Mock IT

Kate Bradley Chernis is the Founder & CEO of Lately.AI, which identifies the makeup of the highest possible performing social media messaging for your target audience and generates posts that contain that content in your unique voice. AKA, her team is making GenAI personal for your brand. We're serving up piping hot information on pitfalls of working in Corporate America, this new age of AI, and how to find your the right career. All guaranteed to keep you entertained from start to finish! From hilarious anecdotes to thought-provoking discussions, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride of an episode with Kate. MORE METROSTAR +Website: https://mss.fyi/4aXoZMv +LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/49jN26R PEOPLE +Kate: https://mss.fyi/43MibPq +Rachel: https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5 +Liz: https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6 LINKS + Lately.AI: https://mss.fyi/3vKjoKb The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of MetroStar. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The MetroStar name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner, and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Content Warning: Episodes of Mock IT Podcast and YouTube channel may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to sexual harassment and more. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be adversely impacted by these topics.

You have to meet Gary White! Lucky for you, we interviewed him and got all the information for you. Gary's long list of accomplishments includes sitting on several nonprofit boards, co-founding and leading several federal and military innovation offices, and serving as a senior advisor, chief of staff, and consultant to C-suite executives. His academic prowess shines with graduate degrees from Harvard and Georgetown, complemented by elite programs at Harvard Kennedy School and NREL. Gary is the founder and principal of Mapportunity, where they envision a world where every startup has a clear, illuminated path to thrive and innovate. Learn what it takes to make your passions a reality. MORE METROSTAR: +Website: https://mss.fyi/3TG8u1m +LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/3PsH9NI PEOPLE: +Gary: https://mss.fyi/3IJcojE +Rachel: https://mss.fyi/3tJWWA5 +Liz: https://mss.fyi/3tPobt6 LINKS: + Mapportunity: https://mss.fyi/3VG2Bmr

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

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

Joe Early, MetroStar's VP of Product and Design, joins the podcast to talk about open-source in the government and the power it can have to do good. He shares more about the Onyx solution, an open-source machine learning platform that is helping agencies share data and information across secure environments.    Check out Onyx: http://bit.ly/3YhenSo    Stay Connected:   + Tech Careers: http://bit.ly/3NSI7AV + Insta: https://bit.ly/3Tmi4mx + LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3WbxnRz   + Marie: https://bit.ly/40xeafs + Liz: https://bit.ly/3YdR77P

Have you ever seen a job you thought would be perfect for you, only to read the description and decide you didn't check all the boxes? Marie and Liz passionately discuss why you should apply anyway while also discussing the recruitment process, interviewing tips, and answering that age-old (modern) question; do you need to have a portfolio or website to succeed as a UX'er or creative? Tune into the episode to find out. Get Connected > careers: https://mss.fyi/3ZV36bN > Insta: https://bit.ly/3Tmi4mx > LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3WbxnRz Timecodes: 16:40 Do you need a portfolio? 21:50 Do you need a website? 23:48 Exploring social media and Instagram for work and job hunting 24:39 Recruitment paths at tech companies 33:00 UX and design job interview tips Helpful Links: > watch hidden gems video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClEvDMAjnoe/?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ= > digital.gov article: https://digital.gov/2022/10/07/taking-a-design-led-approach-to-digital-modernization/

Travis Oliphant is an impactful programmer and data scientist. He is the CEO of OpenTeams & Quansight, the founder of Anaconda, and the creator of NumPy, SciPy, and Numba. On this episode of Mock IT, he joins Marie and guest host Wilson to chat about trustworthy and ethical artificial intelligence (#AI) and machine learning (#ML). Follow Along: + Website: https://bit.ly/3VNM5xL + LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3DY5oN7 + Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Tmi4mx + Open Jobs: https://bit.ly/3GAscny + Watch Episode: https://youtu.be/jL6AdYeDTaA  Helpful Links: + Find Travis: linkedin.com/in/teoliphant/ + OpenTeams: https://bit.ly/3vVuWqw + Quansight: https://quansight.com/ + PyData #Python Event Recap: https://youtu.be/kMCnyLMhuJU + ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ + Google Colab: https://colab.research.google.com/ +ChatGPT in Schools Article: https://apnews.com/article/what-is-chat-gpt-ac4967a4fb41fda31c4d27f015e32660

Beyond chatbots, virtual assistants, and the evolution of GPS systems, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the tools behind making it all work are shaping the present and future world. It may feel like these technologies are in the infant stage, and perhaps they are, but #AI and #ML solutions are here to stay. Senior Data Scientist Wilson Rodden sat down with podcast hosts Liz and Marie to chat about how humans are kept in the loop of AI/ML, the common misconceptions behind the technology, and if it's really as dangerous as some people think. Important Links: Meet Travis Oliphant (CEO of OpenTeams & Quansight, the founder of Anaconda, and the creator of NumPy, SciPy, and Numba) for free on Jan. 5: https://bit.ly/3vlQ8Wt Wilson Rodden LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wilson-rodden Follow Along for More: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3vlQ8Wt Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hRiN2F Website: https://bit.ly/3hxHFfe Timecodes: 1:28 Discussing the fourth anniversary of the IDEA Act 2:40 Five tips for managing stakeholder feedback as a UX'er 7:00 Interview with Data Scientist Wilson Rodden starts 8:50 What is AI/ML? 10:14 What is Big Data? 10:59 What is Predictive Modeling? 11:47 What is Computer Vision? 13:13 Common misconceptions about AI/ML 15:27 How to build trust in the government for AI innovations? 17:38 What is a biased algorithm? 24:34: What does human-in-the-loop mean? 35:22: Discussion on AI in the media 37:36 Is AI dangerous? 41:56: A data scientists' role on your team

What do you do if you can't tell the world about the work you create for your customers? Many marketers in government contracting run into this problem. Director of Corporate Affairs at MetroStar, Anne McCombe, works closely with the marketing team at the leading solutions and digital services provider and helps tackle these roadblocks daily as they serve the public sector. Tune in to this fast-paced episode to learn tips for government marketing and how to highlight sensitive material. Helpful Links: + 508 Information: https://www.section508.gov/ + Culture Guide Example: https://bit.ly/3FudGNk + TSO Win: https://bit.ly/3HzLbkm + Jobs at MetroStar: https://bit.ly/3NSI7AV Stay Connected With MetroStar and Mock IT + Stream Podcast: https://bit.ly/3A4DUEe + LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3WbxnRz + Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Tmi4mx + Website: https://bit.ly/3VNM5xL Timecodes: 1:50: Chatting about the interagency accessibility form and plain language use in government 6:26: Interview with Anne McCombe, Director of Corporate Affairs, begins 8:54: Why is MetroStar expanding in Bloomington, Indiana? 11:23: What makes a good elevator pitch for a government contractor (GovCon)? 13:53: Chatting about working with secure customers and how to market your work with them 15:15: What are some key GovCon marketing tactics? 16:03: What are CPARS? 21:35: How can you market sensitive material? 32:37: What is it like working with the Marine Corps? 35:28: General tips for government marketers

Hosts Liz and Marie are back with Season 3 of Mock IT. They share highlights from the ACT-IAC Customer Experience (#CX) Summit and welcome Principal Designer Allison Turi. Turi discusses the process behind designing swag and marketing material for an organization's corporate social responsibility (#CSR) initiatives. The trio chatted about past fundraisers, what mistakes to avoid, and why t-shirts make everyone go wild.   More MetroStar:  + Website: http://bit.ly/3OP7VhQ  + LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/3OIcxWZ + Instagram: http://bit.ly/3Fcxsy8  Episode Resources:  + ACT-IACT Website: actiac.org  + Allison Turi's Art: instagram.com/allisonturi/  + Figma Tool: www.figma.com  + Zander Whitehurst's Instagram: instagram.com/zanderwhitehurst/  + Rainbow Families Website: rainbowfamilies.org  + Toys For Tots Donation Link (Exp. Dec. 8, 2022): amzn.to/3XHY8hj  

It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's Data Experts. Shane Mayti and Ahmed Awad sat down with Liz and Marie to discuss their work as summer interns at MetroStar. The pair joined a team of technologists who are collecting and analyzing data to aid in smart urban growth, including where to invest in things like community building, infrastructure, funding, and more. Community decision-makers (in this case, the city of Bloomington, Indiana) must have access to accurate, consumable population data to ensure they can lead sustainable growth. Tune into this episode to learn more about their data journey and how they used public data to answer or approach challenging problems.  Read more: https://bit.ly/3QGhnDo  More MetroStar:   + Website: https://bit.ly/3xn5QSu + LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3B8nHhc + Instagram: https://bit.ly/3d9a3SY + Facebook: https://bit.ly/3RTRhhq +Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DnsL4e

VP of Federal Civilian at MetroStar, Ashely Brush, joined Liz and Marie this week to discuss her leadership role, empowering women in the industry, and how to balance motherhood during it all.  Before the trio dived into their experiences as mothers at MetroStar, Ashley shared her path to leadership, what she believes makes a great leader, and her team's role in transforming civilian projects for the government. Their discussion includes topics like customer experience, user research, and dark patterns.  More MetroStar:  + Website: https://mss.fyi/3pTzoDc + LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/3R49Or1 + Instagram: https://mss.fyi/3RoKeNp + Facebook: https://mss.fyi/3AAEOrz +Twitter: https://mss.fyi/3cAIoKA

Do you find yourself only focusing on colors, fonts, and photos while designing for a client? Do you feel as if clients only provide feedback on those aspects of your work? This is when UX storytelling comes into play to help designers and clients dig deeper and solve their users' true problems. Associate Design Manager Marie walked Project Manager Liz through the process of crafting a story around your designs and how to present them to people. UX storytelling can make a big difference in end products, timelines, communication, and more! More MetroStar: + Website: https://mss.fyi/3pp1wOo + LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/3dDxPGR + Instagram: https://mss.fyi/3yWQyVP +Facebook: https://mss.fyi/3ppyVZm +Twitter: https://mss.fyi/3bXnDb5 Episode Resources: + Bob Ricca: https://bobricca.com/

Transitioning to the contracting world can be scary, especially if you're coming from a role that is a complete 180 from the industry. Hosts Liz and Marie discuss their journey into the industry and share the fears they had, what excites them about their work now, and the tips and tricks to make it work--no matter your role. If you're debating whether or not this industry is right for you, then this is the episode for you!     More MetroStar:   + Website: https://mss.fyi/3zTL5iU   + Instagram: https://mss.fyi/3JsyDd7 + Twitter: https://mss.fyi/3zp1E57   + LinkedIn: https://mss.fyi/3OWwGH0