Welcome to Episode 14 of Emagine The Future! On this episode, we are joined by former Technical Director of NAVSEA Unmanned and current Staff Specialist of the Sea Platforms at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,  Dr. Jason Strickland. 

Dr. Strickland is a seasoned engineer and maritime innovator shy of 20 years of experience at the intersection of engineering, ship design, unmanned surface warfare, and defense. On this episode, we discuss various topics including: 

In this episode, we discuss many topics with a focus on those listed below:

• Ship Building & Maritime Engineering
  • Given his numerous advanced degrees, what was the transition like from the classroom educational experience to the workforce? How does that impact and align with your career advancement?
  • We discuss potential solutions to reinvigorating the shipbuilding industry and how to get it on track, contrasting the discussion points presented in the 2023 “National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Hearing” 
• Career Advancement: 
  • How can strong technical contributors, like engineers,  develop those other skills to advance? What process did you take and how can they do the same? What skills come to mind? How can they build out those skills? 
  • As an engineer and a builder, project management, task management, and organization is critical. Alongside that is being able to build a plan or a roadmap to achieve the mission. Where do younger managers go wrong and how can they potentially avoid challenges when it comes to creating quality timelines and plans and really being great at project management for such critical initiatives?
• State of the Market – Science & Technology: 
  • State of the market as it relates to Science and technology and how does that impact new technologies? Are there new trends emerging are potentially big to the world of shipbuilding and maritime? 
  • When it comes to R&D and developing new technologies, research is critical. What separates good researchers from great researchers?
  • How does that apply to problem-solving, which is so important for a great engineer or builder? 
• Vision of the Future: 
  • What is your vision of the future as it relates to emerging technologies, specifically in the maritime space and man and unmanned ships? Anything you’re excited about or curious about?
  • When you think about the next 5-10 years, what are you excited and/or concerned about or watching carefully? 
  • What do you feel the next generation of talent coming into the NAVSEA, Maritime arena should know to better impact the mission? 

Connect with Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emagine-it-inc-/posts/

Connect with Dr. Strickland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-strickland-ph-d-p-e-385405a/

Have a specific question that you'd like for us to ask our guests about technically, cybersecurity, career advancement, and more? 

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Welcome to Episode 13 of Emagine The Future! On this episode, we are joined by the Executive Director and Head of the Office of Online Services at The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Karen Howard. 

Karen is a seasoned leader with 30+ years of experience in the private sector, spanning many verticals including retail, manufacturing, and financial services, at the intersection of technology and user experience.  With her wealth of experience, we talk about: 

In this episode, we discuss many topics with a focus on those listed below:

• The Evolution of the User Journey: 
  • Help us understand your POV on the modern-day digital customer experience. How has the online consumer journey evolved since you entered the workforce more than 30 years ago and how does that influence the way we use and build technology solutions today?
  • Feedback from the user is important to build great user experiences. How do you ensure you have a line of communication with the target users to understand what great looks like from their POV?   
• Job Hopping & Personal Development: 
  • Is job hopping bad? How can someone know if it's time to leave a job? How can someone explain when they've "job hopped" a lot in an interview?
  • As somebody who, early in your career, wasn't "good with computers", you've reinvented yourself to find success. Help us understand your approach to reinvention. If you were talking to a 21-year-old senior in college graduating school going into retail and merchandising because she isn’t great with technology, how does she overcome this challenge? 
• Vision of the Future: 
  • When you look ahead, what is your current POV for the role Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and automation play in the future?

Connect with Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emagine-it-inc-/posts/

Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-s-howard-8841a81/

Have a specific question that you'd like for us to ask our guests about technically, cybersecurity, career advancement, and more? 

Email: [email protected] with the subject line "Podcast Question Request"

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Welcome to Episode 12 of Emagine The Future! 

Today we are joined by Tommy Young, Principal at Enlightenment Capital - commonly referred to on the episode as EnCap.  Tommy has had a meteoric rise in his career, in great part because of his ability to build strong soft interpersonal communication skills on top of his already stellar technical skills. 

In this episode, we discuss many topics with a focus on those listed below:

• Navigating The “New”: 
  • Whether it’s a new job, a new industry, or a new network. One of the hardest parts of change is getting familiar quickly - people, process, environment, challenges - so you can get informed enough to then become quickly productive. Can you help us understand how you approach this in your world? 
• Personal & Professional Development: 
  • There are many ways to approach personal and professional development. First, generally speaking, are there skills you feel are most important when it comes to climbing the ladder and being an effective leader - skills that above all else, every leader must develop? 
  • For those listening that are technically skilled but lack the soft skills, how can they go about developing those necessary soft skills such as recruiting, hiring, teambuilding, and training, and so much more?
• Decision Making: 
  • Whether it’s a small decision or a big decision, what is your process for making great decisions when you don't have all of the information? 
  • When working with new leaders, what are common mistakes they make when navigating an important decision? 
• State of the Market: 
  • Let’s look at the state of the market through the following lenses – an investors lens, a founders lens, an employee’s lens, and a government lens. 
  • As an investor, how would you describe the state of the market and how things are looking over the next 6-12 months? 
  • What about as a founder or a c-suite stakeholder? 

Interested in connecting with Tommy directly? 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-b-young/

Interested in learning more about Enlightenment Capital?

Website: https://enlightenment-cap.com/

Have a specific question that you'd like for us to ask our guests about technically, cybersecurity, career advancement, and more? 

Email: [email protected] with the subject line "Podcast Question Request"

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Frank Cox, the CEO of Korevariance, discusses his passion for technology and how it has become an extension of human behavior. He believes that the best software applications are those that solve problems and fit into people's daily lives. The conversation also explores the growth of open-source development, the impact of social media, and the importance of empathy and understanding in consulting. Frank emphasizes the value of building relationships, blending technical and communication skills, and understanding businesses from different perspectives. He shares his experience as an entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of flexibility and work-life balance. The challenges of managing remote teams and the future of technology, including AI and data privacy, are also discussed. Overall, Frank expresses excitement for technology that improves human interaction.

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Adam Schindler, Vice Chairman of Colliers, discusses his career in commercial real estate and the impact of the Great Recession and COVID-19 on the industry. He emphasizes the importance of networking and utilizing LinkedIn. Schindler advises college graduates and young professionals to leverage existing connections and expand their network. He believes the future of commercial real estate will continue to change but eventually return to a more familiar state. Schindler appreciates the increased flexibility in the workplace and discusses the challenges of work-life balance but mentions the ability to work from different locations. He believes individuals have control over their own work-life balance. The conversation was insightful and full of great advice for everyone whether you are just graduating college or 30 years in your career and want a change. 

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Gary Jaffe, the Director of Strategy and Growth for Atlas Tech, discusses his background and career, including his experience in the military and how it has shaped his career in the defense industry. He emphasizes the importance of learning and staying open to opportunities. Jaffe then describes his role as a logistics readiness officer in the US Air Force, where he oversaw the movement of cargo and supported global operations. He also served in Afghanistan as part of a military transition team, focusing on establishing logistics connectivity and injecting money into the local economy. Jaffe highlights the leadership opportunities and challenges faced in his role, including navigating cultural and technology barriers. Jaffe briefly mentions the challenges and fears associated with transitions and change, particularly transitioning from government roles to industry roles and talks about the importance of following one's passion and staying connected to the mission. Jaffe also discusses the importance of transparency and giving back in business, sharing an anecdote about example-centered leadership. He concludes by emphasizing the need for responsible leadership in harnessing the potential of technology in the future of technology and business.

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Terry Roberts, the founder and CEO of WhiteHawk, discusses her background in global risk cyber intelligence and how she entered the cybersecurity field. She highlights the concept of resilience in cybersecurity and the importance of protecting privacy and security. Terry also talks about starting WhiteHawk as the first online cybersecurity exchange and the inspiration behind it. The company offers a platform to help organizations assess and mitigate their cyber risks. She discusses the evolution of their products, including an AI-based cyber risk profile and program. Terry emphasizes the need for continuous learning and improvement in the industry. She also talks about the impact of remote work on business development and the need for a holistic cybersecurity approach involving the entire executive team. She goes on to emphasize the importance of trust in the industry and how WhiteHawk is different by partnering with over 200 next-generation technology companies. She highlights the requirement for agility and adaptability in the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape. Terry also discusses her previous role as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence from 2007 to 2009 and leveraging the capabilities of the US intelligence community in naval intelligence. We finish the discussion by talking about what Terry thinks the future looks like. 

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 Dr. Philip Kulp, an adjunct professor, mentor, and cybersecurity consultant stops by to join the show. The conversation covers various topics related to cybersecurity, consulting, and the evolution of the industry. Dr. Kulp discusses his background in IT and cybersecurity, his experiences mentoring students, and the services offered by his consulting company, PHK Cyber. The importance of collaboration between security professionals and developers is emphasized. The discussion also touches on the implementation of firewall and VPN systems, the changing tactics of attackers, and the importance of threat modeling and prioritizing cybersecurity. Concerns are expressed about the use of AI, its implications for privacy, and potential errors, but mentions the benefit in reducing repetitive tasks. The conversation concludes with a focus on the  roles Dr. Kulp holds, such as an adjunct professor, doctoral chair, consultant, and company president and the importance of time management and cross-pollination of knowledge between these roles.

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In this episode recording, Mike Pagels, the former director Director for Division of Security, Privacy Policy and Governance and Senior Official for Privacy Director, Division of Security, Privacy Policy and Governance and Senior Official for Privacy at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, discusses his background and career path. He highlights his interest in technology, policy development, and the integration of security and privacy into various programs. He mentions the challenges faced in aligning policy with technology and fostering a holistic approach to security and privacy. The conversation also touches upon the future impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on health, privacy, and compliance. Pagels discusses the importance of transparency, data integrity, and inclusive education as key principles when implementing AI and addressing societal concerns. He expresses optimism about the future of technology and the opportunities it presents in solving societal problems and improving lives.

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Katie Helwig, co-author of "Government Marketing Best Practices 2.0" and co-founder of Mild Red, discussed her background and expertise in organizing past performance for small businesses to leverage their market position. The book was a collaborative effort led by Mark Amtower, who gathered industry experts to update and refresh government marketing practices. Katie also shared her experiences as the Co-chair of the Small Business Committee at AFCEA, highlighting initiatives like mentorship programs and keeping small business brands visible to government customers. Lastly, Katie emphasized the importance of past performance in developing business development (BD) and go-to-market strategies, emphasizing the need for proof and validation to reduce risks and attract government contracts.

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