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
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 town of Eccles, West Virginia, to finding a place in state and federal IT leadership.
Through foraging with his dad, adopting a love of reading from his mom and learning an appreciation of faith from his grandmother, Garris built a growth mindset that reflected the strong work ethic of many in the tight-knit community where he grew up.
Like many in Eccles, Garris went to work in the coal mines nearly straight out of high school. The jobs were physically demanding but also required deep problem-solving skills that drew — or built — strong, smart people. Quickly seeing the toll such a career would take on his health, Garris decided to go to college.
That one decision was the first step to lead him down a nearly three-decade career that would lead him to working in impactful roles, including in IT for the state of West Virginia and later for the FBI.
Tune in to hear how his career unfolded, lessons learned along the way, and the work he is currently leading at Accenture Federal Services.