All Source Podcast

In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Adam Lurie, CEO of Knexus, and Qua Dickerson, a former INSA policy intern and current Knexus employee, for a conversation about how AI can support professional growth and strengthen mentorship. Adam shares lessons from his nonlinear career journey, emphasizing the importance of finding mentors who recognize your strengths, taking ownership of your career, and arriving at mentorship conversations prepared with thoughtful questions and clear goals. He also explores how AI tools can help professionals research career paths, brainstorm ideas, challenge assumptions, and identify potential blind spots while recognizing that these tools should guide thinking rather than replace human judgment. Qua reflects on how mentorship has shaped her own career, helping her embrace uncertainty, pursue new opportunities, and develop her strengths through Adam’s advocacy and support. Together, they highlight the importance of building authentic professional relationships, fostering trust, and remaining open to unexpected career paths, underscoring that while AI can be a valuable resource for navigating change, meaningful mentorship ultimately depends on human connection, honest feedback, and a willingness to invest in one another’s growth.

In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Alexis Kolvalchick and Jen Webster for a conversation about building and sustaining a personal board of advisors through peer mentorship. Alexis and Jen discuss how trust, shared experiences, and honest feedback can transform professional relationships into valuable sounding boards, and why a diverse network of advisors is essential for navigating career transitions and challenges. They also share practical advice for cultivating peer mentors organically, maintaining meaningful connections, embracing reverse mentorship, and recognizing when it is time to bring new perspectives into your circle. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of challenging one another, investing in relationships without expecting something in return, and paying mentorship forward to help the next generation of leaders grow.

 In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Christy Wilder for a candid conversation about what it takes to build and sustain strong mentoring relationships. Christy discusses why professionals should build a bench of mentors, how mentoring relationships can change as careers and priorities shift, and why trust, consistency, and open communication matter. She also shares why the best mentoring relationships are a two-way exchange, the importance of challenging advice rather than simply accepting it, and how paying mentorship forward can strengthen the next generation of leaders. 

Thank you to our series sponsor, The Schar School for Government and Policy, GMU! 

In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Ben Conklin for a candid conversation about owning the messy chapters of your career. Ben discusses why career growth is rarely linear, how setbacks and unconventional experiences can become strengths, and the importance of taking risks before you feel fully ready. He also shares lessons on knowing when it is time to move on, leading with vulnerability, learning from failure, and recognizing the skills and experiences that make your career story uniquely yours.

Thank you to our series sponsor, The Schar School for Government and Policy, GMU! 

In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by The Hon. Sue Gordon for a candid conversation about building mentorships that last. Sue discusses how to find the right mentor, why seniority is not everything, the value of mentors who challenge your thinking, and the difference between mentorship and sponsorship. She also shares why strong relationships, self-awareness, and seeking wisdom rather than favors can shape your career.

Thank you to our series sponsor, The Schar School for Government and Policy, GMU! 

In the first episode of The Career Playbook, a new nine-part series from the All Source Podcast, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Janice Glover Jones to break down the relationships that can influence professional growth: mentors, allies, and sponsors.

Drawing on lessons from her career, Janice shares how candid feedback, unexpected mentorship, and advocates behind closed doors helped her grow as a leader and navigate new opportunities. She discusses why mentorship does not always have to be formal, how colleagues, including junior professionals, can offer valuable perspective, and why building a strong inner circle requires seeking out people who challenge the way you think.

Thank you to our series sponsor, The Schar School for Government and Policy, GMU! 

In this final episode of INSA's From Action Plan to Mission Impact: Key Takeaways from America's AI Action Plan podcast, hosts Chitra Sivanandam and Dr. Yevgeniy Sirotin reflect on the key themes and lessons from the series. They discuss the challenges of moving AI from strategy to operational capability, including workforce readiness, data quality, trust, governance, and responsible adoption. The conversation highlights the importance of clear standards, model provenance, public-private collaboration, and international competition, while recognizing the progress already being made across the national security community. They conclude with a look at what it will take to sustain momentum and translate America's AI ambitions into lasting mission impact. 

In this episode of INSA's From Action Plan to Mission Impact: Key Takeaways from America's AI Action Plan podcast, host Chitra Sivanandam sits down with Chip Usher, Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, to discuss how AI is reshaping global competition, diplomacy, and national security. Together, they examine Pillar Three of America’s AI Action Plan, focusing on international leadership, trusted partnerships, and strategic competition with adversaries such as China. Chip shares insights on AI standards, supply chain security, global adoption, and the importance of building trusted AI ecosystems with allies. They also discuss the role of public-private partnerships, AI security, and how the United States can advance a democratic vision for AI while strengthening its position in the global technology landscape. 

In this episode of INSA's From Action Plan to Mission Impact: Key Takeaways from America's AI Action Plan podcast, hosts Chitra Sivanandam and Dr. Yevgeniy Sirotin sit down with Dr. Missy Cummings, Director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center at George Mason University, to examine why workforce readiness is critical to successful AI adoption. Dr. Cummings discusses the growing gap between AI capabilities and AI literacy, the risks of overreliance on large language models, and the importance of understanding when AI is the right tool for the mission. They discuss continuous reskilling, leadership responsibilities, and practical strategies for building an AI-ready workforce capable of applying these technologies responsibly in national security environments.

In this episode of INSA's From Action Plan to Mission Impact: Key Takeaways from America's AI Action Plan podcast, hosts Chitra Sivanandam and Yevgeniy Sirotin sit down with Mark Munsell, former Chief AI Officer at NGA, to examine what it takes to build trust in AI systems before they are deployed in mission environments. Mr. Munsell discusses the challenges of testing, evaluating, and securing AI models as they become more autonomous and integrated into high-stakes operations. The conversation breaks down how agencies and industry can balance rapid AI adoption with responsible oversight, continuous monitoring, and risk management to ensure these systems remain reliable, mission-ready, and resilient against emerging threats.