From CMS to CEO: Karen Shields on Purposeful Transition and Ethical Leadership

In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire interviews Karen Shields, a veteran with over 30 years in federal government service and current CEO of K Shields Health Tech Consulting. Karen shares her deep knowledge of transitioning from government roles to the private sector, emphasizing the importance of personal integrity alongside formal ethics guidelines. She encourages former government employees and contractors to identify their unique strengths and leverage them thoughtfully outside of government, as these skills remain highly valuable.

Karen highlights the vital partnership between government and vendors, urging contractors to actively contribute to policy discussions and share their expertise to improve service delivery. Despite changes in the market and government priorities, she stresses that core mission needs remain, offering ongoing opportunities for those ready to adapt. Her advice to leaders and professionals is to keep researching, learning, and moving forward with purpose and resilience. Karen’s experience exemplifies how to navigate complex transitions while maintaining strong values and impact.

To connect with Karen, visit her on LinkedIn here.

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