The Buzz with ACT-IAC
The Buzz with ACT-IAC
The Power of Connection: Lessons from the Voyager Program
In this special live edition of The Buzz, host Yohanna Baez broadcasts from Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, hosting the signature Voyager Talks event. This episode highlights the ACT-IAC Voyagers program, a professional development program for rising leaders in government and industry. Yohanna interviews Andrew Powell, Chief Growth Officer of Strongbridge, who shares his experiences in the Voyagers program, including effective communication as a tool for leadership, the importance of collaboration between government and industry, and his personal career journey. Andrew also discusses the strategic role of a Chief Growth Officer and the invaluable lessons learned through mentorship and peer connections within the Voyagers program. The conversation touches on the significance of building authentic relationships, leadership during times of change, and how the insights gained from the program are already being applied in his role at Strongbridge.
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Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria Tells
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young Community
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound)
Yohanna: [00:00:00] Hello everyone, and welcome to a very special live edition of The Buzz. I'm your host, Yohanna Baez, and tonight we're coming to you from Jamin Java, a fantastic music club and a bar coffee shop right here in Vienna, Virginia. Voyager. How are we feeling?
Yohanna: We are here for Voyager Talks, a signature event celebrating the creativity, knowledge, and leadership of this year's Voyager class. I. A group of professionals at the very forefront of collaboration between government and industry. Tonight is all about showcasing how these partnerships drive real impact for the American people, while also supporting an incredible cause Canines for Warriors, which provide service dogs to veterans in need.
Yohanna: For those unfamiliar, the uh, act IAC Voyagers program is a leadership development initiative. Designed for rising leaders in government and industry, [00:01:00] high potential professionals preparing to take on the next level of leadership. It's all about shaping the future of collaboration, innovation, and impact.
Yohanna: And what an incredible energy in the room. The creativity, the teamwork and sheer talent on display tonight is truly inspiring. I've seen some fantastic group presentations, uh, during rehearsals, and now I am sneaking to the green room to chat. Um, I'm going to step away from the crowd and start moving into a quieter space.
Yohanna: Sharp. Okay, cool.
Andrew: Yeah. All right. You need my name and company and everything? Yes, please. Okay. Andrew Powell, chief Growth Officer of Strong Bridge.
Yohanna: Great. And what is your presentation today?
Andrew: So our presentation is on effective communication as a tool for leadership.
Yohanna: Oh, okay. Are you also with, uh, with Chris?
Yohanna: Chris? Yeah, with Chris. You [00:02:00] guys are in the same, okay. Mm-hmm. Great. Um, when you think about your voyager's time, your your time with Voyager, how has it been?
Andrew: It's been amazing. It's been such a great experience. Uh, overall, just connecting, um, with those in industry and government and sharing stories, um, sharing experiences, learning and growing with each other.
Andrew: Um, the conversations we've had have been invaluable to my personal growth as an individual and as a professional.
Yohanna: Whoa, we So you're not nervous at all. You were smooth. You know, you're excited. We're in the green room and I'm like, ah, I think folks are gonna be nervous, like no nervous where? Okay, great.
Yohanna: Sounds good. Yeah. So you're not nervous at all to get on stage? You No. You're comfortable. No, I'm excited.
Andrew: Yeah,
Yohanna: I'm
Andrew: excited. So the Fellows is just such a close knit community. I feel as though. Um, they've already welcomed us with open arms. It's a bunch of friends that we're out there [00:03:00] talking with and communicating with and performing in front of that.
Andrew: It's just such a great experience and I'm honored to be a part of it.
Yohanna: Great. When it comes to your role over at Strong Bridge, can you, can you expand on like what's something that people don't really know about what you do? Pizza just came in the room. I'm sorry. Everybody where can. Perfect. Yes.
Andrew: Awesome.
Andrew: Thank you. So in my role, uh, at Strong Bridge, so most people think of a chief growth officer as business development, as sales, uh, as networking. Um. But, uh, some of the things that people don't really, uh, think about when it comes to a Chief growth officer is the strategic mindset behind it. Um, the connecting, uh, and truly understanding, uh, your customers, um, your, their mission, how it relates to your mission, how you can best support that and achieve that together in a collaborative environment.
Andrew: Uh, it is just something that. Um, I don't feel [00:04:00] it gets enough, gets enough credit, uh, in industry, um, because everybody always sees RFPs and proposals and going out to events, um, but not putting the connection in there around. Uh, understanding what keeps your customer up at night. Uh, what are they concerned about, what are they happy about?
Andrew: What do they love to see? You know, what are they, what makes them feel proud? And that's a big piece of, uh, in my role at Strong Bridge, um, what I help and hope to bring to the team. Solid, good.
Yohanna: Back in the green room, we caught people in the moment right before their presentations, riding that wave of via unknown nervousness, excitement, some jitters. But now we have the space to step back and reflect, get some background information, and continue that conversation with no humming or buzzing, just an open dialogue.
Yohanna: About their journey, any [00:05:00] lessons they've learned and what comes next. We touched on their experience in the Green room, but now we get to hear the fuller story. Let's dive in.
Yohanna: Hello everyone. We are here with Andrew Powell. Um, we were listening to some of your, our conversation at Jam and Java. How did you feel at Jam and Java? How was your presentation?
Andrew: It was great, you know, um. What was interesting was, I think we were one of the few groups that just did it off the cuff. Um, and, and you know, my partner Chris Dug, um, is just.
Andrew: An absolute genius when it comes to that kind of improv. Uh, and it worked out really well, and it was a lot of fun, and I'd love to do it again.
Yohanna: Okay, good. That's, that's good to hear. That's always scary, like to be on stage and then like, oh, we're just gonna freestyle.
Andrew: I
Yohanna: know. Okay.
Andrew: Oh, I was, I was absolutely panicking.
Andrew: Uh, and, and Chris was our steady force. Absolutely.
Yohanna: Okay, great. Yeah. So what I'd like to do is maybe go [00:06:00] back a little bit and just, um, maybe get an overview of your background and. How your career began and how you, uh, made it up to this point. Mm-hmm.
Andrew: Sure. So, um, I'll start with kind of a, a small world moment funny story, um, for how my career began.
Andrew: So I graduated from Radford University and like many, um, recent grads looking to join the workforce. You know, one of the first things I did was, uh, I set up a coffee chat with a Radford alum, uh, to get advice on applying for jobs. What's it like in the workforce? Things to learn all that I. All that good stuff.
Andrew: Uh, and that coffee turned into a couple more conversations and it led to my first job offer at the alums company, actually. Uh, a company called Silas Smashers. Um, and the small world moment was that Radford alumnus was none other than Jeff Nulf. I. Who is our current industry chair, uh, for the Voyager's 25 cohort.
Andrew: Uh, so, um, it's just been a full circle moment. Uh, I never could have predicted something like that would happen, [00:07:00] but I've been forever grateful for his willingness to take the time to talk with me. Back then, you know, that really shaped the trajectory of my career. Um, I'll say, I'll also say that my path has been a little bit different, uh, than most in growth roles.
Andrew: I started out actually on the service delivery side working as a business analyst, uh, within the, uh, EPA, uh, underneath v Noga actually. Uh, I had the privilege of learning under some fantastic members, uh, mentors, including Jeff. People like my program manager, Rick Lupton, my CEO, Angela Drummond, each played a role in my development as I progressed from business analyst to project manager to director, vice president, now chief growth officer.
Andrew: It's just been a great journey. Uh, been a lot about taking on new challenges and just kind of staying curious about what's next.
Yohanna: I love when coffee turns into like a life isn't that cool? Like, oh look, just yes, I'm a I'm gonna hustle this little coffee real quick. And then it's like, oh, my career unfolds.
Yohanna: That's amazing.
Andrew: You know what? And I attributed all the just, um, [00:08:00] people like Jeff who are willing to take the time to talk to, uh, incoming, the incoming workforce, the recent graduates about what it's like, uh, in industry. Yeah. You know, impart their wisdom, share lessons, learned, all of that, all of that good stuff.
Andrew: So I'm incredibly grateful.
Yohanna: Yeah. Thanks dude. Thanks man. Wherever you are. Absolutely. Let's talk about, um, what you're doing now as a, as a growth manager. What are some of your responsibilities and what have you been? Um. I guess working on, I mean, if you can share, you don't have to share like the private stuff.
Andrew: Totally. Absolutely. I currently serve as the Chief Growth Officer at Strong Bridge. We're a veteran owned small business, uh, delivering modernization and innovation services to the federal government. Uh, in this role, I lead the development and execution of our growth strategies. Most people will know.
Andrew: That includes things like marketing and business development, capture, partnerships, alliances, but it's more than just the pursuit work. I also [00:09:00] collaborate closely with our executive team to bring innovation into both how we grow and how we deliver to our customers. It's been one of the more rewarding parts of the role actually.
Andrew: Um, especially working alongside some of the most talented and respected peers that I see in our industry. It's, it's really a team effort and I see my role as not just driving growth, but helping strong bridge position for long-term impact in support of our customer's missions.
Yohanna: Well, that's good. That's always fun to, to know that like your role is, your role is like inspiring.
Yohanna: Like you get to meet a lot of fun people, you know, sometimes some jobs can get a little, a little boring. You're just like, okay. Absolutely. You know? But this is great.
Andrew: This is exciting. It has been one of the more rewarding and fun times in my life of just working with such. As I mentioned, such talented people that are well respected, um, they're great at what they do.
Andrew: Um, and just delivering exactly what we want to deliver has just been phenomenal.
Yohanna: Uh, shifting gears a little bit, what inspired you [00:10:00] to apply to the ACT I Act Professional development, uh, the Voyagers program. What was it that. I guess attracted you to, to the program?
Andrew: I applied to the Voyagers program because I wanted to grow as a leader and broaden my perspective within the government IT space, the program's reputation for developing future leaders and creating meaningful connections across government industry.
Andrew: Really aligned with where I am in my career. I. I was also excited about the chance to learn from experienced mentors and, and stay ahead of the curve on industry trends. It felt like the right next step for both personal growth for myself, as well as giving back to the broader community that we all work in.
Yohanna: Well, that's self-aware. Look at you like, I think I need this. Let me go see if I need this. Oh, yep. I need that. Okay, cool. Absolutely. What were some of the challenges that you, that you thought like, well, if I accept this or if I do this program, um, will this help me address something that I'm like working on?
Yohanna: You know, personally, I know you mentioned like this is what I need at this time, but what was specifically that you needed at that time? Yeah,
Andrew: so one of the [00:11:00] key gaps I wanted to address was perspective. Actually. I've spent my entire career in small business and it's been incredibly rewarding as I've mentioned, but it's also been somewhat limiting.
Andrew: Uh, I was looking for insight into how mid sizes and large businesses operate. How they approach growth strategy, partnership at scale. And just as importantly, I wanted to better understand the view from our federal counterparts being in a room with government professionals, hearing firsthand how they experience industry.
Andrew: It's been very eye-opening as part of the program.
Yohanna: So that was, do you feel like that was like your first initial impression? Like, oh, okay, I'm sitting in a room with someone that's from government. Like, did you hear something new from them that you were like, oh, this, this is why I assigned up for this program?
Yohanna: Essentially, I'm asking like, what, what kind of surprised you when you sat in the room with government folks or with other folks, you know?
Andrew: Yeah. I was immediately struck with the openness and the authenticity of our ERs 25 cohort. [00:12:00] Everyone showed up, ready to share, ready to support, and grow, even with all of the external uncertainty that's happening today.
Andrew: I think what surprised me most was how quickly the trust formed in our group and how much value came from those peer-to-peer connections that we all developed.
Yohanna: I've heard that a lot. I feel like Sarah is a great matchmaker or she's like a psychic or she has some sort of outwardly like weird sci-fi power.
Yohanna: 'cause she does a really good job of bringing folks together and absolutely like immediately people start to click. You know, like folks just immediately understand each other. It's really cool. She does,
Andrew: she does. She has a great way of kind of just disarming the room and creating an environment where you feel comfortable immediately with sharing, um, and with just trusting each other and working through whatever it is that is going on today.
Andrew: That's good. Yeah.
DMI AD
Yohanna: So now that you guys are going at the speed of trust and you guys are all together, how.
Yohanna: How were your, how well you are still in it really, like you haven't finished this program. So, sorry, listeners there, this is not a graduate just yet. I know that my series on the associates, but these folks are still in the program. Um, how is. The program going so far? How are your projects going so far?
Yohanna: Have there been any [00:14:00] significant impacts that you've been noticing? Yeah,
Andrew: um, well, let me share maybe a, a pivotal moment for me, uh, in the program. So, um, for those that may be unaware of Voyagers, we do a lot of learning sessions, um, both, uh, plan from Voyagers teams themselves, as well as plan from Sarah, uh, and the ACT IAC group on, um, different topics that might be relevant to today.
Andrew: One that really kind of stuck with me was, uh, an in-person learning session we had with Jolinda Johnson, who gave a really meaningful, uh, leadership talk about how we show up at work, especially in a time of transition and complexity like today, she really emphasized that as leaders, we have a responsibility to be present and steady for our teams, that it's okay to acknowledge that decisions are tough and you might be personally impacted.
Andrew: Your team is looking to you for confidence and clarity. So that message really stuck with me. The idea that leadership isn't about pretending everything's fine. Um, [00:15:00] it's about choosing to lead with resilience and purpose, even when things are hard. It really reframed how I think about my own presence and my responsibility as a leader.
Yohanna: There's a meme where there's like a dog sitting at a, at a desk or whatever, there's like fire around him. It's like, yes, with a fire everywhere, everything's fine. Everything's fine. It's all fine. That's great. That's amazing. I really, really like, if I can have a motto for my life, that's probably it.
Yohanna: Because it's like so true. Like just deal with it, you know? Like just get into it, figure it out. Don't pretend like it's not fair, you know? That's really good advice. I like that. Advice. Advice. That's good. Absolutely. I've also sat in on one of your, your, uh, meetings and you guys have a really good time.
Yohanna: Like you learned a lot. I was like, what is going on? Yes. I'm like taking notes. I'm not even in the voyages, you know, I'm like, oh, this is great. This is, you guys are like chatting in the, in the little chat box. Yeah. This is Oh, absolutely. So fun. Yes. So speaking of. [00:16:00] Having great, uh, talks and meetings and stuff.
Yohanna: Talk to me about your coach. How has your coach been so far with like, navigating challenges or uncertain uncertainties or just maybe anything that you've been, has been, you know, coming up in your, in your career? Yeah, so,
Andrew: uh, my navigator is Cody, mark. He's been an incredible source of support and perspective.
Andrew: We're about the same age and we're about the same point in our lives as well, our personal lives. Uh, but I've learned so much from him when it comes to leadership. Cody has led our flight crew with just steady optimism, always focusing on the positives and encouraging us to lean into the experience, you know, really no matter what's going on around us.
Andrew: So that kind of consistency he brings really helps anchor our flight crew and set the tone for how we support each other.
Yohanna: I like how you guys call each other. The flight crew. The flight crew, the associates. Yeah. They like make up their like clever names. Do y'all have clever names or is it just flight?
Yohanna: Flight crew for everybody?
Andrew: We do, we do. So each flight crew has their own name. Um, and so our flight crew [00:17:00] name is a play on Cody's name, which is Get mert. Oh no.
Yohanna: We try to win every competition. Very competitive. That's a very competitive game. Successful or not? I do. What we're playing against the get merk. I don't wanna get me. Absolutely. Well, that's great. That's good. All right, cool. Um, so, so far have there been any skills or lessons that you've learned that you can, I guess, implement immediately at work, even though you're still in the program?
Yohanna: Is there, has there any, has there been any like lesson that you've, that you've picked up that you're like, oh, I can use this right now?
Andrew: I think one of the most immediate lessons I learned was what I just mentioned with Joha Johnson, which was how I show up as a leader in times of change. And so, uh, I really start thinking differently about my presence, how important it is to be steady and clear and optimistic for your team, even when things are tough or challenging or complex around you.
Andrew: I've always found [00:18:00] myself being more intentional about listening, really creating space for others to share rather than feeling like I need to have all the answers. So that shift has improved how I lead conversations and build trust around my team. I.
Yohanna: That also feels really welcoming too. That feels like you're kind of like, let's everybody, let's get into this, you know, project this problem, this idea, instead of just one person saying like, I know.
Yohanna: I know what we gotta do. Yeah, like everybody. Everybody. Yeah. That's my hope. That's my hope. I think you've already answered what's the most valuable takeaway so far, unless it's different. So far, like you, you mentioned it, like getting in the room with everybody and like understanding Yeah.
Andrew: Happy to share maybe a little bit of a different perspective, uh, on this answer as well.
Andrew: So, okay. The most valuable takeaway has been gaining a real firsthand understanding of what partnership actually looks like, not just in theory, but in practice. Collaborating with government peers has given me insight into their world, the constraints they work under, the, uh, mission pressures that [00:19:00] they face, how much they care about getting things right.
Andrew: It's easy in industry to get caught up in proposals and deliverables, but when you hear directly from our federal professionals and peers, not as clients, but but as peers, it really reframes how you think about their role. And then on the flip side side, I think it was just as valuable for them to hear about our industry experiences.
Andrew: About the need to constantly adapt to be cost conscious, to juggle innovation with compliance. Having those open conversations built, mutual empathy and respect. We weren't just exchanging ideas, we were aligning around a shared mission of public service. And even if we come at it from different sides.
Andrew: That's the kind of collaboration that I've been trying to carry forward in every partnership.
Yohanna: That's really good. Yeah. That's such a tender moment. Absolutely
Andrew: right. It's been really great.
Yohanna: How would you describe your, uh, relationship with your coach, um, with your, with the program? So you guys are like the same with in the same generation, same [00:20:00] age?
Yohanna: Is that what you were saying?
Andrew: So, so as far as like coaches in the program, so I've been very fortunate to have two incredible people that really support me in the program. Cody Merck is my navigator for our flight group and he leads us and guides us as a group. And then personally, um, Lindsey Ho has been my mentor, uh, through the Voyagers program.
Andrew: Both of them have been generous with their time and their perspectives. I think what I've appreciated most is the support hasn't just been focused on work or just focused on voyagers. They've been open. Uh, both of them have been open to talking about anything, whether it's leadership challenges, career questions.
Andrew: Even life and family and vacations, you know, those conversations have been really grounding and building those relationships has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. I genuinely see both of them as long-term connections well beyond the end of the program. Oh,
Yohanna: wow. That's good. Because like the, the more personal you get, the, the more of a shorthand you probably develop.
Yohanna: You [00:21:00] know, you can kind of Yeah. Understand what they're saying, anticipate what they might think and that's good. Yeah,
Andrew: absolutely. Absolutely. It definitely helps us. Um. Grow, uh, with each other and develop professionally, uh, and personally and just learn from each other.
Yohanna: Do you, do you mind sharing something that maybe your coach helped you with, like an approach or a problem and like maybe they gave you like a new perspective?
Andrew: Yeah. So a great example of this has been an ongoing conversation with my mentor Lindsay. Uh, our company is really right on the, on the, on the cusp of. Transitioning from a small business to an emerging large business, uh, which is exciting, but it's also a big shift in how we operate. Lindsay's been such an incredible resource in helping me think through that transition.
Andrew: I. She has, uh, great experience in her time leading dev technology through a similar phase, growing it from a small business into a thriving large that is today. It, her experience, uh, and her mentorship has been [00:22:00] invaluable. She's helped me look at everything from our internal processes, our technology investments, our organizational structure, and how it's positioned for us to scale.
Andrew: She's really helped me take a step back and game plan the big picture, which has given me a lot more confidence in how we're preparing for what's next.
Yohanna: Oh, wow. You got a little cheat code.
Andrew: Yeah. I, it's been such a, a great experience. Um, Sarah, shout out to Sarah for matching us, um, and being able to kind of pick that out of the crowd and understand that, you know, this might be something that both Andrew and Lindsay could benefit from.
Yohanna: Yeah. Thank you so much, Sarah. Yeah. Her ears are probably burning. I feel like I say it every week. So this is great. I know that you're still in it. What are, what are some of your hopes after the program? After the program? Like, where do you see, I, I mean, I, it feels like you're still gonna stay connected to a lot of folks.
Yohanna: It feels as if you, you've gained a lot of, um, skills that you're using. You know, right [00:23:00] now, like where do you see yourself maybe after graduation?
Andrew: Yeah, so I mean, we haven't eventually graduated yet, um, like you mentioned, but you know, I have no doubt a lot of these connections are going to continue long after the program ends.
Andrew: The relationships that I and the rest of our Voyagers 25 class has built, um, with our cohort, with our mentors, with the fellows, it feels like the kind that's gonna last for sure. Uh, we're already supporting each other through so many meaningful conversations about leadership. I. Career paths, current state of our industry.
Andrew: You know, whether it's reaching out to brainstorm, ask advice, just check in. I really see this network being a constant source of insight and encouragement. They'll move forward in our careers.
Yohanna: If anybody is out there listening and they're kind of like, you know, in, in their mid-career phase. Would you recommend the Voyagers program?
Yohanna: What would you say to them if they are thinking about applying?
Andrew: Absolutely do it. Um, and if you do it, show up. That's the biggest thing I would say. A program like The Voyagers only [00:24:00] works if you're willing to be present and commit to the experience. It's not just about attending the sessions, it's really about engaging.
Andrew: Being open with your class, investing in your own growth, and investing in the growth of those around you. I would say if you're at a point in your career where you're thinking or looking to grow, not just in title or responsibility, but you're really looking about how can you grow? Uh, as a leader, how can you connect with others?
Andrew: This is the kind of opportunity that will really, truly shape your career. The value you get out of this is really directly tied to how much you're willing to bring into it.
Yohanna: Thanks. Thank you so much for that review. Appreciate it. Absolutely. All right, cool. This is, this has been a great conversation.
Yohanna: Perfect. Actually, do you wanna let folks know like where they can find you on LinkedIn?
Andrew: If you have any questions about Voyagers or you wanna learn more about what we do here at Strong Bridge, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email. Uh, my email is a [00:25:00] Powell, P-O-W-E-L-L, at sb llc.com.
Yohanna: Okay, great. Thank you so much. This is great. This has been a great conversation, Andrew.
Andrew: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
Yohanna: This has been such an insightful conversation. Thank you for sharing your journey and experiences with us and to our listeners. If you are interested in learning more about ACT IX Professional Development Program, be sure to check out act iac.org/professional development.
Yohanna: Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and we will see you in the next episode