Advertise on podcast: Mock IT

Meet MetroStar's Leslie Knope. From a six-week contract a decade ago to the Sr. Vice President of People and Culture, Debbie Peterson knows the ins and outs of her company. In this episode, Debbie shares when to be vulnerable with your employees and coworkers and when to "girl boss." We discuss navigating COVID-19 mandates, becoming a hybrid company, keeping culture alive while experiencing growth, and more. + UPCOMING EVENTS: Register for #IWD Event: https://bit.ly/3T4y6Vb + METROSTAR: Work with us: https://mss.fyi/42IxbgB Explore MetroStar's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/49y5fOQ + PEOPLE More with Rachel: ⁠https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5⁠ More with Liz: ⁠https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6⁠ More with Debbie: https://mss.fyi/3T4yh2N

It's International Women's Day Season! Last year's panelist Essye Miller and host Ashley Brush joined Mock IT to dish out all the details on what's in store for this year's event. We also chatted about everything from mastering those tricky office chats (because, let's face it, sometimes you owe it to yourself and others to have those tough conversations) to navigating the wildness that comes with being a woman in the tech/gov industry. And hey, we even had a heart-to-heart about knowing when to give yourself a little sprinkle of self-love and when to roll up your sleeves and dive headfirst into the hustle. So, our fierce listeners, let's strut into IWD with our heads held high, our hearts open wide, and our spirits shining bright. We're unstoppable, we're fabulous, and together, we're rewriting the script of success. Join us on March 8 in person in Reston and virtually HERE on YouTube. Register now! https://mss.fyi/4bvuJ0L + UPCOMING EVENTS: IWD 2024: ⁠https://mss.fyi/4bvuJ0L + METROSTAR: Website: ⁠https://bit.ly/3w7cYVw LinkedIn: ⁠https://mss.fyi/495aYuZ ⁠ + PEOPLE: Essye:⁠ https://mss.fyi/481ioi4 Ashley: https://mss.fyi/3HPXYhm Rachel: ⁠https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5⁠ Liz: ⁠https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6⁠

So, you're interested in Research and Development (R&D)? This is the episode for you. We chatted with Johhny Bouder about how he landed in the world of R&D and his work on open-source projects. Beyond talking about his techy prowess, we learned that you might find him in a mosh pit, or if you're having a dinner party, he may just bring you homemade cheese. + METROSTAR: Website: https://mss.fyi/428WRCG LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/495aYuZ + PEOPLE: Johnny: https://mss.fyi/3UbCDWP Rachel: https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5 Liz: https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6 + UPCOMING EVENTS: IWD 2024: https://mss.fyi/3u1mFnL

Hannah Hunt, a Distinguished Technical Fellow, joined Mock IT to discuss her passion for government and how she had known since sixth grade that she wanted to be a part of the industry. If you're curious about government start-ups, navigating the fast-paced trajectory of your career, and the fascinating idea of data as a product, then this episode is a must-listen. But it's not all serious business; We also chat about what Taylor Swift-era Hannah has chosen for herself and a little (okay, a lot) about Harry Potter. More MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/3tMp3OY - Follow Rachel: https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5 Follow Liz: https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6 Follow Hannah: https://mss.fyi/3U1OQxc

Social media is not easy! Brooke B. Sellas, founder and CEO of B Squared Media, shares tips and tricks to make your social media and the digital customer journey and experience shine. Listen to learn more about her "Think Conversation, Not Campaign" approach. - Follow Brooke + B Squared: https://mss.fyi/3RXWwiH Download The State of Social Care 2023: https://mss.fyi/3RDt6Fp Read Conversations That Connect: https://mss.fyi/3RBAgK3 - Explore MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/3NGYEZE

Dale is the CEO and Founder of Fire&Spark - where he helps e-commerce and B2B brands compete against established competitors for search traffic. With a unique focus on content marketing and analytics, Dale shares his insights into the wonderful world of SEO and how AI plays a factor. See more about Dale: https://mss.fyi/46R90go Follow MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/41i9BXf

Ryan Lewis is a Partner at SRI Ventures, a global leader in research and development. As a co-founder of tech companies and a member of several boards, Ryan shares his immense knowledge of startups and what makes them work. Don't forget to follow along: + MetroStar LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/47BfL71 + MetroStar Instagram: https://mss.fyi/47VZKs2 + Ryan's LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/3N74jYR

Pamela Aimee Leins, the Executive Director of the Boston Education Fund (BEDF), is a Bostonian, leader, strategist, connector, public servant, and barbershop owner (to name a few). In this episode, she shares her personal journey from being a first-generation Latina to becoming an Executive Director. We also gained insight into her recent project, EdQuity Boston, an initiative to transform educational equity through the fusion of participatory grantmaking and philanthropy.  About BEDF: The Boston Education Fund is a 501(c)3 K-12 education fund, serving as the fiscal sponsor and fundraising partner of Boston Public Schools.  Explore Pam's LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/49zOS50 Follow BEDF's Progress: https://mss.fyi/47Ajph0 Follow Pam's Barbershop: https://mss.fyi/3MHCRAs Follow MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/47tGFgK Find a Career at MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/49FhTfq

This week we welcome special guests from Ladies That UX (Rachel Max and Emilie Romero). As DC chapter co-leads for the global organization, the duo shares what members can gain from joining and what they've gained by leading. We also talk about being the only woman in the room, what it means to shift careers, and how to tackle feeling like an imposter. MetroStar Links: ♢ Careers: https://mss.fyi/3zNHSRg ♢ MetroStar's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3zNxCbR ♢ MetroStar's Instagram: https://bit.ly/3moIERB Ladies That UX Links: ♢ Ladies That UX Website: https://www.ladiesthatux.com/washington-dc/ ♢ Ladies That UX, DC Chapter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-that-ux/ ♢ Emilie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-romero-31717b63/ ♢ Rachel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmax/

In this jam-packed episode, guest Taylor Crow, an Associate Systems Engineer, joins Liz and Marie. The trio discusses Chat GPT-4 and the thoughts behind how inclusive can AI really be? They also discuss how we are shaping a more diverse tech culture and what it means to build inclusive spaces. Links: + Careers at MetroStar: https://mss.fyi/3nwONeZ + ODU Blog: https://mss.fyi/3TV6Zen + Taylor's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3lWe69x + Civvies Podcast: https://mss.fyi/3njs1XB

Matt Chwat is an accomplished product & experience design leader. On this episode of Mock IT, he shares his career at ThinkGeek (later GameStop) and discusses the path and skills he needed to go from the world of gaming to government.  CSG: http://bit.ly/3Fpbh7J Careers: https://mss.fyi/404GyEP Find Matt: http://bit.ly/3FnF7ct Follow Civvies: https://mss.fyi/3mRTShA

International Women's Day (#IWD) theme this year is Embracing Equity. Ashley Brush and Navi Samra share what MetroStar's annual IWD event means to them, what to expect at the panel, and their thoughts on the theme.   Join us for our hybrid event as our moderator facilitates an engaging discussion among speakers to share their journeys as women in technology, how we can work together for a brighter future, and advice to other aspiring women in technology.    Register for IWD Panel: https://mss.fyi/3IKBwaE  Stay Connected:  + Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Tmi4mx + LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3WbxnRz + Listen to Ashley's episode: https://bit.ly/3pYDGcs + Careers: https://mss.fyi/3lSO2vM