Humble Beginnings
The CEOs and senior GovCon leaders of today weren't always sitting in the corner office. They weren't born in suits with a handbook for success and a direct path to leadership. In fact, before many of these executives came into positions of powers, they had rather humble beginnings -- no corporate family tree or unlimited access. Many had to find their way on their own with little to fall back on. This podcast will share the stories of high school part-time work, first jobs and early-career decisions, decades before the CEO appointments and the board memberships. We'll learn about the unconventional paths to success, the ones most of us can relate to.
- Update frequency
- every 23 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 35
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
'I Can Survive Cancer, I Can Go Learn How to Run a Business': John Ustica on Unknowns and Opportunities
For John Ustica, president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, his story starts with a medical scare on a soccer field in the first grade. An abdominal pain later proved to be a tumor on his …
Exposure, Loss, Opportunity & Diligence: The Making of Acentra Health's CEO Todd Stottlemyer
WashingtonExec's Amanda Ziadeh and co-host Mark HuYoung, managing partner of executive advisory firm Northwind Partners, sit down with guest Todd Stottlemyer as he shares what it was like growing up …
DCS Corp.'s Jack Jackson's Journey from Naval Ships and Small Towns to People-First Leadership
DCS Corp.'s Jack Jackson was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, as one of nine kids and the son of a local sports journalist. While Jackson and his siblings all attended Catholic school growing up, he ch…
The Future for XLA CEO Gary Slack Wasn't Always Clear, but Business Made it Bright
XLA CEO Gary Slack is no stranger to entrepreneurship and working for what you want. In fact, he got the business bug around the age of 8, and it stuck with him ever since. In this episode of Humble …
Dreams Redefined: Luwanda Jones on Finding Purpose, Education & Leadership
In this episode, Camille Tuutti is joined by Luwanda Jones, the deputy chief information officer in the Office of Strategic Sourcing at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Luwanda's story takes us on…
Pizzerias, Roofing and ROTC: Ed Swallow's Resourceful Ride to Management and Mentorship
If you look up the definition of "resourcefulness," you may find Ed Swallow's story. Today, he's senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer/treasurer of The Aerospace …
From Sharecropper's Son to SVP: Stan Sims' Story of Ambition, Work Ethic and Perspective
For the first time publicly, Stan Sims, senior vice president and chief security officer at CGI, shares his story of growing up in the rural south as an African American during the Civil Rights Movem…
Lawn Care to Leadership: Andy Maner’s Midwestern Journey to White House and CEO Success
While many recognize him as the former CEO of Avantus Federal, few may know Andy Maner’s early beginnings in Lansing, Michigan. From running his own lawn care service to working in a cherry processin…
Former Airman and Accenture Federal Services’ Rick Driggers Shares Candid Story of Loss, Resilience, Pivotal Life Moments
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Rick Driggers, Accenture Federal Services' cyber practice lead, as he candidly shares his personal and emotional story of family, loss, resilience…
From Social Work to CEO: Magellan Federal’s Anna Sever Has Focused on Mission-Oriented Hard Work Since Age 14
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Anna Sever, president and CEO of Magellan Federal, about her upbringing in North Carolina, and how losing her father at a young age changed her fa…
From Job Rejections to NASA, the Savli Group and Beyond: Vishal Desai’s Path of Personal Investment & Perseverance
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Vishal Desai, a president and board member at SilverEdge Government Solutions, about how the experiences throughout his life have help shape his p…
From Small Mountain Town to Jacobs HQ: Shannon Miller’s Global Quest to Stewardship
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Shannon Miller, an executive vice president and president of the global Divergent Solutions business at Jacobs, about her upbringing in a small to…
A Modern Renaissance Man: The Stories, Passions & Perspectives that Led Michael Jung to ICF
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with ICF's Michael Jung about the unpredictable path he took to executive director of the company's climate center. Jung, born in Korea, shares the sto…
Getting Unstuck and Uncomfortable: CGI Federal’s Stephanie Mango Takes the Trail Less Traveled to Leadership
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," Stephanie Mango, president of CGI Federal, takes us through her journey as a DMV-native and daughter of two hardworking parents as she navigates changing acade…
CIA Brat to CEO: Arcfield’s Kevin Kelly’s Journey to the C-suite
In this inaugural episode of "Humble Beginnings," Kevin Kelly, chairmen and CEO of Arcfield, takes us through the experiences, both professional and personal, that have shaped the leader he is today …