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Episode 3: Generational Leadership

In this episode of 15 Minutes with Federal Training Academy, we explore generational leadership with our guest, Federal Security Director Gerardo J. Spero at the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration. This episode launches in the summer month of August, and summer reminds us of exciting travel experiences. Our guest enlightens us with leadership lessons as we journey throughout time.

In this quick interview format, we’re in a time warp exploring the following 3 tough questions:

If you could go back in time and give your younger self a piece of career advice, what would it be?
Now, we’re in the current time, and there have been dramatic generational changes within our workforce. What generational differences have you seen, and what advice would you give?
For our last question, we travel into the future. For future generations, if you were to wave your magic wand and make an improved federal workforce, what would that look like?

A big thank you goes to our guest, Gerardo J. Spero, whose federal career and wisdom spans more than 30 years. If you’d like to learn about his leadership involving more than 15 million travelers each year, please connect with him on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/Gerardo-j-spero-a994b843

If you’d like to explore more episodes in our video series and register for training events, visit: https://FederalTrainingAcademy.com

Discover the outstanding quality Federal Training Academy’s team of government experts provides. We are “Engaged in Your Success!”

Episode 2: July 4th Celebration & Leadership Through Change

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we’re reminded of public service and leadership lessons through change. Federal Training Academy is honored to share time with Major General (Ret.) and current Senior Executive at the Department of Homeland Security Jimmie Jaye Wells.

As this episode airs in the days leading up to July 4th, our nation’s Independence Day, we focus on 3 key themes:

⭐️ Leadership through 3 significant career transitions

Professional athlete as a Washington Redskin/Commander
Military service
Civilian public service

⭐️ Leadership lessons from a Matriarch’s Century

⭐️ Celebration of independence and recognizing “freedom is not free” as we support America’s Gold Star Families

If you’re looking to support America’s Gold Star Families, with the mission to provide honor, hope, and healing to those grieving any military loss through active duty service in the United States Armed Forces, please consider purchasing this faith-based leadership book sharing insights from 100 years of change. 100% of proceeds are donated to America’s Gold Star Families.

A Matriarch’s Century – Leader Lessons of Godliness, Sacrifice, Love and Service in a Century of Tumultuous Transformation:

Since our video series only allows for a snippet of time together, we gladly share Jimmie Jaye Wells’ ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS below from our time together outside of the recording.

⭐️ Who remembers the days watching Joe Theismann and hearing the glories of Jack Kent Cooke’s team? Many of us are native Washingtonians, so we do! We discussed lessons from his time as a professional National Football League player for the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders).

Persevere toward your goal/dream.
Consider 4 levels of trust.
- Trust yourself.
- Trust your teammates.
- Trust your coaches to share the right skills and techniques.
- Trust your external collaborators, such as agents, team owner Jack Kent Cook, and officials providing credibility and authenticity.
Have confidence one-on-one as well as in large crowds of 70K+ people, and publicly represent yourself and your organization well.
Audaces fortuna juvat.” Remember: “Fortune favors the bold.”

⭐️ He chose to transition into military service earning an officer position and promotions leading to Major General as Chief of Staff of Forces Command Headquarters at one of the largest military bases in the world, Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. He, along with other Generals and SESers, managed 820,000+ people across the continental US Army. We are big fans of Jimmie Jaye Wells for his service to our nation.

Rank can be a crutch. Positional leadership and a commanding leadership approach are not lasting leadership styles.
Humble servant leadership is the key with a “mission first – people always” approach.
Inspire action.
- Accountability is vital.
- Encourage others to use their knowledge, skills, abilities, and preferences to solve wicked, complex problems.
- Stay positive, and don’t dwell in the negative. E.g., avoid sitting in the break room complaining and commiserating about the heat, rain, dust, or enemy.
Consider all dimensions.
What’s the mission? What are the tasks? What’s the strategy? Use Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How questions to engage and guide others.

⭐️ After retiring from the US military, he continued his public service as a senior executive at the Department of Homeland Security, where he currently serves in Honolulu, Hawaii and manages the Pacific region of the Transportation Security Administration.

Many civilian Feds face adversity every day in the execution of their assigned duties. Strong leaders act as a buffer while ensuring all dimensions (physical, spiritual, mental, intellectual, and social) of their staff are healthy and well-balanced.
Be values-driven. His core values are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage (emotionally and not just physically).

Jimmie Jaye Wells has more than 40 years of public service. We’re honored to celebrate our nation’s independence and learn from him in this episode of 15 Minutes with Federal Training Academy. Thank you for joining us.

⭐️ Please visit FederalTrainingAcademy.com for our services and free resources section.

Episode 1: Juneteenth, Our U.S. National Holiday

Angela Kochuba, Managing Director of Federal Training Academy, hosts this first episode of 15 Minutes with Federal Training Academy where busy professionals gain valuable insights in 15 minutes or less. The interview format provides quick answers to pressing questions.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we’re reminded of Maya Angelou’s quote, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Let’s learn and celebrate together, and don’t miss the call to action at the end of the episode.

Key Episode Questions:

⭐️ Why is this national holiday important?

⭐️ How do you celebrate Juneteenth? How should we all celebrate together?

⭐️ Leader to leader, what should we be saying and doing this week in the workplace in relation to the national holiday?

During the episode, Dr. Harris mentions “The Four Agreements” (by Don Miguel Ruiz).

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don’t take anything personally.

3. Don’t make assumptions.

4. Always do your best.

We had so much to celebrate that we stretched the episode for an extra couple of minutes just as our call to action for U.S. federal leaders asks us to stretch the national holiday. Ms. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” inspires us to extend Juneteenth to July 4th. Let’s all stretch our crucial DEIA conversations in the workplace and extend how we celebrate our nation’s independence together.

“Move forward through action, empathy, and celebration.”

Visit FederalTrainingAcademy.com for our partner list, including NYH Consulting, founded by Dr. Nikita Harris, who stars in this episode of 15 Minutes with Federal Training Academy. We’re proud to have her as the first guest on this video series and as our long-term partner. If you’d like Dr. Harris to speak with your group or facilitate vital DEIA discussions, please contact us: https://federaltrainingacademy.com/contact-2/

Or, submit your interest form: https://federaltrainingacademy.com/talentfavorite/

We post this video series in the pursuit of excellence, not allowing perfectionism to limit us as we continue to grow and stay “Engaged in Your Success.”

#GrowthMindset #Juneteenth #DEIA

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