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Why do some companies consistently win federal contracts while others struggle to compete?

In this episode of the Impact: Women in Leadership podcast, we talk with Jennifer Kasten, President of JBS International, Inc., about leadership and strategy in the fast-moving world of government contracting (GovCon), federal business development, and capture management.

Jennifer shares lessons from her career partnering with federal agencies to address complex challenges through health IT, research and evaluation, policy analysis, and strategic communications. She also explains what many companies get wrong about capture strategy, how strong teaming partnerships influence contract wins, and how leaders stay agile through changing administrations and federal priorities.

We also discuss the future of the federal marketplace—including opportunities driven by AI, cybersecurity, cloud technology, and government modernization initiatives.

If you work in government contracting, federal procurement, public sector consulting, or business development, this episode offers practical leadership insights for staying competitive in today’s GovCon landscape.

Key topics include:

• Winning strategies in federal business development and capture management
• Building strong government customer relationships
• Creating effective teaming partnerships in GovCon
• Leading high-performing business development teams
• Opportunities in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and federal modernization

#WomenInLeadership #GovCon #GovernmentContracting #FederalBusinessDevelopment #CaptureManagement #FederalProcurement #LeadershipPodcast #PublicSector #WomenInBusiness #JBSInternational #FORUMImpactPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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Big decisions. High stakes. Real impact.

In this powerful episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, we feature Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, for a masterclass in executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational transformation.

From launching the Fox News Channel to serving as Vice President of Washington Operations for Allbritton Communications — overseeing POLITICO, WJLA-TV, and NewsChannel 8 — Mary-Claire has built a career rooted in operational excellence, change management, and communications leadership.

Her experience spans consulting for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cleveland Clinic, and projects involving the White House — bringing a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on leading high-impact initiatives.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• How to lead organizations through complex, high-stakes change
• Building alignment through strong communication and stakeholder engagement
• Implementing systems that improve operational effectiveness
• Executive leadership lessons from media, government, and nonprofit sectors
• Practical advice for women rising in male-dominated industries
• The future of leadership and community-driven economic development

Mary-Claire shares candid insight on guiding teams, motivating communities, and driving strategic growth — all while minimizing disruption and maximizing results.

If you’re interested in women in leadership, executive strategy, business improvement districts, change leadership, organizational effectiveness, and community development, this is a must-listen conversation packed with actionable insight.

#WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #StrategicPlanning #ChangeManagement #CommunityLeadership #BusinessImprovementDistrict #OperationalExcellence #LeadershipPodcast #RosslynBID #WomenInBusiness #FORUMIMPACTPodcast #FORUMIMPACT

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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What does it take to turn bold ideas into real-world impact — at a global cybersecurity company?

In this episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, we sit down with Audra Simons, Vice President of Software Engineering, Global Products at Everfox. Audra is a results-driven technology leader who believes that innovation without execution is just noise.

From startups to global blue-chip organizations, Audra shares the leadership lessons that translated across every environment—and the ones that didn’t.

Everfox delivers mission-critical solutions, including cross-domain security, cyber threat protection, and insider risk technologies. Audra explains how this product-focused structure enables teams to innovate, scale, and deliver secure solutions worldwide—without losing focus or agility.

We explore:

• Her career journey into senior technology leadership
• Leading global product engineering teams across regions
• Building influence in technical and male-dominated spaces
• Turning innovative ideas into executed outcomes
• Relationship management as a leadership superpower
• Creating a culture where innovation is delivered—not just discussed
• Mindset shifts for women pursuing executive roles in technology

If you're interested in women in tech leadership, cybersecurity innovation, global product strategy, or engineering management, this episode delivers practical insights and powerful perspectives.

#ImpactWomenInLeadership #WomenInTech #CybersecurityLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #GlobalProduct #WomenInSTEM #ExecutiveLeadership #InnovationExecution #Everfox #TechLeadership #FORUM

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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What does it take to lead when the stakes are highest?

In this episode, we explore how mission-driven leadership, IT modernization, and organizational transformation are shaping the future of government and public-sector innovation.

As CEO and co-founder of GovAllies, today’s guest works at the intersection of government leadership, technology strategy, change management, and organizational performance. GovAllies partners with public and private sector leaders to execute critical missions, optimize IT systems, and implement complex transformations with precision and measurable results.

We dive into:
• Leading through complexity in government and enterprise environments
• Driving IT modernization and digital transformation
• Building resilient organizations under pressure
• Women in leadership and mentoring the next generation
• The future of public-sector innovation and mission execution

If you’re navigating government transformation, federal IT strategy, public-sector leadership, digital modernization, or organizational change, this conversation offers practical insight and inspiration for leading with clarity and impact.

Looking for a trusted partner in complex transformation? GovAllies exists to be exactly that—an ally when execution matters most.

#GovernmentLeadership #PublicSectorInnovation #DigitalTransformation #ITModernization #WomenInLeadership #ChangeManagement #GovTech
#MissionDriven #GovAllies #FORUMImpact

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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Are you ready to rethink leadership and scaling a business in complex environments? This episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership features Nichole Priddy, Founder & President of Catalum Strategies, LLC, sharing how she transformed decades of government contracting experience into a thriving consultancy.

Nichole’s journey spans managing $150M+ portfolios for the Department of Defense, VA, and DHS to helping organizations build structure, streamline operations, and scale without the overhead of full-time executives. She provides insights on navigating federal health programs, driving small business growth, and tackling high-stakes leadership challenges.

From overcoming doubts to redefining success, Nichole discusses entrepreneurship realities, leadership lessons she wishes she knew earlier, and how parenting reshaped her leadership style. Her strategies on execution, structure, and results-driven leadership are essential for anyone leading a team, running a business, or managing federal contracts.

Key Takeaways:

• Betting on yourself and building a business with purpose
• Leadership lessons from managing nearly 100 personnel and $150M+ in contracts
• Practical strategies for federal contractors, 8(a) firms, SDVOSBs, and mid-tier companies
• Balancing professional growth with personal life and parenthood
• Turning complex challenges into clear, actionable systems

#WomenInLeadership #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #GovernmentContracting #FederalHealth #SmallBusinessGrowth #OperationsStrategy #BusinessScaling #CatalumStrategies #FORUMImpactPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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What does leadership look like when you’re modernizing thousands of systems, managing millions in federal IT budgets, and guiding organizations through constant change?

In this episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Laura Johnston Stash, EVP at iTech AG, to talk about leadership, modernization, and driving predictable results in government and enterprise IT.

Laura is an experienced executive with a proven track record solving complex challenges across federal government IT and financial services. A skilled strategist in digital transformation, budgeting and finance, Agile adoption, and enterprise planning, she’s known as a catalyst for teamwork, action, and sustainable change.

Founded in 2008, iTech AG helps federal, state, and commercial organizations transition legacy systems, processes, and workflows into modern platforms. Their work spans government IT modernization, data integration, enterprise portfolio management, and large-scale digital transformation—delivering faster, more reliable outcomes.

🎧 In this conversation, we explore:

• What drew Laura to government IT and financial services leadership
• Why legacy system modernization is critical right now in the public sector
• How leaders overcome resistance to change in complex organizations
• What strong leadership looks like on massive, high-risk initiatives
• The biggest misconceptions about Agile adoption
• Why predictability matters as much as speed in enterprise IT
• How executives keep teams aligned during long, high-pressure projects
• Advice for leaders navigating digital transformation—again and again

This episode is a must-listen for leaders in government IT, federal modernization, digital transformation, Agile leadership, enterprise systems, and public-sector technology.

#FORUMImpact #WomenInLeadership #GovernmentIT #FederalIT #DigitalTransformation #AgileLeadership #EnterpriseIT #Modernization #TechLeadership #LeadershipPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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What does it take to modernize government systems without losing sight of the people they serve?

In this episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership, we sit down with Olivia Trivisani Bowker, Founder & CEO of Amivero, a mission-driven federal technology services firm advancing national security, public safety, and trusted government operations.

With nearly two decades delivering IT initiatives across the Department of Homeland Security, Olivia shares how her early career experiences shaped her leadership philosophy—and why empathy, data, and accountability are essential to sustainable innovation in government.

Founded in 2018 in Reston, VA, Amivero supports agencies including DHS (ICE, CBP, USCIS), DOJ, GSA TTS, and DOT, helping them modernize systems, responsibly deploy AI, combat fraud, and reclaim thousands of hours of manual work through intelligent automation.

🎧 In this conversation, we explore:

• Leading federal modernization efforts from contract win to delivery
• Building a values-driven company you’d be proud to pass on
• Why human-centered, data-driven design delivers real mission impact
• Returning up to 95% of manual processing time back to frontline staff
• Scaling AI, automation, identity management, and fraud detection responsibly
• Creating a Best Place to Work culture in high-stakes environments
• Lessons in leadership, innovation, and balance—especially for women in tech and government

This episode is a must-listen for leaders in government technology, federal IT, AI in the public sector, cybersecurity, data analytics, and mission-driven entrepreneurship.

👉 Where empathy meets technology—and data fuels real results.

#FORUMImpact #WomenInLeadership #FederalIT #GovernmentTechnology #HumanCenteredDesign #DataDrivenLeadership #AIinGovernment #WomenInLeadership #PublicSectorInnovation #MissionDriven #Cybersecurity #Automation #LeadershipPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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What does it really take to lead when credibility, visibility, and trust are non-negotiable?

On this episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Julie Murphy, President of Sage Communications, to explore leadership at the intersection of technology, public sector, and high-stakes communications.

With more than two decades of experience directing public relations, marketing, social media, and influencer programs, Julie shares the leadership lessons shaped by navigating complex environments—where organizations must not only be seen and heard, but believed and acted on.

In this conversation, Julie discusses:

• Leading a communications agency serving both fast-moving tech innovators and highly structured public sector organizations
• What leaders often misunderstand about credibility—especially women in high-visibility roles
• The unspoken leadership challenges women face in male-dominated tech spaces
• Staying grounded while managing recognition, influence, and success
• Why mentorship, advocacy, and board leadership are essential for the next generation
• How leaders communicate with confidence when the stakes—and scrutiny—are incredibly high

Julie also shares the one mindset shift that can make the biggest difference early in a woman’s leadership journey—and why being a fourth-generation Syracuse Newhouse graduate means she truly bleeds Orange 🍊.

This episode is a must-listen for women leading—or aspiring to lead—in communications, technology, public affairs, and mission-driven organizations.

#ImpactWomenInLeadership #WomenInLeadership #CommunicationsLeadership #PublicRelations #WomenInTech #ExecutiveLeadership #Credibility #LeadershipPodcast #PublicAffairs

Support the show

IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts