Rookies to Rockstars
GovCon is full of rules, red tape and make-or-break moments—but how do you go from a rookie struggling with acronyms to a rockstar closing deals and leading strategy? "Rookies to Rockstars" is the podcast where industry experts share the advice they wish they had starting out.
Co-hosts Amanda Ziadeh and Camille Tuutti bring on GovCon leaders who get real about the lessons, missteps and strategies that shaped their success. In 20-minute episodes, guests break down what they’ve learned about winning contracts, building relationships and navigating the GovCon world.
Whether you’re figuring out your next career move or setting your sights on the C-suite, these leaders share the hard-won advice they wish they knew earlier—how to manage risk, lead with confidence and make decisions that drive real impact in GovCon.
Rookies to Rockstars
Latest Episodes
Stepping Into the Unknown: Ross O’Rourke’s Rise to CEO
Ross O’Rourke didn’t set out to run a company. Like many in national security, he followed the openings in front of him and said yes to things he wasn’t sure he could pull off. The technical work came first. The leadership came later, once he c...
She Was 18, Had No Mentor and Accidentally Joined the NSA. The Rest Got More Interesting From There.
Dr. Yolanda Reid didn't choose national security. She had a competing offer from a pharmaceutical company and picked the National Security Agency because the scheduling lined up better with school. She was 18. She didn't know the difference bet...
When Opportunity (or the CIA) Calls, Say Yes Early and Figure it Out Later: Lessons from Mario Orsini
Security may be high stakes, but building a career in it isn’t always a straight line.In this episode of "Rookies to Rockstars," hosts Camille Tuutti and Amanda Ziadeh sit down with Mario Orsini, vice president of security at Nightwing, ...
Ben Buckley Built His Career by Stepping Into Uncertainty—and Staying There
The first lie you believe early in your career is that everyone else knows what they’re doing.Ben Buckley didn’t. Trained as a biochemist, he walked away from medicine, pushed into technology without the “right” background and took risks...
What Happens When You Mix a Technologist with a Soldier? You Get a CIO Like John Pisano
Few CIOs can say their careers grew in two worlds at once. For John Pisano, building an IT career while serving in the Army Reserve shaped a leadership style rooted in structure, resilience and a drive to solve hard problems with purpose.