Join us on the IMPACT Women in Leadership podcast as we sit down with Janet Brewer, Chief People Officer at Arcfield. Janet, with over 20 years of global HR experience, is dedicated to empowering employees and enhancing their workplace experience. At Arcfield, she leads initiatives in organizational development, talent acquisition, and marketing communications. Janet also serves on the board of HR Alliance DC and is a founding member of Chief, a network for executive women. With an impressive academic background including degrees in physics, biomedical engineering, and an MBA, Janet brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role. Tune in to hear her insights on leadership, employee engagement, and fostering innovation in the workplace. Janet BrewerAs chief people officer at Arcfield, Janet Brewer is responsible for developing and executing the company’s people-related initiatives including organizational development, talent acquisition, and employee experience. She also oversees all internal and external marketing and communications activities. With over 20 years of experience in global HR, Janet is passionate about empowering people to perform at their best and enjoy what they do every day. She is a board member of HR Alliance DC, a professional membership organization committed to promoting HR leadership, expertise, and professional development. Additionally, Janet is a founding member of Chief, a private network created for executive women to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and help pave the way for future women leaders. Janet earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the College of William and Mary, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Marymount University. ArcfieldArcfield was purpose-built to protect the nation and its allies through innovations in digital transformation, space mission engineering and launch assurance, miniaturized sensors and satellites, advanced modeling and simulation, cybersecurity, and conventional and hypersonic missile support. Headquartered in Chantilly, VA, with 16 global offices, Arcfield employs more than 1,500 engineers, analysts, IT specialists, and other professionals with more than 60 years of collective proven experience supporting missions in cyber and space defense, space exploration, hypersonic and nuclear deterrence and warfighter readiness. Arcfield takes a unified approach in putting the mission first, knowing that the security of our nation is of utmost importance. The company accelerates mission success for its partners and ensures its longevity as a company by fostering a work environment that is driven by innovation and empowers its people. Visit https://www.arcfield.com/ for more details.

This week on the IMPACT Women in Leadership podcast, we welcome Marissa Parisi, Account Director for Healthcare at Coforma. Marissa shares her journey from public health advocacy to leading innovative healthcare solutions at Coforma. She discusses her leadership philosophy, managing complex projects, and fostering collaboration and innovation. Marissa also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and empowering future women leaders in healthcare.Her work at Coforma exemplifies strategic leadership driving meaningful change, reflecting her commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes. Marissa’s insights and experiences offer valuable lessons for both seasoned professionals and aspiring leaders.Tune in to this inspiring episode to hear Marissa Parisi’s story and celebrate her remarkable contributions to the healthcare sector. Listen now on the IMPACT Women in Leadership podcast! Marissa Parisi is the Account Director for Healthcare at Coforma. She is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, healthcare, and corporate sectors. Hailing from Shelburne, Vermont, she started her career in national service in one of the country’s first Americorps VISTA teams where she ran literacy and service learning programs in one of Massachusetts’ most economically challenged communities. This work sparked her passion for bringing together human services and healthcare disciplines to serve and support the whole person. After her national service, she served in numerous capacities for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England before becoming the Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont where she was a state and national advocate for eradicating hunger in our country. Innovations in healthcare, specifically work being done in value-based care, drew her back into healthcare as the executive director of prevention programs at Vermont’s state accountable care organization, OneCare Vermont. Today, Marissa brings this wealth of knowledge and experience to Coforma’s healthcare portfolio where she supports government clients and project teams in meeting the shared goal of making healthcare more accessible and equitable for all.Coforma is a minority-owned small business with a workforce that intentionally employs Veterans. The company holds a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs and an 8(a) certification from the Small Business Administration. To date, we've helped improve access to quality healthcare, connected families in crisis at the US border, researched and implemented improvements to Veteran care, provided greater access to civic tools, used technology to tell previously told untold stories, and more.

As a well-networked expert with experience leading $1B+ businesses in the federal space, Stacy Schwartz is focused on helping other women rise up in the STEM space.  Let's hear from the Head of U.S. Public Sector and Education for RingCentral today. Stacy Schwartz is RingCentral's Head of U.S. Public Sector and Education. As such, she is responsible for overseeing the public sector business at RingCentral, leading FedRAMP compliance efforts and spearheading RingCentral's overall go-to-market strategy. She helps government organizations and academic institutions meet their missions through intelligent, resilient, cloud-based UCaaS and contact center communications.  Before joining RingCentral, Stacy spent two decades at AT&T and served nine years as vice president of public sector, overseeing public safety, FirstNet and education. She is also extremely passionate about mentoring and leading others to professional and personal success.

Join us today for an engaging episode of the IMPACT Women in Leadership podcast, featuring Monica Rosser, Executive Managing Director of Federal Health. Monica brings a wealth of experience and insight into the unique challenges and opportunities within the federal health sector. In this interview, she will share her journey, leadership philosophy, and strategies for driving impactful change in a complex and critical field. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and resilience from a leading expert. Tune in to be inspired and empowered by Monica’s story and her vision for the future of federal health. Join us today for this enlightening conversation and become part of the IMPACT Women in Leadership community.Monica Rosser, Executive Managing Director, Federal HealthMonica Rosser is the Executive Managing Director of Federal Health at Maximus. Since joining Maximus in 2023, she has been focused on driving the company’s strategic vision, growth, and customer expansion across the federal health landscape. As a seasoned executive and thought leader, Monica brings over 15 years of experience in driving transformational change, leveraging expertise in business growth, strategic leadership, business development, emerging technology, healthcare management, and customer experience. Her mission is to enable our nation to meet the evolving health challenges of citizens, soldiers, and Veterans by enabling a whole health view that provides equitable, positive, connected outcomes in all areas of life.Previously, Monica served as Chief Growth Officer at Tria Federal and was the first female Chief Growth Officer at Favor Tech Consulting, achieving a remarkable 27% year-over-year revenue acceleration and contributing to a cumulative career impact of $4 billion.Prior to these positions, Monica served in high-impact roles at SBG Technology Solutions, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton.Monica earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her law degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, and masters certificate in Health Information Security and Privacy from George Washington University.  MaximusAt Maximus, they believe extraordinary missions call for extraordinary results. They are a top systems integrator serving the federal government, and a leading provider of transformative technology services, digitally enabled customer experiences and clinical health. They deliver mission-driven innovation at speed and scale by designing operational and technical solutions that serve people. They operate with agility and impact, delivering high-performance outcomes and exceptional experiences, always. From technology infrastructure to program operations, our end-to-end solutions help agencies better meet their mission and the growing expectations of the people they serve.

Get ready for an insightful journey with Laura Stash, Executive Vice President, Solutions Architect at iTech, AG.Join us as we delve into her commitment to driving innovation in the tech industry. From navigating challenges to fostering creativity, Laura shares her experiences and insights that are shaping the future of technology. Don't miss out on this empowering conversation! Laura Stash, Executive Vice President, Solutions Architect, at iTech AG With a rich history of navigating complex challenges within the federal government IT and financial services sectors, Laura Stash is the Executive Vice President, Solutions Architect, at iTech AG. She holds a bachelor's degree in information technology from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and a master's certificate in IT project management from George Washington University.With a deep-rooted commitment to innovation and progress, Laura brings her strategic insight to the realms of business enhancement, financial management, strategic planning, and agile implementation. She serves as a catalyst for fostering collaboration, driving positive change, and nurturing innovative solutions that propel organizations toward excellence. iTech AGiTech AG is a technology consulting firm that helps federal, state, and private organizations streamline operations through a range of customized and innovative solutions. Specializing in strategic IT management consulting, digital platforms, zero trust, cybersecurity and customer experience, iTech AG facilitates digital modernization, agile framework adoption, enterprise platform implementation, and AI-driven automation.In 2015, the U.S. Small Business Administration certified iTech AG as an 8(a) disadvantaged small business. The company has supported work with various federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, U.S. Census Bureau and more.

Melanie Cook is the CEO and Founder of Veritas Management Group (VMG). Melanie is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to VMG while driving company growth.  Let's dig into what makes Melanie such a success.Melanie CookCEO and FounderVeritas Management Group (VMG)Over the past 20 years, Melanie has served as a corporate attorney, management consultant, and business development executive. Melanie’s impressive resume includes roles with a Wall Street investment bank, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and an IT consulting firm.Melanie coauthored Business Success Secrets, an honest, raw, and real look at some of the best-kept entrepreneurial secrets. Her chapter in the book, “From ADD to Harvard,” chronicles her courageous journey and her challenges.She supports diversity, equity, and neuroinclusion in the workplace, and is close to the world of learning disabilities and a role model to those struggling in the academic and business environments.Melanie holds degrees from Spelman College and Harvard Law School and is active in the Atlanta business community.Veritas Management Group (VMG)VMG is a leading management consulting firm serving government and commercial sector organizations, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations, domestically and globally. VMG employs 90+ employees in 19 US states and 10 global locations. VMG’s core services include Research and Evaluation, Health Equity, Global Health, I.T., Data Analytics, Military Support, and more. In 2023, Melanie and VMG acquired ASAP Talent Services, a leading I.T. Executive Search Firm.

Today we learn about the journey of MaryAnn Monroe, the VP of Total Experience at Maximus.  MaryAnn has spent her life focused on public service, and she draws from her background in working to ensure those she serves experience the highest levels of satisfaction and outcomes, all while driving her teams to truly shine.MaryAnn Monroe, VP of Total Experience at Maximus MaryAnn Monroe is responsible for developing and integrating Maximus Federal's customer experience strategy into its culture and business strategy. She focuses on understanding and aligning customers’ needs and expectations with the Maximus Federal strategic business objectives to enhance government services and elevate customer experiences to achieve the highest levels of satisfaction, performance, and outcomes. Before joining Maximus, MaryAnn served as director of customer experience, chief of staff, and director of USAGov Contact Center for Technology Transformation Service (within General Services Administration), director of the Cancer Information Service for the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health, director of customer success (public sector) for eGain Corporation, and director of customer experience for HighPoint Global. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-monroe/

A lifelong focus on helping others has led Kamala Green to choose positions that really make a difference.  It is this focus on helping others that can helped Kamala be instrumental in shaping the agenda for health equity and the social drivers of health.Kamala Green, social drivers of health program manager at National Government Services, an Elevance Health Company  In her current position as the Social Drivers of Health Program Manager at National Government Services, Kamala assists with strategic design, implementation and evaluation of social drivers of health initiatives, where she partners to recommend initiatives related to unmet social needs, such as food, housing, legal support and income. Since joining NGS in November 2021, Kamala is instrumental in level setting and shaping the agenda for health equity and the social drivers of health (SDOH), specifically for Medicare.  A small write up about your company or organization (150 words max):  For more than 50 years, National Government Services has been empowering federal healthcare agencies to improve lives and communities and deliver care to millions of Americans through outcome-driven innovation. The company helps bridge the technology gap to make IT an enabler of healthcare, not an obstacle to operations. Its core business areas include digital health, providing federal IT solutions and services for healthcare, and business process solutions. This includes its role as a Medicare contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Guiding teams through the digital landscape and planning for an amazing future with the ever impactful Tahera Zamanzada.Tahera Zamanzada, Vice President of Digital Transformation, ICF Tahera has 15 years of experience in helping organizations and federal agencies keep up with a rapidly evolving digital landscape and improve the digital customer experience through the adoption of cloud platforms. As a thought leader and digital advisor, Tahera consults on the challenges surrounding digital transformation, cloud adoption, and technology modernization. She has a passion for multi-cloud strategies, human-centered design, and data transformation; takes a holistic, empathy-first approach toward digital transformation; and evangelizes the importance of upskilling the workforce while digitally modernizing.In 2024, Tahera was recognized by WashingtonExec as a Top Cloud Exec to Watch and a GovTech Connect IGNITE24 honoree. In 2023, she was recognized as a FORUM Leading for Impact honoree and the recipient of the Women in Technology Leadership Award (Corporate Large-Market Sector) for her leadership of and commitment to the Washington DC-area tech community. ICFICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.

The key to her success is providing value driven solutions and Lauren Weiner is focused on making an impact as an engaged community leader and non-profit board member. Lauren Weiner, Ph.D., Chief Revenue Officer, WWC Global Lauren Weiner, Ph.D. is Chief Revenue Officer of WWC Global, a Pequot Company, a tribally owned management consulting firm. The firm was founded in 2004 by Lauren Weiner and Donna Huneycutt. It grew from two to over 350 employees and just under $100 million in revenue. It was acquired by Command Holdings, a non-gaming investment arm of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, in 2022. The community of companies now has approximately 500 employees. Prior to WWC Global, Lauren worked at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the Executive Office of the President. Under two different presidential administrations, she oversaw policy development, implementation and performance assessment for multiple federal agencies. Her academic accomplishments include a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College. Lauren also co-founded two non-profit organizations. The first is In Gear Career, now the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Military Spouse Professional Network. She also co-founded Homefront Rising, a bipartisan organization that educates military spouses for roles in politics, policy and advocacy. Lauren currently serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Joseph/Baptist BayCare Hospital System and the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She has been a keynote speaker at the Military Influencer Conference, the Working Women of Tampa Bay annual conference, the Military Women's Conference, and various Hiring Our Heroes events across the country.Command Holdings, a Pequot CompanyCommand Holdings is a federally chartered Section 17 holding company owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Established in 2017, it has four operating groups and multiple operating firms. With expertise in government, health, facilities, and technology, Command Holdings provides value-driven client solutions and excellent service delivery. The company’s seven generation strategy is grounded in growing the tribe’s economy and providing opportunities for tribal members for generations to come. For more information, visit www.commandholdingspqt.com.

The key to a strong team is building relationships and today's speaker works to lead her teams with passion while focused on data.  Making an IMPACT with Laura Garrison.Laura Garrison, Chief Technology Officer Laura brings her technical expertise from supporting the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to solve customer’s most pressing problems. A proven customer-oriented partner, she is known for building relationships, solving complex enterprise issues and leading cross-functional teams. Her areas of expertise include Simulation, DevOps and Platform Management. Laura obtained a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Florida Southern College. She lives in Orlando, FL with her husband Michael and their four children. LocatorX’s trusted Supply Chain Intelligence Platform harnesses the power of the data it collects through the unique digital fingerprint it assigns to every individual product and/or asset. By leveraging the extensive amount of intelligence collected, companies can proactively engage

Paving the way to improving the lives of veterans, Merissa Larson shares with us her journey to creating the Wounded Warrior program and how she strives to make differences in the lives of others.Merissa Larson, Executive Director of Quality and Risk, Office of Information TechnologyMs. Larson serves as the Executive Director for Compliance, Risk, and Remediation/Deputy Chief Risk Officer for the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Throughout her career, she has worked at the operational, strategic, and executive levels, serving in multiple federal agencies, including GSA, the Department of the Navy, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. At the Department of the Navy, Ms. Larson was hand-selected to lead the creation of their Wounded Warrior Program from scratch, including developing the program’s first-ever mission, vision, strategic goals, and objectives. She continued her passion for advocating for service members and their families and transitioned to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Larson served as the Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at OIT’s Office of IT Resource Management since October 2018, where she leveraged her background in budget, policy development, and human resources, which led her to be called upon to lead high-level initiatives for OIT.The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government that provides lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics throughout the country. Non-healthcare benefits include disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance. The VA also provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries.

Today we speak with the CEO of The Children's Inn at NIH about an upcoming Gala fundraiser for the program and how she strives to make a difference in the future of children's lives. The Gala supports the mission of The Inn to provide “A Place Like Home” to children, teens, and young adults with rare and serious diseases whose best hope for a diagnosis or treatment is an NIH clinical research study. An Evening for Hope highlights The Inn’s role as a partner in hope and discovery with the NIH and its groundbreaking work. Inn families participating in NIH clinical research studies play a vital role in improving health worldwide.Jennie Lucca, Chief Executive Officer, Children's Inn at NIHWith over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Jennie Lucca has devoted her professional career to the betterment of others, specifically children, teens, and young adults. As Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Inn at NIH, Jennie oversees the organization's strategic direction, operations, and financial sustainability while ensuring the highest quality of services and programs for residents and families. In tandem with her work at The Inn, Jennie has earned recognition for her visionary and impactful leadership, including the Leading for Impact Award, Women in Leadership Award, and the Visionary Award. As CEO, Jennie is committed to advancing the mission and vision of The Children's Inn at NIH and creating a positive and lasting difference in the lives of the children and families The Inn serves.The Children’s Inn at NIH is a free residential “Place Like Home’’ for families with children, teens, and young adults participating in leading-edge research studies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH Clinical Center is the nation’s premier biomedical research hospital, providing an opportunity for our families to be partners in advancing medical discoveries and improving the health of people worldwide. While the NIH takes care of the child’s medical needs, The Inn strives to reduce the burden of illness on families and make childhood possible.  DETAILSDate:April 27Time:5:30 pm - 9:30 pm EDTWebsite:https://childrensinn.org/event/evening-for-hope-2024/ORGANIZERThe Children’s Inn at NIHView Organizer WebsiteRaffle and Silent Auction for An Evening of Hope:https://one.bidpal.net/hope2024/welcomeVENUEThe Ritz Carlton, Tysons Corner1700 Tysons BlvdMcLean, VA 22102 United States + Google MapPhone202-471-4228View Venue Website

Today on the IMPACT podcast we speak with Kyra Stewart.  Kyra leads complex, innovative transformation initiatives for government-wide programs and large agencies all while having a passion for her career and her team.  Check out our talk with Kyra Stewart.Kyra M. StewartProgram Manager, the government wide  IT Vendor Management OfficeMs. Stewart is a federal professional with demonstrated experience leading complex, innovative transformation initiatives for government-wide programs and large agencies resulting in measurable improvements and dynamic outcomes in IT acquisition.  She has specialized experience developing solutions for organizational challenges by facilitating collaboration and establishing partnerships with government and industry senior leaders and enterprise-level groups.  Kyra has led federal grants programs, served as an organizational ombudsperson, and performed economic analyses. She’s a former White House Leadership Development fellow, a UVA alumna, and graduate of American University’s Key MPA program.  Ms. Stewart currently serves as the Program Manager for the government-wide IT Vendor Management Office. IT Vendor Management OfficeIn October 2020, at the direction of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and with the support of the Chief Acquisition, Chief Information, and Chief Information Security Officers, the ITVMO was established within the Governmentwide Category Management Framework to help solve challenges agencies face when buying commodity IT.  At that time, the lack of a unified, governmentwide IT acquisitions approach meant agencies experienced different prices for the same products and services, performed redundant acquisition efforts, and used different terms and conditions.  As a collaborative effort between OMB and General Services Administration (GSA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Defense (DOD), the ITVMO improves how the government buys common IT goods and services by leveraging govwide data to raise agency awareness of best pricing and best practices that enable their use of optimal IT contracting strategies.

A licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lisa Roberts has dedicated her career to improving access to care.  She understands the importance of making an impact in telehealth and supporting a program that has reached over two million veterans to date.Lisa Roberts, PhDDirector, Health PortfolioCognosanteFor 20 years, Dr. Lisa Roberts has worked for industry supporting the US Department of Veterans Affairs Remote Patient Monitoring – Home Telehealth (RPM-HT) program. In her role, she leads a team that provides secure, patient-centric tools that monitor, educate, and help clinicians triage Veterans’ care for a range of conditions. Since its inception in 2003, this program has provided access to care for over two million Veterans from their homes. Lisa’s industry leadership and expertise have been instrumental in the execution and growth of VA RPM-HT. Multiple peer-reviewed publications demonstrated this program offers a lower cost of care, reduced ER visits and hospitalizations, and high patient satisfaction. The VA RPM-HT program is a 2023 Forum Innovation Award winner. Dr. Roberts’ academic and business acumen led to her induction as a Fellow for the American Telemedicine Association, where she managed the Telemental health special interest group, publishing standards and guidelines and expanding group membership. CognosanteAt Cognosante, they help create a safe, healthy, more equitable nation for all. Federal agencies who deliver exceptional public services and programs choose them for their innovative mindset and unwavering dedication to moving their missions forward.Applying practical expertise to build solutions that leverage leading technologies, Cognosante partners with healthcare, civilian, and defense agencies to realize program outcomes and performance.

Today we discuss making an Impact in business while growing a family with author and dynamo Jennifer Folsom.Jennifer Folsom is a dynamic, high-energy leader with a proven record of growing all sizes of professional services firms while growing a family. She is the Vice President of Growth at ICF, a Washington, DC- based global management consulting firm primarily serving Federal civilian agencies. A human capital expert, she leverages a people-centered approach to drive revenue in organizations from start-up to Big 4. An-oft quoted expert in corporate culture, Jennifer promotes the notion that the multiple in firm valuation starts with the people. Her colleagues cite one of her greatest strengths as the “ability to cut through the noise to solve an issue.”She's also the mom of 3 sons, 21-year-old twins and a 16-year old-firecracker. She is the author of RINGMASTER: Work, Life, and Keeping it All Together and is a regular contributor to ForbesWomen and MSNBC’s Knowyourvalue.com platform for professional women.

Growing up in a military family gave Valerie Mattison Brown the experience and drive to make a difference in the veterans space.  Now she leads the way as a  healthcare senior executive at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where she serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Veterans Health AdministrationValerie Mattison Brown is a healthcare senior executive at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where she serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Veterans Health Administration. She is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary for Health on matters related to enterprise-wide strategic decision-making and transformative healthcare for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Ms. Mattison Brown has a history of exceptional and results driven leadership. She is the recipient of a myriad of leadership, performance, and special recognition awards including the HHS Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award. She is the mother of three and spouse of a recently retired Army Colonel. She continues to serve the needs of military families and Veterans in her community as well as young adults aspiring to leadership roles in their professions.The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 72 medical centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy.

On today’s IMPACT podcast we speak with Author and Adjunct professor at George Washington University in DC Lauren Maffeo.  Lauren’s book  Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up, Six Steps to Build a Data-Driven Culture lays out how to  build a cross-functional strategy to create roadmaps and stewardship for data-focused projects, embed data governance into your engineering practice, and put processes in place to monitor data after deployment. Lauren Maffeo, author of Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up Lauren is an award-winning designer and analyst who currently works as a senior service designer at Steampunk, a human-centered design firm serving the federal government. She is also a founding editor of Springer’s AI and Ethics journal and a former area editor for Data and Policy, an open access journal with Cambridge University Press. Lauren has written for Harvard Data Science Review, Financial Times, and The Guardian, among other publications. Lauren is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a former member of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Distinguished Speakers Program, and a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, where she helps judge the Webby Awards. Her first book, Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up, is published by The Pragmatic Programmers and has been adapted into a LinkedIn Learning course. Get your copy of Lauren's book HERE.

Today we speak with Sue Speck who draws on her lifetime of experience when she leads teams at the Acting Director for the Enterprise Cloud Solutions Office (ECSO).  Ms. Speck knows the importance of leveraging strengths in her team to get the best results.Sue Speck, MAS, PMPDirector (A), SupervisoryEnterprise Cloud Solutions Office (ECSO) IO VA Enterprise cloudApplication Hosting, Cloud, and Edge Solutions (ACES)Infrastructure Operations (IO)Office of Information and Technology (OIT)Sue Speck is the Acting Director for the Enterprise Cloud Solutions Office (ECSO). Ms. Speck brings over 25 years of leadership experience to her current position, including portfolio management, customer service, quality management, and employee supervision. Before assuming the Acting Director position, Sue was ECSO’s Deputy Director and was responsible for establishing ECSO as a new organization within VA. She built a team responsible for the VA Enterprise Cloud (VAEC), which supports over 250 cross-functional team members across VA to leverage VAEC and cloud adoption. She oversees and assists teams in the creation of new cloud-native applications and in analyzing existing legacy applications for optimal cloud migration strategies.Prior to joining VA in 2019, Ms. Speck worked for the Department of Defense as the Information Technology Specialist Chief, where she oversaw the Project Management Office for all information technology infrastructure portfolios at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, California.

Today we hear from 2023 Leading for IMPACT Award winner Emily Ryan.  We dig deep into her career highlights and what got her to where she is today. As the Director of Design for CivicActions, Emily love her focus on the civic tech space.  Emily Ryan, Director of Design Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to work cross-functionally to solve a variety of digital issues for the public and private sector spaces. I began my career as a web and print designer, then transitioned into a full-stack and database developer and finally, in the last 13 years, have worked primarily in the user experience / user research competency, focusing on the civic tech space. I’ve worked in start-ups, the federal government, consulting agencies and the non-profit space.I hold a BFA in Design, an MA in Criminal Law and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Government, focused on technology's influences on mis/disinformation and the impact that has on global democratic movements and free and open elections. In my (limited) free time I run ultramarathons and travel. I have a deep love for traditional European holiday markets, walking food tours and modern art exhibits.CivicActionsFounded in 2004, CivicActions is a digital services company that enables the government to deliver better public services through the implementation of open technology and design. With specialized knowledge in digital accessibility, free and open source software, and humanity-centered design, CivicActions is deeply committed to leveraging technology to foster a more inclusive world that works for all.