In this episode of FEDtalk, host Jason Briefel interviews Helene Bumbalo, the Associate Director of Graduate Professional Development at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Business, about career counseling in 2024. Helene shares her unconventional career path and emphasizes the importance of staying flexible and open to new opportunities. She discusses the diverse student population at VCU and the unique challenges they face in navigating the job market. Helene also highlights the changing landscape of job applications, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence and the need for proactive networking before applying. She explores the differences between pursuing opportunities in the public and private sectors and shares innovative approaches to connecting students with federal agencies. She emphasizes the importance of bringing real-life professionals into the classroom to expose students to different career paths. Bumbalo also highlights the value of programs like the Federal Advisor Certificate Program, which prepares career counselors to help students navigate the federal hiring process. She encourages hiring managers to reach out to career programs and utilize alumni connections to find talent. Bumbalo advises job seekers to seek help from career counselors and utilize resources like LinkedIn to navigate the changing employment landscape.

Summary

In this episode of FEDtalk, hosts Natalia Castro and Jason Briefel are joined by Catrina Bonus and Jessie Lane from Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) to discuss National Police Week and the 25th anniversary of WIFLE. They talk about the history and mission of WIFLE, which is dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in federal law enforcement. They also highlight the various programs and initiatives that WIFLE has implemented to support women in law enforcement, including community engagement, mentorship, and partnerships with federal agencies, military organizations, and international partners. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversity and inclusion in law enforcement and the significance of National Police Week in honoring fallen officers. The conversation highlights the importance of gender diversity in law enforcement and the efforts of WIFLE to promote and support women in the field. The guests discuss the 30x30 Initiative, which aims to increase the representation of women in law enforcement to 30% by 2030. They emphasize the need for not just hiring, but also promoting and retaining women in leadership positions. The conversation also touches on the unique strengths that women bring to law enforcement, such as compassion and de-escalation skills. WIFLE's annual leadership training is mentioned as a key event that provides education, networking, and recognition for women in law enforcement. To register for the 2024 WIFLE Leadership Summit, August 5-8 in Washington, DC, visit: https://wiflefoundation.org.

Summary

In this episode, the hosts Jason Briefel and Natalia Castro recap Season One of FEDtalk and discuss key considerations for the federal government moving forward. They explore the concept of the federal government in flux, highlighting the impact of technology and the need for adaptability. They also discuss the evolution of federal power and the importance of capacity issues across the branches of government. The hosts emphasize the need to focus on people and the role of politics and accountability in government. They reflect on the federal community and encourage civil servants themselves to embrace and lead change for a better government.

Takeaways

• The federal government is in a state of flux due to rapid changes in technology, society, and the economy.
• Adaptability is crucial for the government to effectively respond to these changes.
• Capacity issues exist across all three branches of government and need to be addressed.
• Focusing on people and civil servants embracing change themselves is essential for improving the government.

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Recap of Season One

03:15The Federal Government in Flux

06:00The Impact of Technology on Government

09:46The Need for Adaptability in Government

11:39The Evolution of Federal Power

19:39The Importance of Focusing on People

23:47The Role of Politics and Accountability in Government

26:39Reflections on the Federal Community

30:19Moving Forward and Embracing Change

39:26Closing Remarks