Shows
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedFrom Stuck to Strategic: Redefining Career Change with Mark WiggintonIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett sits down with Mark Wigginton, Certified Professional Coach, Licensed Professional Counselor, and founder of Focusing On Results. With a background that bridges sales psychology and real-world resilience, Mark helps job seekers and career changers move from indecision to intentional action—especially those navigating the leap from federal to private sector life.
Together, they explore the subtle mindset shifts that turn setbacks into stepping stones, the power of reframing your value, and why “playing it safe” is sometimes the riskiest move of all. If you’ve ever felt stuck...2025-07-1640 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedLeading with Clarity: Storytelling, Strategy, and the Human Side of BrandingIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett sits down with Jens-Kristian Kiel—a speaker, branding professional, and content strategist who brings together German precision and American heart. With over 30 years of experience across advertising, marketing, IT, and higher education, Jens has led across continents and industries, leaving his mark through thoughtful storytelling, cross-cultural communication, and human-centered innovation.
They talk about what it really means to lead with authenticity, how to express your value without just reciting a résumé, and why the best branding is grounded in service—not self-promotion. From overcoming imposter syndrome...2025-06-1828 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedLeadership, Transition, and Resilience with Jeff GrantIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett chats with Jeff Grant, President and Founder of Schedule F Healthcare Strategies and former Operations Director at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, CMS. With over 30 years of experience leading major federal health programs, Jeff shares defining moments from his career, lessons learned across public and private sectors, and his journey toward founding Schedule F Healthcare Strategies to support laid-off federal employees.
They discuss the challenges civil servants face during career transitions, how leadership principles evolve across industries, and what professionals should prepare for in...2025-05-2127 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedLeadership, Resilience & Redefining Success with Kathleen ScudderIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett sits down with Kathleen Scudder, Delivery and Strategy Lead at Accenture Federal Services, former Executive Director at U.S. Border Patrol, and author of What Did I Sign Up For? to discuss leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to “have it all.”
With over two decades in federal law enforcement, Kathleen shares the defining moments of her career, the leadership lessons she learned in high-stakes environments, and her journey transitioning from public service to the private sector. We explore how women can navigate career pivots, struct...2025-05-0716 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedMastering LinkedIn for Career Growth with Mark AmtowerIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett talks with Mark Amtower - consultant, speaker, best-selling author, and host of Amtower Off Center - on the power of LinkedIn for career transitions, personal branding, and career growth in the federal market.
With decades of experience advising professionals on government marketing and thought leadership, Mark shares expert insights on optimizing LinkedIn profiles, building meaningful professional relationships, using LinkedIn for job searches, and leveraging content to establish credibility. He also explores how business owners can use LinkedIn to generate leads and win government contracts.
2025-04-2331 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedMastering Networking and Career Growth with Shelley McGuireIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett catches up with Shelley McGuire, Chief Strategy Officer at OrangeSlices AI and Owner of Shelley’s Events, to talk about the power of networking and how federal employees can use events to build meaningful career opportunities.
Shelley has spent years bringing the government contracting community together through online and in-person events. She shares expert insights on how job seekers can identify the right events, prepare effectively, make a lasting impression, and build strong professional relationships. We also discuss the differences between virtual and in-person networking and ho...2025-04-0928 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedLeadership Lessons for Modernizing Public Service with Jordan BurrisOrangeSlices.ai is thrilled to welcome Jordan Burris, VP & GM of Public Sector at Socure, to Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged with Laura Bennett, Podcast Host, Leadership Coach and GovCon Consultant! Jordan is a trailblazer in government innovation and digital trust, having led transformative tech and cybersecurity efforts at the White House and across the public sector. In this episode, we dive into the big questions shaping the future of government technology:
🔹 Balancing Innovation & Security – How do agencies foster innovation without compromising compliance and risk management?
🔹 Enabling Service Delivery for All – What’s standing in the way of equitable access...2025-03-2615 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedLeading Through Change: Innovation, Resilience & Avoiding Burnout with Katrina SizemoreIn this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett talks with Katrina Sizemore, Senior Program Manager at Index Analytics (former Division Director at CMS CCIIO MITG), to discuss the realities of leading in high-stakes environments. They explore how Katrina fosters resilience and agility, manages constant change, and champions inclusivity in leadership. Katrina shares insights on preventing burnout, the power of self-awareness in leadership, and why creating space for every voice at the table leads to stronger teams. Whether navigating leadership challenges or looking to build a more adaptable, engaged team, this conversation is packed with practical strategies an...2025-03-1226 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedInnovating Government: Customer Experience & Transformational Leadership with Brian ChidesterIn this episode of Coach’s Corner – Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennet sits down with Brian Chidester, a global leader in public sector innovation and the host of The Government Huddle podcast. As the Head of Global Strategy & Innovation for Public Sector at Adobe, Brian has helped shape the future of government services through digital transformation, customer experience (CX), and bold leadership. We dive into how agencies can build trust, balance personalization with privacy, and embrace technology to create meaningful citizen interactions.
Beyond CX, the two explore transformational leadership—how leaders can navigate change while maintaining team trust and cu...2025-02-2621 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedWomen in Homeland Security: Kristina Tanasichuk’s Mission & ImpactIn this episode of Coach's Corner, Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennet sits down with Kristina Tanasichuk, Founder & CEO of the Government Technology & Services Coalition, for an inspiring conversation on leadership and passion. Kristina takes us on her remarkable career journey, sharing how she built avenues for collaboration in homeland security, the founding of Women in Homeland Security, and the driving force behind her servant-based leadership philosophy.
Whether you’re a leader looking to level up or someone navigating their own career journey, this episode offers actionable insights and heartfelt inspiration. Don’t miss Kristina’s wisdom and stories of imp...2025-02-1238 min
Coach’s Corner: Leadership UnpluggedThe Art of Storytelling in Mission-Driven Careers: Insights from Jeremy WoodDive into an engaging series where leadership, innovation, and personal stories intersect in the realms of federal government and industry. Laura Bennett hosts this podcast series with the first episode featuring Jeremy Wood, Chief for Enterprise Architecture at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and host of The Geek Within podcast. If you’re curious about the intersection of leadership, storytelling, and mission-driven careers, this is a must-listen episode!
2025-01-1527 min