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What does leadership look like when you’re modernizing thousands of systems, managing millions in federal IT budgets, and guiding organizations through constant change?

In this episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Laura Johnston Stash, EVP at iTech AG, to talk about leadership, modernization, and driving predictable results in government and enterprise IT.

Laura is an experienced executive with a proven track record solving complex challenges across federal government IT and financial services. A skilled strategist in digital transformation, budgeting and finance, Agile adoption, and enterprise planning, she’s known as a catalyst for teamwork, action, and sustainable change.

Founded in 2008, iTech AG helps federal, state, and commercial organizations transition legacy systems, processes, and workflows into modern platforms. Their work spans government IT modernization, data integration, enterprise portfolio management, and large-scale digital transformation—delivering faster, more reliable outcomes.

🎧 In this conversation, we explore:

• What drew Laura to government IT and financial services leadership
• Why legacy system modernization is critical right now in the public sector
• How leaders overcome resistance to change in complex organizations
• What strong leadership looks like on massive, high-risk initiatives
• The biggest misconceptions about Agile adoption
• Why predictability matters as much as speed in enterprise IT
• How executives keep teams aligned during long, high-pressure projects
• Advice for leaders navigating digital transformation—again and again

This episode is a must-listen for leaders in government IT, federal modernization, digital transformation, Agile leadership, enterprise systems, and public-sector technology.

#FORUMImpact #WomenInLeadership #GovernmentIT #FederalIT #DigitalTransformation #AgileLeadership #EnterpriseIT #Modernization #TechLeadership #LeadershipPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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What does it take to modernize government systems without losing sight of the people they serve?

In this episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership, we sit down with Olivia Trivisani Bowker, Founder & CEO of Amivero, a mission-driven federal technology services firm advancing national security, public safety, and trusted government operations.

With nearly two decades delivering IT initiatives across the Department of Homeland Security, Olivia shares how her early career experiences shaped her leadership philosophy—and why empathy, data, and accountability are essential to sustainable innovation in government.

Founded in 2018 in Reston, VA, Amivero supports agencies including DHS (ICE, CBP, USCIS), DOJ, GSA TTS, and DOT, helping them modernize systems, responsibly deploy AI, combat fraud, and reclaim thousands of hours of manual work through intelligent automation.

🎧 In this conversation, we explore:

• Leading federal modernization efforts from contract win to delivery
• Building a values-driven company you’d be proud to pass on
• Why human-centered, data-driven design delivers real mission impact
• Returning up to 95% of manual processing time back to frontline staff
• Scaling AI, automation, identity management, and fraud detection responsibly
• Creating a Best Place to Work culture in high-stakes environments
• Lessons in leadership, innovation, and balance—especially for women in tech and government

This episode is a must-listen for leaders in government technology, federal IT, AI in the public sector, cybersecurity, data analytics, and mission-driven entrepreneurship.

👉 Where empathy meets technology—and data fuels real results.

#FORUMImpact #WomenInLeadership #FederalIT #GovernmentTechnology #HumanCenteredDesign #DataDrivenLeadership #AIinGovernment #WomenInLeadership #PublicSectorInnovation #MissionDriven #Cybersecurity #Automation #LeadershipPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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What does it really take to lead when credibility, visibility, and trust are non-negotiable?

On this episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Julie Murphy, President of Sage Communications, to explore leadership at the intersection of technology, public sector, and high-stakes communications.

With more than two decades of experience directing public relations, marketing, social media, and influencer programs, Julie shares the leadership lessons shaped by navigating complex environments—where organizations must not only be seen and heard, but believed and acted on.

In this conversation, Julie discusses:

• Leading a communications agency serving both fast-moving tech innovators and highly structured public sector organizations
• What leaders often misunderstand about credibility—especially women in high-visibility roles
• The unspoken leadership challenges women face in male-dominated tech spaces
• Staying grounded while managing recognition, influence, and success
• Why mentorship, advocacy, and board leadership are essential for the next generation
• How leaders communicate with confidence when the stakes—and scrutiny—are incredibly high

Julie also shares the one mindset shift that can make the biggest difference early in a woman’s leadership journey—and why being a fourth-generation Syracuse Newhouse graduate means she truly bleeds Orange 🍊.

This episode is a must-listen for women leading—or aspiring to lead—in communications, technology, public affairs, and mission-driven organizations.

#ImpactWomenInLeadership #WomenInLeadership #CommunicationsLeadership #PublicRelations #WomenInTech #ExecutiveLeadership #Credibility #LeadershipPodcast #PublicAffairs

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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This episode holds lasting insight we wanted to share again.

In this inspiring episode of the IMPACT: Women in Leadership Podcast, host Mary Ann Brown welcomes Lisa Shea Mundt, Co-Founder of The Pulse of GovCon, a research and advisory firm transforming how companies compete in the federal contracting space.

With more than 14 years of experience in federal proposals and procurement strategy, Lisa has contributed to 200+ proposal efforts totaling billions of dollars in contract wins. She’s also a nationally respected trainer in Business Development, Capture Management, Proposal Management, and Orals Coaching—and is currently pursuing her PhD in Writing and Rhetoric at George Mason University.

In this candid conversation, Lisa shares:

• What drives her as a leader, mentor, and founder
• A defining moment that shaped her leadership style
• How resilience plays a critical role in long-term success
• Why mentorship matters—especially for women in technology and GovCon

Lisa also introduces The Pulse’s BD 360° methodology, a holistic approach to optimizing the federal sales engine and building a sustainable competitive edge.

As Past President of Women in Technology (WIT) and a board member of the JMU Federal Dukes Alumni Chapter, Lisa is deeply committed to opening doors for others—and leaving a legacy rooted in innovation, purpose, and confidence.

Whether you’re new to GovCon or a seasoned professional, this episode offers practical insight, leadership inspiration, and a powerful reminder of what it means to make an impact.

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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In this episode of IMPACT: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown talks with Em Allan, Vice President of VA Operations at Oddball. Em shares how she leads multidisciplinary teams of engineers, program managers, UX designers, and product leads to deliver the seamless digital experiences and high-quality care veterans deserve. She explains what motivates her work and what “making an impact” personally means in the federal tech space.

Em also discusses how Oddball’s mission-driven culture has supported her growth. As a software consulting firm focused on modernizing federal citizen-centric services, Oddball empowers teams through strong engineering practices, human-centered design, cloud migration, DevOps excellence, and continuous delivery. Em highlights how this environment enables innovation and meaningful progress for the veteran community.

Throughout the conversation, Em reflects on building strong teams, leading with purpose, and fostering collaboration across diverse disciplines. She closes with actionable advice for women beginning their careers in federal tech and insights on how to create space for impactful leadership at every level.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyallan/

#WomenInLeadership #FederalTech #VeteransAffairs #DigitalModernization #Oddball #WomenInTech #LeadershipPodcast #GovTech #HumanCenteredDesign #ForumIMPACT #ForumIMPACTpodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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In this episode of Forum IMPACT: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Dolores Kuchina-Musina, PhD, CEO and Founder of REXOTA® Solutions—a powerhouse leader recognized for her work in federal contracting, public procurement innovation, small business growth, and cross-sector strategy. A Jacques S. Gansler Fellow, NCMA Fellow, and “Millennial on the Move,” Dolores brings over a decade of expertise navigating high-stakes federal, state, and international acquisitions.

Dolores shares how she manages multiple creative projects—including an audiobook, video series, a STEM children’s book featuring Mura the Dinocorn®, and a new OTA primer—while leading a boutique firm at the forefront of procurement innovation. She discusses misconceptions about OTAs, the value of deep-work “creation caves,” and what she hopes young readers take from Mura’s story. Dolores also offers memorable behind-the-scenes insights from her content creation process and powerful advice for women leading in male-dominated industries.

Contact: dkuchinamusina@rexota.com

Hashtags: #WomenInLeadership #GovCon #FederalProcurement #PublicAdministration #STEMKids #OTAs #LeadershipPodcast #REXOTA® #MuraTheDinocorn®

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

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In this episode of IMPACT: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown continues her conversation with Debbie Sallis, Founding Executive Director of The Cyber Guild Foundation, to explore how mentorship, leadership, and community are reshaping the future of cybersecurity.

Debbie shares what she’s learned from The Cyber Guild’s RISE Mentorship Model—and how understanding what rising professionals truly need to advance differs from what the industry assumes. She also reflects on her shift from personal success to creating systemic change through The Cyber Guild’s mission of empowerment.

They discuss how the Uniting Women in Cyber (UWIC) Conference was designed to go beyond surface-level networking, delivering real impact and lasting inspiration. Debbie also offers heartfelt advice for anyone curious about cybersecurity—especially those without a traditional tech background—on where to begin and how to thrive.

🎧 A powerful conversation on turning mentorship into movement and individual success into collective impact.

You can also find IMPACT: Women in Leadership on our website, Apple Podcasts,

#Leadership #Cybersecurity #Mentorship #Innovation #ImpactPodcast

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IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In this episode of IMPACT: Women in Leadership, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with the extraordinary Ann Dunkin—External Fellow and Distinguished Professor of the Practice at the Georgia Institute of Technology, CEO of Dunkin Global Advisors, and one of the nation’s most respected voices in technology leadership.

Ann brings decades of high-level experience across government, industry, and academia. She has served as CIO of both the U.S. Department of Energy (Biden-Harris Administration) and the Environmental Protection Agency (Obama Administration), spearheading groundbreaking initiatives in cybersecurity, cloud migration, digital transformation, and high-performance computing. Her leadership includes major roles at Dell Technologies, County of Santa Clara, Palo Alto Unified School District, and Hewlett-Packard—spanning engineering, strategy, operations, and innovation.

A published author and renowned speaker, Ann’s work explores the intersection of energy, AI, quantum, government modernization, and organizational transformation. Her contributions have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Forbes CIO Next List 2024, multiple FedScoop Golden Gov Awards, the IISE Captains of Industry Award, the Fed 100 Award, and many more.

In this powerful conversation, Ann shares insights on leadership, digital transformation, academia, technological innovation, and the future of women at the forefront of global technology.

#ImpactWomenInLeadership #WomenInLeadership #WomenInTech #DigitalTransformation #TechLeadership #EnergyInnovation #GovernmentTech #GeorgiaTech #WomenWhoLead #CIO #LeadershipPodcast #STEMLeaders #InspiringWomen #PodcastsOnLeadership #DunkinGlobalAdvisors

Support the show

IMPACT: Women in Leadership with Mary Ann Brown features conversations with trailblazing women shaping the future of business, government, and innovation.

Don’t miss an episode—follow the show on your favorite podcast app.
Explore all episodes and learn more: https://www.govforum.io/tags/podcasts