
Humble Beginnings
The CEOs and senior GovCon leaders of today weren't always sitting in the corner office. They weren't born in suits with a handbook for success and a direct path to leadership. In fact, before many of these executives came into positions of powers, they had rather humble beginnings -- no corporate family tree or unlimited access. Many had to find their way on their own with little to fall back on. This podcast will share the stories of high school part-time work, first jobs and early-career decisions, decades before the CEO appointments and the board memberships. We'll learn about the unconventional paths to success, the ones most of us can relate to.
Podcasting since 2023 • 31 episodes
Humble Beginnings
Latest Episodes
Building a Legacy: Brandy Durham Turns Passion for Tackling National Problems to Career Path in Data, AI
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we sit down with Brandy Durham, vice president of Mantech's Data and AI Practice, as she shares of her upbringing in South Texas, and how her family's history of carpentry and military service instilled a...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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36:56

Shawn Purvis' Transformational Leadership Relies on Lifelong Values: 'Family, Faith, Hard Work and Doing Good to Others'
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we sit down with Shawn Purvis, president and CEO of QinetiQ US, as she shares her upbringing in Northern Virginia under the values of "family, faith, hard work and doing good to others."Purvis' par...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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48:20

Small Town Values, a Strong Work Ethic and Career Turning Points: Rick Wagner's Rise to CEO
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we sit down with Rick Wagner, CEO of Agile Defense, as he shares about his upbringing in a factory town in Pennsylvania surrounded by a large family, strong work ethic and small town values. And while Wag...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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31:58

When Paths Cross and Stay on Course: Federal CIOs Mittal Desai, Yemi Oshinnaiye on Family, Friendship and Public Service
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we sit down with two chief information officers in government who share their backgrounds, the lessons they learned early on and the impact their upbringings had on their current roles in public service. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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42:18

IntelliBridge's Cass Panciocco on His Unplanned Path to CEO: A Story of Family, Timing & Work Ethic
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," Cass Panciocco, president and CEO of IntelliBridge, joins us to share a bit about his upbringing in working-class Boston, what it was like sharing a modest home with seven other family members, the work e...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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26:30
