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PODCAST

Former Fed Friday

Listen in as hosts Mike Pereira, Hunter Gros, Shelley McGuire, or David Blackburn, this podcast explores the journeys, challenges, and successes of transitioning from the federal workforce to the private sector.

government

All Episodes

22:34

Reorgs, RFPs, and Readiness: Phil Surine on FedHealth...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/06/27

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire talks with Phil Surine, former CMS leader and managing President at Medkasa, about key shifts in federal healthcare programs. Phil explains how Medicare Advantage continues to expand, now covering over half of Medicare enrollees, and why contractors should track this trend closely. He highlights the risk of chasing RFPs tied to declining programs and stresses the importance of understanding where the government is placing its long-term bets. The

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13:31

Beyond the Badge: Venkat Kodumudi on Evolving from...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/06/20

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, David Blackburn sits down with Venkat Kodumudi, the Chief Technology Officer at Unissant and former senior leader at TSA. Venkat reflects on his nearly decade-long service at DHS, his smooth but eye-opening transition to the private sector, and the lessons learned along the way. With a deep sense of mission and humility, he shares advice for federal employees considering the leap to industry, highlighting the importance of empathy, adaptability, and

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31:26

Bridging the Gap: Carol Sefret on Federal Acquisition...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/06/13

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Shelley McGuire chats with Carol Sefret, a newly retired federal leader who spent 37 years at CMS, going all the way back to when it was HCFA. Carol reflects offers honest, practical advice for vendors hoping to work with the government. She explains why showing up unprepared is a nonstarter, what agencies are really looking for during meetings, and how vendors can stand out in today’s challenging environment. She talks candidly about the realities of the

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21:24

Patrick Eager on Career Courage, Contracting...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/06/06

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Hunter Gros sits down with Patrick Eager, a Marine Corps veteran turned government leader and business executive. He is currently the Executive Vice President at Rexley. Patrick’s career spans critical roles in WMD response, federal IT leadership, and business development, offering invaluable insights into navigating both government and private sectors. From his time in the Marine Corps specializing in nuclear, biological, and chemical threats to his

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21:56

Inside Emerald One: Former VA Exec Kai Miller Talks...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/05/30

In this episode of the Former Fed Friday Podcast, Shelly McGuire sits down with Kai Miller, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Emerald One, a woman-owned consulting firm serving federal agencies. With over 15 years in government service, spanning NASA to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Kai brings a rare blend of high-level federal insight and grounded leadership to her work. Emerald One was born from three former federal executives and their shared thought of wishing they had access to

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29:49

Sunny Hashmi on Navigating Federal Talent and...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/05/23

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host David Blackburn talks with Sonny Hashmi, Head of Global Public Sector at Unqork, who highlights the unique value federal employees bring to private sector roles. They excel in deep user research, cross-functional project management, and financial analysis but often struggle to translate these skills clearly to employers. Sunny urges companies to engage with federal talent, identify skill gaps, and invest in their growth, noting their unmatched loyalty,

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17:46

Lessons in Government, Industry, and Agility with...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/05/16

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Shelley McGuire sits down with Traci Walker, Executive Director of the Digital Services Coalition and founder of Awkward Walker Consulting. Traci brings a fascinating perspective as a former federal contracting officer turned industry bridge-builder, with experience spanning from GSA to the White House and the U.S. Digital Service. She opens up about lessons learned from the healthcare.gov turnaround and shares insights on navigating the cultural shift from

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14:59

From CMS to Optum: Amy Giardina on Fraud, Funding,...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/05/09

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Shelley McGuire welcomes Amy Giardina, former Director at the CMS Division of Payment Models and now VP of Business Development at Optum. Amy brings a rich background from both the public and private sectors, having shaped bundled payment policy at CMS and led geriatric care at Johns Hopkins. Amy dives into the key healthcare priorities of the current administration—tackling fraud and abuse, increasing drug affordability, and improving beneficiary education

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27:30

Bill Pratt’s Journey Through IT Innovation

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/05/02

In this episode of Former Fed Fridays, Hunter Gross interviews Bill Pratt, an experienced IT leader who shares his journey from the Navy to leading IT transformations at DHS. Bill emphasizes the need for young professionals to enter government roles, learn from retiring employees, and take on leadership positions. Bill also highlights the necessity of AI in government solutions, particularly at DHS, which has fully embraced AI integration. He plans to focus on AI-driven automation in governance

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25:05

Breaking Out of the Fed Bubble: Career Transitions...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/04/25

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros chats with Mike Holmes, an executive recruiter specializing in helping senior civil servants, military personnel, and federal law enforcement officers transition into the corporate world. Mike shares his personal journey, from retiring as a lieutenant colonel in Army Military Intelligence to founding his own concierge recruiting firm. Mike breaks down the challenges federal employees face when leaving government service, including identity shifts,

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16:47

Navigating Careers Between Government and Industry...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/04/18

Making the leap from government to industry—and sometimes back again—can be a complex journey. In this episode of Former Fed Friday, David Blackburn talks with Ratima Kataria, a seasoned growth leader who has navigated both worlds with remarkable success. From her time as Deputy CIO at HRSA to her current role driving strategy for ICF’s Federal Health, Ratima shares invaluable insights on transitioning careers, building a powerful network, and making an impact in both federal and private

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15:02

Beyond Government: Reinventing Your Career with...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/04/11

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Mike Pereira sits down with Robert Leahy, a retired federal executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in IT strategy, modernization, and operations at major government agencies like NASA, the IRS, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Now a Strategic Executive Advisor at Accenture Federal Services, Robert shares insights on navigating career transitions, the importance of networking, and how federal employees can prepare for changes in the

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16:37

Planning Your Exit: Retirement, Ethics & Industry...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/04/04

Thinking about retiring from federal service? Wondering how to transition smoothly into the private sector? On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire sits down with Monica Padron Harris, a former DHS acquisition expert turned entrepreneur. With over 30 years of experience, Monica shares her journey from government service to launching her own consulting firm, Procurement Pros. From financial planning and ethics considerations to navigating industry lingo and setting up a business, Monica

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36:51

Bill Ashton’s Lifelong Commitment to Service

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/03/28

From the depths of the ocean aboard a Navy submarine to the halls of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bill Ashton’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. After 23 years in the Navy and 21 years in federal service, Bill dedicated himself to one final mission—ensuring that veterans have access to the benefits and opportunities they deserve. In this episode, Bill shares his unexpected path from military service to government leadership, his drive to reform veteran support programs, and the

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14:11

Life, Business & Giving Back After Government with...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/03/21

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Shelley McGuire sits down with Mike McGuire, Director Capture/Business Development - Federal with vTech Solution. From his 30-year career in federal service to embracing the transition into retirement, Mike shares invaluable insights on planning ahead, staying active, and navigating post-retirement finances. Plus, hear about his unique school bus-turned-food truck and how he’s using it to give back to the community. Learn more about OrangeSlices AI

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23:05

Transitioning from Government to Tech with Darryl Peek

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/03/14

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, host Hunter Gros chats with Darryl Peek, Senior Director for U.S. Public Sector Partnerships at Elastic, to uncover the lessons, challenges, and strategies behind his journey from engineering at Lockheed Martin to pivotal leadership roles at DHS, Salesforce, Google, and beyond. Darryl shares how he leveraged his government experience, navigated the world of public-private partnerships, and made bold career moves—all while staying true to his mission of driving

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15:26

Succeeding in IT and Business Development with...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/03/07

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire sits down with Shannon Dillon, Senior Business Development Manager at Leidos and a former federal employee at HHS and FDA, to discuss her 25+ years of experience in IT project management, federal procurement, and business development. Shannon shares her inspiring journey from managing federal infrastructure budgets to thriving in IT sales and business development. She opens up about the unique challenges women face in the GovCon IT space and

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26:32

From Service to CEO: Mika Cross on Career Reinvention

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/02/28

In this episode, Hunter Gross, Director of Marketing at VTechSolution, explores the incredible career journey of Mika Cross, CEO of Strategy@Work, from military service to federal leadership and finally to entrepreneurship. She shares how she balanced government work with personal ventures, the moment she took the leap into business ownership, and the financial and career strategies that made it possible. Mika discusses the cultural shifts between government and private industry, the assumptions she

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19:13

From Federal Service to Independent Success: Insights...

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/02/21

In this episode of Former Fed Fridays, host Mike Pereira dives into an engaging conversation with Frank Konieczny, a retired Chief Technology Officer for the United States Air Force. With over 40 years of expertise spanning both the military and civilian sectors, Frank shares his journey, challenges, and key insights on transitioning from federal work to private entrepreneurship. From navigating bureaucracy to launching an independent consulting career, this episode is packed with actionable advice

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23:37

Rebranding Yourself After Government with Mark Wigginton

Former Fed Friday ·

2025/02/14

To connect with Mark, visit him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Focusing on Results by visiting their webpage here. Check out the ebook mentioned at the end of the episode here. If you liked listening to this episode, view our Former Fed Perspectives page here. To view all of our podcast series, visit our podcast page.

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43 results

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