Podcast
IMPACT Podcast Series
Hosted by Mary Ann Brown, Tracey Aubey · EN
IMPACT is FORUM’s signature podcast highlighting the women whose leadership, expertise, and vision are shaping the future of government, technology, and the federal contracting community. Each episode features in-depth, authentic conversations with executives, trailblazers, innovators, and rising leaders who are driving meaningful progress across the public and private sectors.
The podcast explores a wide range of topics essential to modern leadership: building inclusive workplaces, navigating career advancement, leading through change, supporting mission outcomes, and fostering collaboration between government and industry. Guests share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and actionable insights that empower listeners to lead with confidence and drive impact within their organizations.
IMPACT offers more than professional stories—it provides a platform for thoughtful dialogue on mentorship, opportunity, innovation, and the challenges and successes women encounter at every level of the GovCon and federal technology ecosystem. Whether you are an emerging professional, a seasoned executive, or someone passionate about leadership and community, the podcast delivers inspiration and practical guidance you can apply immediately.
About the Host:
Mary Ann Brown hosts IMPACT and brings deep experience supporting government–industry collaboration. As Senior Director of Operations at FORUM, she helps create strategic events, leadership initiatives, and platforms that elevate voices across the federal community and advance meaningful conversations about leadership and mission success.
Subscribe to IMPACT to hear the stories and perspectives of the women shaping the federal landscape—and to be inspired by the leadership driving change across government and industry.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Leading Through Uncertainty: Risk, Resilience & the Future of Security
Apr 2900:20:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn a world where threats evolve faster than ever—from cyber risks to critical infrastructure vulnerabilities—how do leaders stay ahead? In this episode of IMPACT: Women in Leadership, we explore homeland security, risk management, resilience planning, and AI in national security with Jenny Stone, Founder & CEO of Partner Forces, LLC. As the founder of a woman-owned consulting firm, Jenny shares the story behind launching Partner Forces, the mission-driven problem she set out to solve in the homeland security space.With decades of leadership experience, she breaks down today’s most urgent security challenges facing the U.S., and how AI and emerging technologies are transforming how organizations prepare, respond, and adapt. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: The origin story behind Partner Forces and its 10-year growth. How AI is reshaping homeland security strategy and decision-making Leadership strategies for building high-performing, agile teams in complex environments Practical lessons in risk preparedness and organizational resilience for any industry Real-world advice for women stepping into leadership in security, government, and consulting🔥 Why this matters: Whether you’re in government, tech, consulting, or leadership, this conversation offers powerful insight into navigating uncertainty, strengthening organizations, and leading with clarity in high-stakes environments.🎧 Listen now to learn how resilience, strategy, and leadership intersect in today’s security landscape. #WomenInLeadership #NationalSecurity #HomelandSecurity #RiskManagement #CyberSecurity #AIinSecurity #LeadershipStrategy #WomenInBusiness #Resilience #Consulting #GovernmentLeadership #PodcastForLeaders #PartnerForces #FORUMImpact #LeadingWithImpact #FORUMPodcastNetworkSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Lead with Clarity: Scaling Global Tech Teams & Owning Your Voice
Apr 2200:11:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if quality wasn’t just about testing—but about driving business impact, customer experience, and innovation?In this episode of IMPACT: Women in Leadership, we dive into quality assurance leadership, global team management, and women in tech leadership with Garima Sarin, Senior Manager IT at Demant. From her roots in computer engineering to leading global QA transformations, Garima shares how she turned testing into a strategic business advantage.As a first-generation immigrant, working mom, and tech leader, Garima opens up about building influence, scaling teams across cultures, and why clarity, trust, and empathy are the real drivers of high performance.You’ll learn how to align QA strategy with business goals, integrate Agile, DevOps, and automation, and why the future of tech leadership is deeply connected to AI-driven quality engineering.💡 In this episode, you’ll discover: How to shift QA from a testing role to a strategic business function Leadership lessons for managing global, cross-functional tech teams Why trust beats control when scaling organizations Practical ways to align quality assurance with customer experience and revenue How AI and automation are transforming software testing and product delivery Real advice for women in tech on building confidence, visibility, and influence🔥 Why this matters: If you’re navigating leadership in tech, growing your career, or building products that scale—this conversation delivers actionable insights on innovation, leadership mindset, and continuous improvement.🎧 Listen now and learn how to lead with impact in tech and beyond.#WomenInLeadership #WomenInTech #TechLeadership #QualityAssurance #QAEngineering #Agile #DevOps #AIinTech #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WorkingMoms #DiversityInTech #PodcastForWomen #MillennialLeadership #Demant #FORUMPodcastNetwork #LeadingWithImpact #FORUMImpactSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Women Leading the Future of Cybersecurity and Mission-Critical Technology
Apr 1500:16:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailCybersecurity is one of the most critical leadership challenges of our time—and women are stepping up to lead it. In this episode of imPACT: Women in Leadership, we explore cybersecurity leadership, federal IT innovation, and women in tech with Patti Chanthaphone, Chief Cybersecurity Solutions Officer at Tyto Athene. With 20+ years in public-sector cybersecurity, Patti helped create the first government-wide Managed Shared Service Provider (MSSP) certified by the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget, a program that has become the largest MSSP serving federal agencies today.Now at Tyto Athene, Patti leads cybersecurity solutions that protect mission-critical operations across defense, federal, and enterprise sectors. Her work focuses on strengthening information security, cyber governance, and federal cybersecurity strategy while helping organizations stay ahead of evolving digital threats. In this conversation, we talk about: • What it takes to lead in cybersecurity and information security leadership • How women in technology and government IT are shaping the future • The importance of cyber resilience and mission-driven innovation • Leadership lessons from two decades in cybersecurity and government consulting Patti’s impact has earned national recognition, including the 2025 NVTC Cyber50 Award and the 2025 WashingtonExec Chief Officer Award, honoring her contributions to cybersecurity leadership and innovation. If you’re interested in women in leadership, cybersecurity careers, federal IT strategy, technology innovation, and mission-driven leadership, this episode delivers powerful insights from a leader shaping the future of digital defense. 🎧 Listen now and discover how strong leadership drives cybersecurity innovation and protects the systems that keep missions moving. #WomenInLeadership #WomenInCyber #WomenInTech #CybersecurityLeadership #Cybersecurity #GovTech #FederalIT #InformationSecurity #LeadershipPodcast #MissionIT #TechLeadership #TytoAthene #FORUM #FORUMImpactPodcastSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Winning in GovCon: Leadership, Capture Strategy, and the Future of Federal Contracting
Mar 2500:19:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhy do some companies consistently win federal contracts while others struggle to compete? In this episode of the Impact: Women in Leadership podcast, we talk with Jennifer Kasten, President of JBS International, Inc., about leadership and strategy in the fast-moving world of government contracting (GovCon), federal business development, and capture management. Jennifer shares lessons from her career partnering with federal agencies to address complex challenges through health IT, research and evaluation, policy analysis, and strategic communications. She also explains what many companies get wrong about capture strategy, how strong teaming partnerships influence contract wins, and how leaders stay agile through changing administrations and federal priorities. We also discuss the future of the federal marketplace—including opportunities driven by AI, cybersecurity, cloud technology, and government modernization initiatives. If you work in government contracting, federal procurement, public sector consulting, or business development, this episode offers practical leadership insights for staying competitive in today’s GovCon landscape. Key topics include: • Winning strategies in federal business development and capture management • Building strong government customer relationships • Creating effective teaming partnerships in GovCon • Leading high-performing business development teams • Opportunities in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and federal modernization #WomenInLeadership #GovCon #GovernmentContracting #FederalBusinessDevelopment #CaptureManagement #FederalProcurement #LeadershipPodcast #PublicSector #WomenInBusiness #JBSInternational #FORUMImpactPodcastSupport the showIMPACT: 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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From National Media to Community Transformation: A Masterclass in Strategic Leadership and Operational Excellence
Mar 1800:17:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailBig decisions. High stakes. Real impact. In this powerful episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, we feature Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, for a masterclass in executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational transformation. From launching the Fox News Channel to serving as Vice President of Washington Operations for Allbritton Communications — overseeing POLITICO, WJLA-TV, and NewsChannel 8 — Mary-Claire has built a career rooted in operational excellence, change management, and communications leadership. Her experience spans consulting for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cleveland Clinic, and projects involving the White House — bringing a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on leading high-impact initiatives. Inside this episode, we explore: • How to lead organizations through complex, high-stakes change • Building alignment through strong communication and stakeholder engagement • Implementing systems that improve operational effectiveness • Executive leadership lessons from media, government, and nonprofit sectors • Practical advice for women rising in male-dominated industries • The future of leadership and community-driven economic development Mary-Claire shares candid insight on guiding teams, motivating communities, and driving strategic growth — all while minimizing disruption and maximizing results. If you’re interested in women in leadership, executive strategy, business improvement districts, change leadership, organizational effectiveness, and community development, this is a must-listen conversation packed with actionable insight. #WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #StrategicPlanning #ChangeManagement #CommunityLeadership #BusinessImprovementDistrict #OperationalExcellence #LeadershipPodcast #RosslynBID #WomenInBusiness #FORUMIMPACTPodcast #FORUMIMPACTSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Executing Innovation at Scale: Leading Global Engineering Teams in Cybersecurity
Mar 1100:19:19Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail What does it take to turn bold ideas into real-world impact — at a global cybersecurity company? In this episode of Impact: Women in Leadership, we sit down with Audra Simons, Vice President of Software Engineering, Global Products at Everfox. Audra is a results-driven technology leader who believes that innovation without execution is just noise. From startups to global blue-chip organizations, Audra shares the leadership lessons that translated across every environment—and the ones that didn’t. Everfox delivers mission-critical solutions, including cross-domain security, cyber threat protection, and insider risk technologies. Audra explains how this product-focused structure enables teams to innovate, scale, and deliver secure solutions worldwide—without losing focus or agility. We explore: • Her career journey into senior technology leadership • Leading global product engineering teams across regions • Building influence in technical and male-dominated spaces • Turning innovative ideas into executed outcomes • Relationship management as a leadership superpower • Creating a culture where innovation is delivered—not just discussed • Mindset shifts for women pursuing executive roles in technology If you're interested in women in tech leadership, cybersecurity innovation, global product strategy, or engineering management, this episode delivers practical insights and powerful perspectives. #ImpactWomenInLeadership #WomenInTech #CybersecurityLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #GlobalProduct #WomenInSTEM #ExecutiveLeadership #InnovationExecution #Everfox #TechLeadership #FORUMSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Leading Through Complexity: Driving Government Innovation & Lasting Impact
Mar 400:16:50Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat does it take to lead when the stakes are highest?In this episode, we explore how mission-driven leadership, IT modernization, and organizational transformation are shaping the future of government and public-sector innovation.As CEO and co-founder of GovAllies, today’s guest works at the intersection of government leadership, technology strategy, change management, and organizational performance. GovAllies partners with public and private sector leaders to execute critical missions, optimize IT systems, and implement complex transformations with precision and measurable results.We dive into: • Leading through complexity in government and enterprise environments • Driving IT modernization and digital transformation • Building resilient organizations under pressure • Women in leadership and mentoring the next generation • The future of public-sector innovation and mission executionIf you’re navigating government transformation, federal IT strategy, public-sector leadership, digital modernization, or organizational change, this conversation offers practical insight and inspiration for leading with clarity and impact.Looking for a trusted partner in complex transformation? GovAllies exists to be exactly that—an ally when execution matters most.#GovernmentLeadership #PublicSectorInnovation #DigitalTransformation #ITModernization #WomenInLeadership #ChangeManagement #GovTech#MissionDriven #GovAllies #FORUMImpactSupport the showIMPACT: 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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Bet on Yourself: Leadership, Federal Contracts & Scaling Your Business
Feb 2500:12:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailAre you ready to rethink leadership and scaling a business in complex environments? This episode of FORUM Impact: Women in Leadership features Nichole Priddy, Founder & President of Catalum Strategies, LLC, sharing how she transformed decades of government contracting experience into a thriving consultancy.Nichole’s journey spans managing $150M+ portfolios for the Department of Defense, VA, and DHS to helping organizations build structure, streamline operations, and scale without the overhead of full-time executives. She provides insights on navigating federal health programs, driving small business growth, and tackling high-stakes leadership challenges.From overcoming doubts to redefining success, Nichole discusses entrepreneurship realities, leadership lessons she wishes she knew earlier, and how parenting reshaped her leadership style. Her strategies on execution, structure, and results-driven leadership are essential for anyone leading a team, running a business, or managing federal contracts.Key Takeaways:Betting on yourself and building a business with purposeLeadership lessons from managing nearly 100 personnel and $150M+ in contractsPractical strategies for federal contractors, 8(a) firms, SDVOSBs, and mid-tier companiesBalancing professional growth with personal life and parenthoodTurning complex challenges into clear, actionable systems#WomenInLeadership #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #GovernmentContracting #FederalHealth #SmallBusinessGrowth #OperationsStrategy #BusinessScaling #CatalumStrategies #FORUMImpactPodcast Support the showIMPACT: 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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Leading Large-Scale Change: Modernizing Government IT with Laura Johnston Stash
Feb 1800:11:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat 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 leadershipWhy legacy system modernization is critical right now in the public sectorHow leaders overcome resistance to change in complex organizationsWhat strong leadership looks like on massive, high-risk initiativesThe biggest misconceptions about Agile adoptionWhy predictability matters as much as speed in enterprise ITHow executives keep teams aligned during long, high-pressure projectsAdvice for leaders navigating digital transformation—again and againThis 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 Support the showIMPACT: 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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Human-Centered, Data-Driven Leadership: Scaling Federal Innovation with Olivia Trivisani Bowker
Feb 1100:29:09Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat 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 deliveryBuilding a values-driven company you’d be proud to pass onWhy human-centered, data-driven design delivers real mission impactReturning up to 95% of manual processing time back to frontline staffScaling AI, automation, identity management, and fraud detection responsiblyCreating a Best Place to Work culture in high-stakes environmentsLessons in leadership, innovation, and balance—especially for women in tech and governmentThis 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 #LeadershipPodcastSupport the showIMPACT: 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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