Free UMGC Career Expo for Feds on June 16 Join me in welcoming back Justin Hasty from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) to the podcast as he shares how federal employees can take charge of their careers—no matter where they’re starting from. Whether you’re concerned about job security or simply looking to grow your skill, UMGC offers:…

Questions Every Fed Should Ask Right Now Hi Friends - I’m back after a short break to reconnect with all of you during Public Service Recognition Week. This episode is a call for reflection and an invitation to ponder where we are as federal employees right now. With so much change happening across the federal workforce, these are the questions to …

Northeastern University Arlington is Meeting the Moment for the Federal Workforce This week, we welcome Jamie Jones Miller, Dean and CEO of Northeastern University Arlington, back to the show as the federal workforce faces historic shifts. Before her inaugural role at Northeastern University Arlington, Jamie spent over 20 years in the defense indus…

How MindfulFED is Creating Connection Amid Changes Change is hard. And right now, the federal workforce is undergoing a major shift. But one government-wide community is offering an anchor in the storm. Longtime federal employee, writer, and meditation facilitator Alex Snider joins the show to share more about MindfulFED, the first-ever government-…

We welcome back Dr. Patrick Malone, Director of the Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University. Dr. Malone shares insights on leadership development for federal employees, highlighting Key’s executive programs, coaching resources, and the importance of emotional intelligence in public service. With the recent executive order eliminati…

Despite hiring freezes across the federal government, there are agencies still looking to fill roles with the next generation of top talent. Love Rutledge sits down with Pat Tamburrino, Jr. to discuss NobleReach, a nonprofit organization helping agencies streamline hiring by connecting them with highly qualified candidates. Learn how this innovativ…

Cadie Hopkins on Amplifying the Stories of Women in the Intel Community Cadie Hopkins, co-founder of Iron Butterfly Media, joins the podcast to discuss their mission to amplify the stories of women in the intelligence community. Cadie shares the journey behind their podcasts, Iron Butterfly and Women in the Arena, as well as an upcoming documentary…

Certified financial planner Brian Sigwart joined me on the podcast to discuss the elimination of the windfall provision, whichi limited CSRS employee social security benefits. (If you're a FERS employee, this won't impact you.) He also explains what you should be thinking about as we kick off a new calendar year (update your TSP contributions folks…

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RIGHTS: NOW AND LOOKING AHEAD Kevin Shehan, employment law attorney specializing in federal employee rights and issues, joined me on the podcast to discuss the topics in the news (changes from the VA Accountabilty and Whistleblower Portection Act of 2017, Schedule F and DOGE), as well as your currrent rights as a federal employee. …

Tony Zerante, Chief Strategy Officer at WAEPA (Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies), joins Love to discuss the life and disability insurance benefits exclusively offered to current and former Civilian Federal Employees. Hear the updates on their products, giveback program, and the history behind this legacy non-profit organization.…

Join Love on this episode of the FedUpward podcast as she chats with Shawn Welsh, Founder and Co-Host of the VET S.O.S. podcast. A retired Army veteran with over 20 years of intelligence experience, Shawn shares his journey from military service to content creation and the founding of VET S.O.S. Shawn and his team are dedicated to connecting vetera…

John Hatton, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) joined me on the podcast to discuss what NARFE is, does and how it can help you. He also discussed the ups and downs of this year's FEHB open season. https://www.narfe.org/membership-who-can-join/?utm_source=7M6&utm_camp…

Kevin Moss of Consumers'Checkbook is on the show to talk about the major changes in health insurance options. It's open season, y'all! Even if you love your plan, shop around. Open Season ends on December 9th. His organization offers an amazing calculator that can help you make the best choice for your family. Listeners of the podcast get a discoun…

Virginia Blaser, former senior Department of State official, walks feds through her tips for managing the performance appraisal cycle. She literally wrote the book on questions to ask employees throughout the year to help them develop and achieve their goals. You can find it here. Watch the video of our conversation here.…

Working with folks 20 years older, 20 years younger and all ages in between? Dr. Russell Robinson of American University's Key Executive Leadership Program and Amplified Research talks about working with SO MANY different generations of folks. Listen to Russ' wisdom and how you can learn more at Key.…

Robyn Kehoe, executive director for the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund joined me on the podcast to discuss how FEEA supports federal employees in need of disaster relief assistance. FEEA provides small grants to feds who need immediate cash infusions to get shelter, beds, clthing, etc. Get more dteails about applying and donating he…

Meet Sean Michael Newhouse. He's a reporter for GovExec and put out videos recently about the Hatch Act that are far more entertaining than our normal annual training. You can catch that content here. In this episode, he explains the basics of the Hatch Act and what it's like working for GovExec. Learn more about his GovExec work at this link. And …

On September 11, 2024, Jackie Garrick and team will host the Workplace Promise Instittute. Jackie founded Whistleblowers of America, nonprofit organization assisting whistleblowers who have suffered retaliation after having identified harm to individuals or the public. Her experience as a federal employee led her to create a network of support for …

Meet Kris Saling. a leader in the Army's recruiting command and analytics guru. She joined me on the podcast to talk about her new book, Data-Driven Talent Management and federal agencies and deparmtents can leverage better tools and processes to improve employee experience. She combines HR and data savvy to yield results. Get the book at this link…

https://iabpia.org I love connecting listeners with professional organizations literally made for them! Enter Black Professionals in International Affairs! President Alexandria Maloney discusses membership, upcoming events, mission and how you can get involved in this episode. BPIA upcoming events: https://iabpia.org/events Alexandria Maloney's sit…

https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-pregnant-workers-fairness-act Have you heard about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act? Congress passed it in 2023, but the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission just published a final regulation in June of this year. Deborah Hopkins, attorney and president of the Federal Employment Law Training …

Raymond Limon, vice chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MPSB) joined me on the show to discuss what the MPSB is, what it does and why it matters. If you havent' taken training on this recently, tune in for a refresher. He also surprised me by administering the oath of office as a way to celebrate my new federal job! https://www.mspb.gov/ I…

Lindy Kyzer of Clearance Jobs joined me on the podcast to talk about the current state of the job market for clearance holders and what CJ has to offer. Join us at the Clearance Jobs Connect 2024 event on October 3rd. Listen for details and click below to register now! https://about.clearancejobs.com/employers/events/clearancejobs-connect-2024 Govv…

Longtime listeners probably remember episode 131 - https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/podcast/episode/3675202c/131-what-i-learned-from-my-failed-ses-application Well, I kept at it and got through the SES process successfully! In this episode I walk through the lessons I learned and things that surprised me about the process this time. For the basics…

Jason Coleman of FedFam joined me on the show to talk about discounts FedFam negotiated just for you! FedRooms is shutting down and FedFam is stepping in. Learn more about the first great rates here: https://www.fedfam.org/landing-pageBy FedUpward LLC

Dr. Kandis Boyd, Federal Executive Institute Alumni Aassociation (FEIAA) President, joined me on the podcast to disuss their upcoming event. The Federal Executive Forum is open to GS-12s through SESs and you don't have to be a FEIAA alum to attend this hybrid event. Yes, you can participate virtually. Register here. To learn more about FEI's course…

The Partnership for Public Service has an amazing conference planned for federal human resources professionals. Michelle Amante, the VP for Federal Workforce Programs at the Partnership, discusses what this first of its kind conference will deliver and why you should register ASAP. Click the link below for more details: https://ourpublicservice.org…

Meet Brian Wilson, organizational change manager at the Security and Echange Commission. Cool title, right? He walks us through how he approaches change and what you need to know if you're working on a major org change. You can find him on LinkedIn here. Brian mentioned a change management certification in this episode. You can find it here.…

I've joined forces with Jason Coleman of the FedFam group to bring you a new resource! We've created FedFam.org, a membership site for federal employees only. We bring tons of standard operating procedures, info and advice and we're adding more every week. In this episode you'll hear from us what you'll get as a member. We're offering this tailored…

Meet Steve Goodrich. He's the author of Transforming Government from Congress to the Cubicle, CEO at The Center for Organizational Excellence, and a board members for the Shared Services Leadership Coalition. In this episode, he describes his book (which you can purchase here) and how you can get involved in the Shared Services Leadership Coalition…

Kevin Moss of Consumer Checkbook is back on the podcast to help you make sense of all the choices available during open season. Use code fedupward and get 20% off the already VERY reasonable priced tool Kevin and team built. https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/year24/membership/orderonline.cfm?type=online No one knows more about FEHB plans than Kevin…

Heard of Humans of New York? Well, Brian Whittaker founded Humans of Public Service. https://humansofpublicservice.org/ You can nominate your coworkers to be featured on the site/LinkedIn/Instagram page. Brian, currently a FDIC employee with tons of experience in federal agencies, founded the site to recognize people like us who often get a bad rap…

Anxious about the potential government shutdown? This episode outlines resources, news sources and discounts for feds. Here are the links you need to get educated and stay that way. OPM guidance and Agency/Dept Shutdown Plans: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Shutdown-Furlough Washington Posts's Shutdown Gu…

Does the Senior Leadership Know Your Name? Do you know those moments at work when you feel like blending into the wallpaper? You're this hidden gem, but no one has the map to find you. Yeah, I've been there, and trust me, so many of the fantastic people I talk to feel the same way. Whenever someone like you shares their story with me, I always thin…

Public administration guru Dr. Don Kettl joined me on the podcast to talk about what feds can expect over the next month - will the gov shut down? Will feds get repaid if it does? Explore these questions and more. Don recently authored a book, one of many he's written about public management and operaitons. You can find it here. Don specializes in …

When was the last time you decided to invest in yourself? I mean REALLY invest in yourself? Today, I want to talk to you about what I mean when I ask you that question and some of the ways you might consider making more significant investments in yourself that will propel you to your desired version of success. The "Looking for a Place to SHINE, fr…

Why should you write your unique career narrative? I've got a very special topic for you today, one that’s close to my heart: 'Crafting Your Unique Career Narrative: The Power of Owning and Sharing Your Professional Journey.' I sincerely believe that understanding and embracing your unique journey can be a catalyst for phenomenal growth in your car…

Making a mistake, even what you consider a BIG mistake, isn’t necessarily a problem until you start beating yourself up over something that’s already done and can’t be undone. Your mind is tricky, and sometimes it can get stuck in a loop, especially if you feel shame, humiliation, deep regret, sadness, embarrassment, mortification, or possibly disc…

Looking for a degree program that fits YOUR needs? UMGC might be just what you're looking for. Justin Hasty, director for UMGC's federal strategic partnerships, and Daniel Mintz ([email protected]), Department Chair for information technology, joined me on the show to discuss how an online degree program can help build your skills in areas need…

Nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate in February 2010 as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Doug Wilson was the first openly-gay individual to be Senate-confirmed to a senior-level Pentagon position. Prior to retiring from government in March of 2012, he served as Senior Spokesman for the Department of Defense…

The President of Federally Employed Women (FEW), Pam Richards, explained what FEW does, why you should join and what's coming up in this year's National Training Program in Columbus, Ohio, July 9-13. You can register for the event and become a member here. FEW is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1968 shortly after government issued Exe…

I know you're doing everything you can to lean fully into the complete experience of life. You’re going for it in your career, relationships, family, and overall experiences. No matter how hard you try, and even if you have a similarly motivated family – things will never be perfect, not even close. So, what do you do when other people describe you…

Mika Cross, former federal employee, federal work and future of work expert, joined me in this episode to talk about the latest news in the Biden Administration on telework guidance, how to expertly request telework flexibilities, and how to search for jobs that offer flexibility. She also discussed a new tool she's built to help your organization …

I welcomed Jason Briefel back to the show for a frank talk about pay compression for federal employees. He's one of the few people you'll hear speaking publicly on behalf of feds about this issue. Think about it - how do we attract talent to federal service if pay in high cost areas doesn't come close to keeping pace with private industry,;politica…

Inevitably, when you're looking to grow in your career, you will come to a crossroads and have to decide if it is time to leave your current organization. As with most things, there are pros and cons to the approach you take. This is a very personal decision; ultimately, you must choose which option is right for you. This episode will give help you…

Anxious about debt ceiling repercussions? Not getting your paycheck? Not knowing what's coming? Even if a deal is reached, the programs and services you administer might be cut or reduced. There's lot of uncertainty ahead of us this summer, feds. Dr. Donald Kettl joined me on the podcast to try to make sense of it all. Dr. Donald Kettl specializes …

Meet Bill Eggers, executive director of Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights, where he is responsible for the firm’s public sector thought leadership. He and public administration stcholar Dr. Don Kettl recently published a book on building bridges: https://www.amazon.com/Bridgebuilders-Government-Transcend-Boundaries-Problems-ebook/dp/B0B5Y8X…

The Rodel Institute is an independent nonprofit organization devoted to strengthening American democracy and improving the quality of public leadership in the United States. A nonpartisan center for leadership and intellectual growth, Rodel helps America’s most promising leaders reach their full potential as public servants, deepen their commitment…

Under investigation? Just filed a complaint? Guest Kevin Shehan of Shehan Legal explains when you might want to contact an attorney to set you off on the right path. Kevin worked as a federal employee and now helps them with EEO and other issues. He's seen both sides of federal employee issues and offers tips to help when you're in sticky situation…