
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 • 35 episodes
Humble Beginnings
Latest Episodes
From Bombay, to Founder & CEO: Rohit Gupta's Journey to Leadership
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," host Amanda Ziadeh sits down with Rohit Gupta, CEO of Aretum, as he shares his extraordinary journey leading a major GovCon company in the U.S. Before the executive title, before the acquisitions and AI s...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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35:35

From Infantry to Innovation: The Story of Parsons Corp.'s Scott Goldstein
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," WashingtonExec's Amanda Ziadeh interviews Scott Goldstein, senior vice president and fellow at Parsons Corp. Goldstein shares his unique journey from an Army infantryman to a major general in the Air Forc...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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28:08

From Newspaper Delivery Boy to CEO: The Story of Freedom Technology Solutions Group’s Vernon Saunders
In this episode of “Humble Beginnings,” we sit down with Vernon Saunders, CEO of Freedom Technology Solutions Group, as he shares how he journeyed from grappling with a nearly paralyzing fear of public speaking to communicating boldly and effec...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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29:25

Lessons from a Coal Mining Town: How Accenture Federal Services' Garland Garris Draws From His West Virginia Roots
In this episode of “Humble Beginnings,” we sit down with Garland Garris, Associate Director - Lead for Quantum Science, Zero Trust and Cloud Security at Accenture Federal Services, as he shares his journey from growing up in the coal mining tow...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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21:23

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
