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.
Humble Beginnings
From Social Work to CEO: Magellan Federal’s Anna Sever Has Focused on Mission-Oriented Hard Work Since Age 14
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Anna Sever, president and CEO of Magellan Federal, about her upbringing in North Carolina, and how losing her father at a young age changed her family dynamic and outlook on life. Her mom now working to support the family, Sever decided at the age of 14 that she could, too. She shares stories about her first job teaching swim lessons to police officers in a public swimming system that still had vestiges of segregated pools; and how this experience taught her the meaning of participatory leadership.
Later, Sever became a supervisor for child welfare -- a state job in Idaho -- in an office that had never had a female supervisor before. She was quickly identified as a leader and was promoted almost every 18 months. Tune in to learn how Sever takes her over 20 years of healthcare and social services experience to spearhead growth and new business initiatives with federal contractors, and the lessons and values she continues to lead with today.