulting?[16:00] NIST Technology Innovation Program[19:40] Government Work[21:34] Randy Pausch[23:41] Entrepreneurial Spirit[25:51] Educational Background and Evolution of Expertise[30:50] How Did This Final Digital Marketing Role Begin?[33:40] Ensemble Claim to Fame[38:50] US Fulbright Program[45:21] Any Professional Setbacks?[49:45] Advice for Young Professionals[51:26] Book Recommendations[53:37] Interesting Fact about Michael[54:55] Latino Business Action Network[55:58] OutroRELEVANT LINKSMichael Contreras on LinkedInEnsemble ConsultancyEnsemble Space LabsNyla 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

Send us Fan MailComputer Science, Leadership, and Women in Tech.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Lisa Chang, Chief Technology Officer at Praxis Engineering. Entering education studying chemical engineering, Lisa quickly realized that this career track looked different than the title suggested. Despite the path starting out differently than anticipated, her drive to succeed pushed her to excel and pivot into the incredible achievement of becoming CTO. In the beginning of her career, she often felt a lack of leadership and attention towards the human components within the engineering and computer sciences, which ultimately led to the most gratifying role Lisa has held yet: mentor. Despite the stereotype, Lisa’s favorite conversations are with people, even though she speaks many computer languages.QUOTES“[Being at Corning] made me realize that I liked doing things that had immediate gratification. I liked to know what was going to happen as soon as I thought up the idea.” - Lisa Chang [17:49]“I’m glad I did it [returning to school for her Master’s Degree] though, it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Once you’ve tasted having ‘free time’ [...] and then you go back to school full time - it’s very challenging.” - Lisa Chang [22:43]“I think ‘likability’ plays into a woman’s career much more than men. I was not raised as a people pleaser, but despite that, even as an engineer I always felt that while at work I had to focus on ‘do people like me?’ because they wouldn’t listen to me; if I spoke up too much it was threatening, I had a narrow amount of behavior that was acceptable as a woman.” - Shana Cosgrove  [41:00] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet[01:39] Where Are You Today Professionally?[04:27] Leadership and Employee Retention[06:53] Chemical Engineering: What Does That Encompass?[09:05] Being a Minority Woman in a Male-Dominated Field[14:18] Higher Education at Cornell[15:10] Connection Between Chemical Engineering and Medical School[15:45] Asian Culture, Expectation and Achievement[16:55] Optical Networks at Corning[18:16] Going Back to School for Computer Science at Rice University[24:02] Post Graduate School and Began at Motorola in Austin, TX[27:59] The Road to Maryland[30:44] Staff Scientist at BBN[32:18] Leadership: Make or Break a Company[35:00] Favorite Part About CTO at Praxis[37:15] Personal Professional Successes[41:00] Juggling Being Assertive and Palatable as a Woman[44:40] Trying and Applying for Praxis: Second Time’s a Charm[48:48] 2 Pieces of Advice[52:26] Book Recommendations[55:59] Surprising Fact About Lisa[57:29] OutroRELEVANT LINKSLisa Chang on LinkedInPraxis EngineeringNyla 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

Send us Fan MailSelf Improvement, Lifestyle, and Holistic Care.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove interviews Dr. Christina Parisi, MD, the Owner and Founder of Maryland Weight Care. Christina began her medical career in the Emergency Department in 2013. While she enjoyed the instant gratification of “fixing” and pivoting in a moment, she recognized the need for a better approach: preventing emergencies before they happen. Taking a leap of faith, pursued further education, becoming certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and started her own practice. Christina focuses on addressing health issues in one's 30s and 40s to ensure a fulfilling life in one's 70s and 80s. A “recovering perfectionist” whose feet hit the ground at 5:02 each morning, Christina is driven to improve the quality of life for as many people as possible.QUOTES“Medical providers running their practices is good for medicine because it aligns the practices with the incentives. The incentives are for the patients and the doctors, not for a business administrator.” - Christina Parisi [10:00]“When you start to understand how the body works when it comes to weight, you realize it’s less about blaming yourself for your failure and more about biology.” - Christina Parisi [17:17]“The ‘best diet’ that you can do is the diet you can stick to, the diet that works for you.” - Christina Parisi [36:28] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet[02:00] Start of the Day, Family Dynamics and Workload[03:46] Professional Life - Today[04:51] Transition from ER to Private Practice[07:39] Continued Education in Obesity Medicine[09:13] Reaction to Transition to Private Practice[10:53] Starting Her Practice - Business Administration and Economics [15:24] Engagement and Focus of Practice[17:52] Baseline Testing for Patient Metabolic Data[20:43] Physiologic Measurements Indicating Health[24:21] Benefits of Exercise[27:02] Medical Weight Loss Drugs[31:25] Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Trends[36:14] Intermittent Fasting[38:02] Maryland Weight Care Grand Opening[39:01] Branding and Outreach, Client Retention and Referral[39:33] Bariatric Surgery and Today’s Treatment Plans[40:46] Social Media Presence[41:36] Childhood Goals and Today’s Achievements[43:36] Higher Education Path[45:17] Best Piece of Advice[46:35] Book Recommendations[49:19] Unexpected Fact[54:25] OutroRELEVANT LINKSChristina Parisi on LinkedIn@mdweightcare 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

Send us Fan MailAdvocacy, Freedom, and Finding Your Voice.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Kassie Sandacz, CEO for Voices for Vets. Kassie, a trained vocalist, was encouraged by her government teacher to visit Charlotte Hall Veterans Home to sing for vets when she was a senior in high school. Although she was focused on her math studies and didn't go at that time, years later she remembered the request and decided to give it a try. That one afternoon changed her life forever. Through the magic of music, she touches the hearts and minds of veterans in memory care facilities across the country, often reigniting a spark within them that was thought to be long extinguished. When she's not at her full-time job or doing her Peloton workouts, you can find Kassie traveling across America, singing songs of yesteryear and bringing joy to those who dedicated their lives to our freedom!QUOTES“Music is Magic!” - Kassie Sandacz [13:30]“The thing I’ve learned over the years is letting go.” - Kassie Sandacz [35:00]“Keep going. There are definitely going to be roadblocks, things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to; it’s not the way you handle things out of a situation, it’s about how you handle things in a situation.” - Kassie Sandacz [42:50] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet[01:40] How Shana and Kassie Met[02:11] Connecting Over Lunch[06:11] Mission of Voices of Vets[08:41] Three Major Components of Voices of Vets[10:30] More Than Pictures[12:28] Connecting to Vets Through Music[14:28] Origins of Organization[18:40] What Turned Voices of Vets into a 503c Non-Profit[20:01] Veteran Homes Across USA - By the Numbers[21:40] Voices of Vets Performances[22:42] You’re A Grand Old Flag[24:59] Growing Voices of Vets From a Pet Project to an Organization[28:37] Singing Throughout a Lifetime[31:41] Favorite Non-Patriotic Song to Perform[32:16] Practice and Preparation for Musicians[33:35] Voiceraisers[34:24] Working Full Time While Growing Voices of Vets[36:28] Proud Moment of Performances[42:47] What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?[42:30] Book Recommendations[44:55] Interesting Facts about Kassie[48:45] OutroRELEVANT LINKSKassie SandaczVoices of VetsVoices of Vets LinkedInMore Than Pictures Original SongNyla 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

Send us Fan MailMindfulness, Connection, and Inner Work.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Krista Crawford, Ph.D., MBA, SPHR, Vistage Chair. Krista is the first member in many generations to attend college, a fact she credits to her Grandma. She uses this thirst for knowledge and teaching to shape her approach at Vistage. With a background in HR, Krista views interpersonal conflict as an opportunity to identify root causes and generate creative solutions. By fostering trust, connection, and vulnerability, she breaks down barriers, both internal and external, that universally impact leaders. Krista understands that putting on your own oxygen mask first doesn’t only apply on an airplane: you cannot pour from an empty cup.QUOTES“At the CE level, we don’t have anyone else in the room that is from your same industry. You hear from people who are not in your industry have your same issues; the way you apply them is different. There is some comfort in knowing you’re not alone.” - Krista Crawford [07:32]“The more you connect, the more you can feel comfortable and then be vulnerable. Those periods of vulnerability are where the real growth can happen. You have to stretch before you can grow.” - Krista Crawford [19:24]“If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together” - Shana Cosgrove [27:30] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Krista Crawford[02:58] Current Role as Vistage Chair[07:07] Benefit of Investing in a Vistage Group[09:04] Before and After: Business Growth with Vistage[12:12] Krista’s Experience with Vistage[18:19] Issue Processing[22:02] Vulnerability[24:42] Vulnerability Prompts [29:48] Making the Best Choice from Bad Choices[32:23] Personal and Wellness[33:41] Consistency in Vistage[38:18] Krista’s Academic Pedigree[41:28] Conflict Resolution[44:00] Clarity of Expectations and Job Descriptions[47:50] Breathe[50:54] A Proud Career Moment for Krista[52:44] Book Recommendations[55:24] How Krista Became a Vistage Chair[58:00] OutroRELEVANT LINKSKrista Crawford on LinkedInVistage Worldwide, Inc.Nyla 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

Send us Fan MailBootstraps, Trusting the Process, and Innovation.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Christine McDannell, entrepreneur and principal business intermediary at The Magnolia Firm. Christine was born with the unique gift to innovate, expand, and create. Starting at 23 years old, she (quite literally) rolled her sleeves up and got to work, turning her ambitions into an entrepreneurial streak that has exited 60 businesses in 20 years. Christine breaks down what the fundamentals of entrepreneurship are and what each unique business has taught her. From San Diego to Dubai, Christine has spent her life taking the leap and building her parachute as she falls!QUOTES“My first business was a cleaning company; it was very bootstrapped with only $300. [...] I was cleaning houses for a year and a half everyday and bartending at night to pay my bills. Then, grew it to the largest privately owned cleaning business in San Diego.” - Christine McDannell [02:50]“There’s a debate on whether entrepreneurs are born or if you can become one. People who are willing to take high risks make perfect entrepreneurs; if you’re super conservative it’s very difficult to be a successful entrepreneur.” - Christine McDannell [12:00]“The fortune is in the follow up. [...] People are so busy these days: myself included. ” - Christine McDannell [28:11] TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Christine McDannell[02:50] Humble Beginnings - $300 and a Vacuum[05:51] Exiting Companies: Perspective Then vs. Now[08:49] Transitioning from Christmas Trees to Wellness Industry[11:31] The Iceberg: Success Is Only the Tip[13:48] Current Day Job: The Magnolia Firm[15:58] Innovate an Industry[17:34] Budgeting Daily Life While Continuously Reinvesting[23:07] Finding Companies Ready to Sell and Companies Ready to Acquire[26:26] Software Tools Used at The Magnolia Firm[30:43] Social Media Influence on Sales and Marketing[33:33] The Hustle[36:05] Recommended Reads[38:08] Find Your Tribe[40:10] OutroRELEVANT LINKSChristine McDannell on LinkedInThe Magnolia FirmNyla 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

Send us Fan MailNational Security, Integrity, and Self-Advocacy.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Sue Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (DDNI), Deputy Director of National Geospatial Agency (NGA), and Director within Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Sue begins by sharing how losing her career as a civilian in National Security became the catalyst for her future. Next, Sue speaks to a life inside in the CIA and how the CIA values performance over pedigree. A common thread connecting her talking points is the skill of critical thinking and decision making. Sue Gordon’s professional trajectory defied logic, landing her in top government appointments and it all began with a Bachelor’s in Zoology. QUOTES“I think there probably is a piece of wanting to figure out how to contribute when I’m the structure … I think I’m good at advice; I think I’m great at building.” - Sue Gordon [06:21]“The best lesson I learned that I could have missed was early in my career … My second job moved me out of technical analysis into space policy. I had to learn to ‘do’ something, not ‘talk’ something.” - Sue Gordon [19:05]“By that point, my children were 13 and 9 and it became obvious that my 13 year old in particular was starting to make some terrible decisions. I’m an ‘in’ or ‘out’ person and I didn’t know how to anymore be as good of a mom and as good of an Intelligence Officer as I wanted to be – so I chose the one that only I could be.” - Sue Gordon [48:45]TIMESTAMPS [00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet Sue Gordon[03:10] Losing Her Career As Intelligence Officer[08:26] Appointment to Deputy Director of National Intelligence[10:51] Majoring in Zoology[17:25] Significance of Working in National Security[18:54] Important Foundational Universal Professional Skills in Early Career[23:42] Women Are Frequently Pushed Out of Technical Positions into Speaking/Management Positions[28:08] Benefits of Being Your Own Harshest Critic[31:33] Job Specific Roles: Director vs. Deputy Director of National Intelligence[39:50] Effective Perspectives to Implement Change[42:19] Agile Decision Making[48:26] Taking 8 Continuous Years Off of Work[51:33] Coming Back to the CIA in 2007[55:10] Being Comfortable Being in the Front[59:31] How To Get Better at Making Decisions[1:06:32] Decision-Making As a Group[1:07:11] Personally/Professionally Impactful Books[1:09:48] Lesser Known Fact About Sue Gordon[1:10:47] OutroRELEVANT LINKSSue Gordon 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

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailFamily, Hard Work, and Quality Time.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to her son, William Cosgrove, Founder of Cool Kids Inc.. William shares that spending time with his mother was the number one reason he wanted to be on the podcast. William runs Cool Kids Inc. with his sister, and he discusses their unique roles within the company as well as their origin story. He details everything that he’s involved with from school to sports to hikes with his family. Lastly, William tells us what being a first class citizen means to him and how his mom has worked towards the goal of giving him the best life possible.QUOTES“History just intrigues me. I find it fascinating, the way of life and how the modern days came to be.” - William Cosgrove [09:22]“A first class citizen is: if you see trash you pick it up; if someone’s in danger you call someone or help them up; if someone fell you help them up; if a grandma is struggling to walk up a flight of stairs, you help her.” - William Cosgrove [15:50]“[Speaking to his mom] You’ve taught me that you’ve done everything you can to give me the best life possible, a better life than you ever had. You told me that a parent’s goal is to give their kid a better life than they had.” - William Cosgrove [26:55] TIMESTAMPS[00:04] Intro[01:34] Meet William Cosgrove[04:18] Running Cool Kids Inc. With his Sister [07:46] Going to School[13:33] Lessons William has Learned From his Mom and School[17:50] William’s Sports[22:59] Describing his Mom[27:50] William’s Takeaway[29:08] OutroRESOURCESOutspoken Episode with William’s Grandfather, Arthur SchwartzOutspoken Episode with William’s Father, Brian CosgroveOutspoken Episode with Dana LedyardOutspoken Episode with Christie GetmanThe Stock Market Game for StudentsUniversity of Virginia (UVA)Secret Societies at UVA?Bolton HillRELEVANT LINKSNyla 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

Send us Fan MailBurnout, 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

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast.

Send us Fan MailPlanning, 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

Send us Fan MailYour quick, to the point, podcast

Send us Fan MailLeadership, 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, Shana

Send us Fan MailInformation, 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, Shana

Send us Fan MailEngineering, 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, Shana

Send us Fan MailTechnology, 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

Send us Fan MailCreativity, 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

Send us Fan MailMentorship, 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

Send us Fan MailPresence, 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 [27:17]“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 [37:22]“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 [33:38] 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?[18:51] Growing up in Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and Florida[21:47] Choosing the Navy, Building Knowledge and Networks Post-Retirement[25:23] On Stepping Stones and Ambition [29:43] Learning on and off the Job, Getting Past “Failing at Leadership”[32:42] Does Your Team Know What Your Expectations Are? [36:23] To Young People: Do What Makes You Happy[40:00] Pause and Make Change[43:38] Holding Yourself Accountable and Doing the Right Thing[48:46] 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

Send us Fan MailCollaborating, 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

Send us Fan MailTaking 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

Send us Fan MailBalancing, 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

Send us Fan MailCyber 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

Send us Fan MailCreativity, 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

Send us Fan MailCollaboration, 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

Send us Fan MailSeeing 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] OutroRELEVANT LINKSNic Cober, EsquireNic Cober, Esquire on LinkedIn Nyla 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

Send us Fan MailEquity, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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)...

Send us Fan MailPhilanthropy, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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))...

Send us Fan MailPerseverance, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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 Scotthttps://the.ismaili/ (Shia Ismaili Muslims) RELEVANT LINKShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-jaffer-692616181 (Megan Jaffer) on LinkedInhttps://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

Send us Fan MailDiscovery, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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...

Send us Fan MailIdentity, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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 LINKShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vimeshpatel-dc/ (Vimesh Patel) on LinkedInhttps://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...

Send us Fan MailSupport, 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  RESOURCEShttps://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...

Send us Fan MailCuriosity, 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] OutroRESOURCEShttps://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 Mastershttps://www.richdad.com/...