Advertise on podcast: Lessons in Leadership with M. Shane Canfield, CEO

After more than 50 years at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, former Comptroller General Gene Dodaro knows that effective leadership starts with people, purpose, and trust. He joins WAEPA CEO Shane Canfield to reflect on what drew him to public service, how leaders build mission-driven organizations, and why listening, communication, and making people feel valued are essential to lasting organizational success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to drive transformational change in large, mission-driven organizations? In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, former Treasury Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk sits down with WAEPA CEO Shane Canfield to explore the answer to that question. Drawing on nearly four decades of public service, Lebryk shares insights on how to maintain employee trust and accountability while striving for strategic leadership and operational excellence. He discusses his biggest lessons learned from modernizing major government systems, and how he worked to break down silos and build high-performing teams — all while staying rooted in character and integrity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deborah Lee James, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and seasoned corporate board member, shares insights from leading one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world. Drawing on her experience across public service and the private sector, she discusses the importance of putting people first, fostering transparency, and building trust. In conversation with WAEPA CEO Shane Canfield, James reflects on lessons from influential mentors and challenging leadership moments, and offers practical guidance on authenticity, resilience, and navigating career growth in today’s evolving public service landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sean O’Keefe — former Navy Secretary, NASA Administrator, and senior leader across multiple presidential administrations — reflects on the principles that shaped his long federal career. In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, he joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss motivating teams through uncertainty, leading across agencies, and staying rooted in mission during times of public scrutiny and change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Phil McNamara, former Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Department of Transportation, emphasizes that in government, relationships matter more than titles. On this episode of Lessons in Leadership, McNamara shares how he’s led large teams, navigated the future of work, and built trust across agencies. In conversation with Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, he offers practical insights on leading with humility, empathy, and clear communication in today’s complex federal landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes a great leader? Christine Harada has spent her career answering that question—across the White House, GSA, and beyond. With roots in aerospace engineering and experience in some of the most pivotal roles in government, Harada shares insights into public-private collaboration, influence without authority, and why purpose—not power—should guide leadership. In this episode, she joins WAEPA CEO Shane Canfield to discuss leading from the middle, navigating high-stakes environments with humility, and centering service over status to drive lasting change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Janet Woodcock didn’t set out to become a federal leader—but over the course of more than three decades at the Food and Drug Administration, she helped transform the agency from within. As former Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Woodcock championed modernization, tackled resistance to change, and stayed rooted in a mission of science-driven policy and patient impact. In this episode, she joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share how conviction, courage, and collaboration shaped her federal career—and what today’s leaders can learn from the challenges she faced. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired U.S. Army General Robert Brown’s path to leadership was anything but conventional. Drawn to the military by its unwavering focus on mission, his decades of service in the Army emphasized mentorship, trust, and selflessness. Now president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), General Brown joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights on making tough decisions and leading with purpose. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raymond Limon’s commitment to public service is rooted in his belief in the power of community. As Vice Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, Limon views a deep understanding of human capital as essential to effective leadership. In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, he joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights from a leadership journey that spans multiple agencies and tackles diverse challenges. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Susan Neely, President and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), leadership extends beyond the workday. It”s also about being “for” a cause, both professionally and personally. Neely joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights from her career in government and the private sector and discuss how she hopes to empower the next generation of women in leadership. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a storied career at the IRS and years of working as a union representative, Doreen Greenwald was elected National President of the National Treasury Employees Union. Greenwald joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss how to foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not just heard but valued, and how she harnesses the richness of experience from federal employees across numerous agencies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Chief People Officer, Elizabeth Kolmstetter sees a focus on people as absolutely crucial to her leadership style. Kolmstetter joins Shane Canfield, WAEPA CEO, to reflect on her years of experience leading in the federal human capital space See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Retired Army Major General Tammy Smith felt for the first time that she could lead her team authentically. Smith, a long-time Army leader and one of the military’s highest-ranking openly gay officers, joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share her perspective on collaborative and genuine leadership. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After years of leadership with both the largest federal employee union and as a pastor, Everett Kelley reflects on his deep-rooted values of integrity and hard work. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share how his upbringing in rural Alabama eventually propelled him to the forefront of thousands of union members raising a collective voice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After growing up in rural Alabama and becoming the first person in his family to attend college, Dr. David Wilson has paved a 30-plus-year career in higher education, focused on elevating others from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Wilson, President of Morgan State University, joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss how his experiences transformed him into a leader in education.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.