Building The Base
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"Building the Base" - an in-depth series of conversations with top entrepreneurs and leaders from tech, financial, industrial, and public sectors.
Our special guests are weighing in on a broad selection of topics such as: shaping our future national security industrial base, leadership in challenging times, experiences related to the intersection of business and national security, and personal anecdotes related to their positions of influence.
Building the base is hosted by our own BENS member Lauren Bedula who is the Managing Director and National Security Technology Practice Lead at Beacon Global Strategies, and BENS Distinguished Fellow, Jim "Hondo" Geurts who retired from performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy and former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition.
Episode results
Building The Base
Oct 18, 2023
#38 Karen Dahut, CEO Google Public Sector
In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Karen Dahut, the CEO of Google Public Sector, to explore her incredible journey from the Navy to leading Google's public sector business. Karen shares her story, highlighting the influence of her parents' service and her personal dedication to making a difference. She discusses the evolving defense industrial base, emphasizing the need for greater integration and technical program management. Karen delves into the significance of innovation, emphasizing that it is a mindset and culture.
Together they address the challenges and importance of transparent communication within organizations, drawing from her experiences at Google. The conversation touches on the power of partnerships, the role of AI in national security, and the global perspective on technology integration.
5 Key Takeaways:
Innovation is a Mindset: Innovation is not just about doing something; it's about creating a culture where innovation is embraced, empowering individuals to think boldly and make a difference.
Transparency is Key: Transparent communication within organizations, especially regarding important decisions, fosters trust and understanding among employees, leading to better collaboration.
Empowerment and Responsibility: Empowering individuals at all levels while holding them accountable for their responsibilities can accelerate their careers and help them make informed decisions.
Prioritizing Personal and Professional Goals: Clearly defining priorities in personal and professional life and evaluating them regularly empowers individuals to make decisions that align with their values and goals.
Networking for Growth: Building a genuine network of connections is crucial for personal and professional growth. Authentic interactions and a willingness to learn from others can open doors to new opportunities and perspectives.
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Building The Base
Nov 22, 2023
#40 Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, SVP Government Affairs Lockheed Martin
"It's not de-globalization; it's being really thoughtful about which allies and partners to use, and perhaps even 'friend-shoring'...thinking clearly about which allies and partners to use." - Shelly O'Neill Stoneman
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Lockheed Martin. In the discussion, Shelly shares insights on her diverse career journey spanning government, non-profit, and private sectors. Shelly emphasizes Lockheed Martin's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration with startups, highlighting programs like LM Ventures. She discusses the importance of a diverse workforce and her role as the chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). Shelly also delves into the evolving defense industrial base, stressing the need for international partnerships, supply chain resilience, and the integration of technology. She underscores the significance of both established primes and emerging startups in addressing the dynamic challenges of the defense sector.
Key Takeaways:
* Shelly highlights the importance of creating a mission-driven environment to attract talent to the defense industrial base, emphasizing the broader scope beyond traditional perceptions.
* The episode emphasizes the need for strong partnerships with allies and international collaboration, as seen in initiatives like AUKUS, to address supply chain challenges and enhance interoperability.
* Shelly underscores the role of primes like Lockheed Martin in fostering innovation and solving complex problems, challenging the perception that only startups bring innovation to the defense sector.
* Mentorship is crucial for career development, and Shelly shares her gratitude for mentors who played significant roles in her career, including James Allen Walden and Debbie James.
* The conversation touches on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) and the Leadership Council on Women in National Security (LC WINS), highlighting the importance of diversity in the defense sector and the need for mentorship at various career stages.
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Building The Base
Nov 8, 2023
# 39 Gen. Joe Anderson , President & CEO Rafael Systems Global
In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome General Joe Anderson, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-3/5/7, and current President and CEO of Rafael Systems USA, a defense company specializing in advanced defense systems. General Anderson shares his journey into the military, driven by a family tradition of service, and discusses his experiences transitioning from the military to the private sector.
He emphasizes the challenges of building trust and fostering partnerships between startups and the Department of Defense (DOD). General Anderson highlights the importance of integrating new technologies into existing systems and the need for a more rapid and agile acquisition process. He also addresses the talent shortage in technical fields, suggesting the necessity of investing in education, training, and talent management.
The episode takes a poignant turn as General Anderson discusses the recent conflict in Israel, expressing the personal and business impacts it has had on him and his colleagues at Rafael Systems USA. The episode sheds light on the complexities of defense industry partnerships, emphasizing the need for flexibility, trust, and adaptability in navigating the ever-changing landscape of military and defense technologies.
Key Takeaways:
* Building trust and fostering partnerships between startups and the Department of Defense is essential for the successful integration of new technologies into defense systems.
* Rapid and agile acquisition processes are necessary to keep pace with technological advancements and prevent analog devices from becoming obsolete.
* The defense industry faces challenges in talent recruitment, requiring investments in education, training, and talent management to attract skilled professionals.
* Interoperability and integration are crucial for incorporating new technologies into existing defense systems without adding complexity or compromising functionality.
* Recent conflicts, such as the one in Israel, have a profound impact on defense companies, necessitating internal reprioritization and adaptability in response to changing circumstances.
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The Running Explained Podcast
Nov 11, 2021
s1/e43 Base-Building (& Off-Seasons) with Nick Klastava (@nklastava)
BUILD THAT BASE!!! Coach Nick Klastava (@nklastava) joins the podcast to talk all things "base-building" (and why it's SO important for you as a runner!)
* What is "Base-building"?
* Base-building vs. Volume-building
* Base-building vs. Race-specific training
* Workouts in a base-building phase
* Easy running rules: how & why?
* "Maintenance" & when to do maintenance in your schedule
* What is an "Off-season"?
* How to periodize your training to include base-building
Nick Klastava has been a runner on and off for almost 25 years, running in High School and College back in the early 2000's and then taking some time off and finding the sport again in a different more joyful, less pressure-filled way in 2009. Nick's journey has gone from a runner filled with mental blocks that plague all runners to becoming a runner filled with joy and belief in himself and not some numbers. He now helps runners as a USATF/RRCA certified coach at Lift Run Perform to help runners learn…
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The Strength Running Podcast
Dec 15, 2022
278. Off-Season vs. Base Building: How to Structure Time Off
What exatly is the "off-season?" In this episode, coach Jason Fitzgerald discusses the often-confusing off-season and why it's really a combination of time off and the early base phase of training.
You'll learn how to plan that time off, what the early weeks of base training should look like, and the goals of base training.
More resources:
* Base Training 101
* Training Programs
* How to build a bigger base Thank You InsideTracker!
This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.
Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part…
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