GovCon Unscripted

Chelsea Meggitt

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Welcome to GovCon Unscripted, where we dive into the unfiltered stories and strategies from all around the world of government contracting. Join host Chelsea Meggitt as she explores how to navigate, thrive, and win in this complex but rewarding industry.

HACE 1 DÍA

From Special Operations to Scenario Architect: Rebuilding Defense Thinking

What happens when a Special Operations veteran decides the future of national defense depends on creativity? In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Daniel Gomez, Founder & CEO of First Person Xperience, to explore why creativity is rewarded on the battlefield, but punished in garrison. And why that mindset gap may be costing more than we realize. From Civil Affairs and JSOU instruction to building immersive national defense simulations, Danny shares how experiential learning, controlled failure, and scenario design can reshape how the defense community prepares for future conflict. They discuss: Why we’re always preparing for yesterday’s warThe failure of imagination cited in the 9/11 reportHow immersive training changes retention and decision-makingThe AI experiment that left leaders “woefully unprepared”Why innovation gaps between adversaries matterBuilding The Lab: a national defense creativity engine Timestamps: 02:15 – Danny’s transition from Active Duty to Founder 06:40 – What “First Person Experience” actually means 11:10 – Immersion vs. virtual training 16:35 – “Creativity is rewarded on the battlefield and punished in garrison” 22:20 – Fighting yesterday’s war 27:05 – The failure of imagination problem 31:40 – The AI scenario experiment (Project Genesis) 39:10 – Trust, control, and no-win futures Resources: Daniel Gomez's LinkedIn ProfileFirst Person Xperience WebsiteChelsea Roberts's LinkedIn Profile 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/ AI Prompt Guide for Federal Contractor Marketing https://collaborativecompositions.com/ai-prompt-guide-for-federal-contractor-marketing/

42 min
23 FEB

AI, Orals & Ownership: The New GovCon Playbook

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Rebecca Link, Chief Growth Officer at OneGlobe, to unpack what is changing and what is not in modern government contracting. From proposal management to orals coaching, Rebecca shares how personality, ownership, and execution are becoming even more critical in an AI-enabled GovCon environment. This episode is a masterclass in blending technology, execution, and human ownership in today’s competitive federal landscape. Timestamps: 02:18 – How Rebecca Found GovCon 07:45 – Proposal Management vs. Orals Coaching 14:52 – Coaching Engineers & Presentation Mindset 24:20 – Are PowerPoints Dead? 34:58 – “You can’t AI an oral presentation.” 37:09 – “Orals is the only way to get at that real true level of talent.” Resources: Rebecca Link's LinkedIn pageOneGlobeChelsea Roberts's LinkedIn page 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

38 min
16 FEB

DCAA Problems Aren’t About Fraud, They’re About Documentation

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Jeff Shapiro, Partner at CohnReznick, to unpack what DCAA audits actually focus on and what contractors often get wrong. Jeff explains why materiality matters more than penny-level perfection, how audit risk really shows up in cost-reimbursable contracts, and why “follow the funding” is one of the most dangerous habits in government accounting. They also dig into LPTA risk, soft fraud in time charging, and why commercial companies struggle when they enter cost-based contracting. This episode is essential listening for contractors navigating DCAA audits, cost allocation, commercial-to-government transitions, and compliance culture. Timestamps: 01:12 – Jeff Shapiro’s GovCon background 05:48 – What DCAA actually does 12:06 – The 3-cent check story 14:42 – Why materiality matters 22:10 – Proposal costs vs. contract scope 32:18 – “Follow the funding” risks Resources: Jeff Shapiro's LinkedIn pageCohnReznick GovCon ResourcesChelsea Roberts's LinkedIn page 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

34 min
9 FEB

Why HUBZone Was Never About Contracting and Was About Community

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Michelle Burnett, President and Founder of Rooted in Resilience Wellness and newly appointed Vice Chair of the HUBZone Contractors National Council, for a deep conversation on what the HUBZone program was truly designed to do and where execution has gone off course. Michelle explains why HUBZone was never meant to be a compliance exercise or a goal-checking mechanism, but a community-driven economic engine rooted in geographic investment, workforce stability, and local multiplier effects. Drawing on her 15+ years inside the federal small business ecosystem, she breaks down how acquisition strategies, not small businesses, have undermined the program’s intent and what reform could look like if policymakers, agencies, and contractors realigned around mission over metrics. This episode explores economic revitalization, public-private partnerships, workforce health, and why community infrastructure must be part of acquisition strategy conversations if HUBZone is going to survive increased scrutiny. Timestamps: 03:10 – Michelle’s return to HUBZone leadership as Vice Chair 08:45 – What HUBZone was designed to fix in the U.S. economy 14:30 – The multiplier effect and why geography matters 22:05 – Where acquisition strategy diverged from program intent 31:40 – Fraud narratives vs. structural procurement issues 41:10 – Why reform matters more than preservation Resources Mentioned: Michelle Burnett's LinkedIn page HUBZone Contractors National Council Chelsea Roberts's LinkedIn page 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

45 min
2 FEB

From Jet Engines to Brand Strategy: Translating Military Precision into GovCon Marketing

Join Chelsea Roberts on GovCon Unscripted for our new Success After Service special episode as she sits down with Brittinay Shaw, Marketing & Communications Executive at E&M Technologies. From jet engine mechanic and DoD flight attendant to recruitment marketing powerhouse, Brittinay shares her journey of translating military precision into branding, culture, and social media strategies that help government contractors thrive. Learn how to: Leverage military experience in a civilian careerBuild authentic company culture for recruitment and retentionUse social media strategically in GovCon without crossing compliance linesTimestamps: 01:15 – Brittinay’s Air Force journey: Jet engines & DoD flight attendant05:40 – Transition to civilian life & career in MarCom10:30 – Lessons from the military applied to marketing & recruitment15:50 – The psychology of social media and branding in GovCon23:10 – Influencer marketing & C-suite content strategy30:05 – Attracting talent & teaming partners in government contracting36:50 – Advice for veterans & transitioning military personnelResources: Brittinay ShawE&M TechnologiesChelsea RobertsCollaborative Compositions Subscribe, share, and follow for more Success After Service stories! 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

39 min
27 ENE

Serving Without the Uniform: Rethinking Innovation from Air Force to MITRE to Founder

In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Dan Ward, Author and Co-founder of The SparkLit Group, to explore how innovation actually works after military service and why so many organizations unintentionally block it. Drawing from his career in the Air Force, his time at MITRE, and his transition to co-founding an innovation consultancy, Dan explains why innovation must be democratized across organizations rather than isolated inside special teams. He shares how language, humility, and communication determine whether ideas gain traction or trigger resistance. This conversation breaks down what “novelty with impact” really means, how innovators can invite experimentation without threatening the status quo, and why small, fast failures outperform large, prestige-driven programs. Dan also explores portfolio-based risk management, data-driven storytelling, and what punk rock teaches leaders about building sustainable cultures of innovation. Timestamps 06:34 – The danger of isolated innovation teams12:11 – Why innovation challenges the status quo14:34 – Defining innovation as “novelty with impact”18:13 – “Let’s try this” as an invitation to innovate21:02 – Why communication blocks innovation more than ideas25:10 – Optimal failure vs. epic failure30:40 – Sunk cost bias and prestige programs38:03 – Portfolio theory and innovation risk42:47 – Confronting reality with data45:27 – Why data never speaks for itself Resources Dan WardThe SparkLit Group WebsiteDan's Authored BooksChelsea Roberts LinkedIn Profile 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govcon-unscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

41 min
20 ENE

From Prototype to Program of Record: What It Really Takes to Transition in GovCon

Turning innovation into operational capability is where most GovCon efforts stall. In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse Integration, to unpack what it actually takes to move from early-stage R&D to programs of record. Sumner shares how Fuse has navigated the SBIR and STTR ecosystem, progressed through multiple phase three transitions, and avoided the “valley of death” that traps so many small businesses. He explains why constant warfighter engagement, operational testing, and embedding veterans inside program teams create what he calls “unfair advantages.” The conversation also explores why user experience matters in defense networking, how legacy platforms shape design constraints, and what small companies must do to survive real-world demonstrations, exercises, and mission environments. Timestamps 07:01 – Fuse Integration’s mission and network focus10:25 – Using SBIR to transition real capability21:11 – Why warfighter access determines success31:20 – Operational execution during exercises35:02 – Leadership, culture, and resilienceResources Sumner Lee's LinkedIn pageFuse Integration's LinkedInFuse integration's Instagram LinkFuse Integration's Facebook LinkChelsea Roberts' LinkedIn page 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

27 min
12 ENE

Why Certifications Don’t Save You in GovCon and What Actually Does

In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Michelle Gardner-Ince, retired Air Force Colonel, former VA executive, and founder of GI Strategic Solutions, to unpack one of the most misunderstood assumptions in government contracting: that certifications alone lead to contracts. Michelle shares what she learned from fixing and leading the VA’s Veteran-Owned Small Business Certification Program, why “control” is the most common reason companies fail certification, and how veterans and small businesses should rethink past performance, niche strategy, and transition planning. This conversation explores what actually drives awards in GovCon and why relevance, credibility, and trust matter more than logos and labels. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to GovCon Unscripted 01:00 – Success After Service series introduction 02:00 – Michelle’s Air Force and entrepreneurial background 05:00 – Transitioning from military service to business ownership 07:00 – Entering the VA and fixing VetCert 12:00 – Why control is the #1 certification failure point 18:00 – Veteran-owned certification as an “earned” designation 22:00 – Why chasing certifications misses the real problem 26:00 – Turning rank into relevance and revenue 31:00 – Past performance starts with you 36:00 – The danger of “pass-through” GovCon models 41:00 – Niching down and building credibility inside agencies 46:00 – Final advice for transitioning leaders Resources: Michelle Gardner-Ince's LinkedIn profile GI Strategic Solutions Chelsea Roberts' LinkedIn profile 🎧 Listen now on: 🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy Like and follow us: 🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GovConUnscriptedUS 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govconunscriptedpodcast/ 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/govcon-unscripted/posts/ Join our #govcon #community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14618490/ New to GovCon? Here’s a guide for you: https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx 21 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your GovCon BD Engine: https://collaborativecompositions.com/21-ai-prompts-to-supercharge-your-govcon-bd-engine/

48 min

5

de 5

2 calificaciones

Welcome to GovCon Unscripted, where we dive into the unfiltered stories and strategies from all around the world of government contracting. Join host Chelsea Meggitt as she explores how to navigate, thrive, and win in this complex but rewarding industry.

Creador

Chelsea Meggitt
Años de actividad

2024 - 2026
Episodios

77
Clasificación

Apto
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GovCon Unscripted