Outspoken with Shana Cosgrove

Latest Episodes:

Anne Arundel Community College Talk, Part 1: Shana's Journey. Jul 30, 2024

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In this episode of Shana’s Soapbox, Shana speaks at Anne Arundel Community College’s Women in STEM event. As the keynote speaker, Shana discusses the journey that took her from an interest in computer science to founding Nyla Technology Solutions. She offers advice to students: go deep technically, embrace the difficult times, and be brave. Finally, Shana answers questions from the audience.

Here now is the first part of Shana’s keynote talk - her journey from computer science student to CEO.

A Little Bit Louder Now: Michael Contreras, Founder and President at Ensemble Consultancy. Jul 02, 2024

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Innovation, Energy, and Space.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Michael Contreras, Founder and President at Ensemble Consultancy. Michael began his education in civil engineering, with a focus on structures and vibration. Through analyzing patterns, he was able to make a leap into innovation consulting, transmuting this knowledge from structural analysis to business models and marketing. Michael's journey through academia—boasting a PhD and Master’s from UCLA, a Master's from Rice, an MBA from Wharton, and a Fulbright scholarship that took him to Mexico City—was a series of steps aimed at filling the knowledge gaps he felt he needed to address. Download Spot The Station to see the Space Station as it moves across our sky: Michael and his team made it easy for everyone to witness our progress in space exploration from their front yards!

QUOTES

“A lot of the best companies are startups with a background in marketing and sales, and I realized I needed to get that.” - Michael Contreras [11:45]
“Sometimes when people fund an idea, they want to keep it going when it shouldn’t necessarily keep going. It’s having comfort with letting things die versus letting ego be the driving motivation.” - Shana Cosgrove [17:52]
“When I was doing research, I was always more applied than theoretical. I always wanted to create something that had a market.” - Michael Contreras [24:20]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet Michael Contreras
[03:40] Working With A Spouse
[06:08] What Is Ensemble Consultancy?
[08:01] How Did a PhD in Civil Engineering Turn Into Digital Consulting?
[09:54] Leap to Marketing
[13:03] What is Innovation Consulting?
[16:00] NIST Technology Innovation Program
[19:40] Government Work
[21:34] Randy Pausch
[23:41] Entrepreneurial Spirit
[25:51] Educational Background and Evolution of Expertise
[30:50] How Did This Final Digital Marketing Role Begin?
[33:40] Ensemble Claim to Fame
[38:50] US Fulbright Program
[45:21] Any Professional Setbacks?
[49:45] Advice for Young Professionals
[51:26] Book Recommendations
[53:37] Interesting Fact about Michael
[54:55] Latino Business Action Network
[55:58] Outro

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I’d love to hear from you -- your feedback is important to me and I read all of it. If you enjoyed the podcast, I hope you’ll give us 5 stars. I’ll be sure to thank you via email. If not, let me know what you think we should do differently. Don’t forget to hit “subscribe” so you’ll receive notifications about guest interviews and other topics that drop every Tuesday.

Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: Lisa Chang, Chief Technology Officer at Praxis Engineering. Jun 25, 2024

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Computer Science, Leadership, and Women in Tech.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Lisa Chang, Chief Technology Officer at Praxis Engineering. Entering education studying chemical engineering, Lisa quickly realized that this career track looked different than the title suggested. Despite the path starting out differently than anticipated, her drive to succeed pushed her to excel and pivot into the incredible achievement of becoming CTO. In the beginning of her career, she often felt a lack of leadership and attention towards the human components within the engineering and computer sciences, which ultimately led to the most gratifying role Lisa has held yet: mentor. Despite the stereotype, Lisa’s favorite conversations are with people, even though she speaks many computer languages.

QUOTES

“[Being at Corning] made me realize that I liked doing things that had immediate gratification. I liked to know what was going to happen as soon as I thought up the idea.” - Lisa Chang [17:49]
“I’m glad I did it [returning to school for her Master’s Degree] though, it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Once you’ve tasted having ‘free time’ [...] and then you go back to school full time - it’s very challenging.” - Lisa Chang [22:43]
“I think ‘likability’ plays into a woman’s career much more than men. I was not raised as a people pleaser, but despite that, even as an engineer I always felt that while at work I had to focus on ‘do people like me?’ because they wouldn’t listen to me; if I spoke up too much it was threatening, I had a narrow amount of behavior that was acceptable as a woman.” - Shana Cosgrove [41:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet
[01:39] Where Are You Today Professionally?
[04:27] Leadership and Employee Retention
[06:53] Chemical Engineering: What Does That Encompass?
[09:05] Being a Minority Woman in a Male-Dominated Field
[14:18] Higher Education at Cornell
[15:10] Connection Between Chemical Engineering and Medical School
[15:45] Asian Culture, Expectation and Achievement
[16:55] Optical Networks at Corning
[18:16] Going Back to School for Computer Science at Rice University
[24:02] Post Graduate School and Began at Motorola in Austin, TX
[27:59] The Road to Maryland
[30:44] Staff Scientist at BBN
[32:18] Leadership: Make or Break a Company
[35:00] Favorite Part About CTO at Praxis
[37:15] Personal Professional Successes
[41:00] Juggling Being Assertive and Palatable as a Woman
[44:40] Trying and Applying for Praxis: Second Time’s a Charm
[48:48] 2 Pieces of Advice
[52:26] Book Recommendations
[55:59] Surprising Fact About Lisa
[57:29] Outro

RELEVANT LINKS

Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: Dr. Christina Parisi, MD. Owner and Founder of Maryland Weight Care. Jun 11, 2024

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Self Improvement, Lifestyle, and Holistic Care.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove interviews Dr. Christina Parisi, MD, the Owner and Founder of Maryland Weight Care. Christina began her medical career in the Emergency Department in 2013. While she enjoyed the instant gratification of “fixing” and pivoting in a moment, she recognized the need for a better approach: preventing emergencies before they happen. Taking a leap of faith, pursued further education, becoming certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and started her own practice. Christina focuses on addressing health issues in one's 30s and 40s to ensure a fulfilling life in one's 70s and 80s. A “recovering perfectionist” whose feet hit the ground at 5:02 each morning, Christina is driven to improve the quality of life for as many people as possible.

QUOTES

“Medical providers running their practices is good for medicine because it aligns the practices with the incentives. The incentives are for the patients and the doctors, not for a business administrator.” - Christina Parisi [10:00]
“When you start to understand how the body works when it comes to weight, you realize it’s less about blaming yourself for your failure and more about biology.” - Christina Parisi [17:17]
“The ‘best diet’ that you can do is the diet you can stick to, the diet that works for you.” - Christina Parisi [36:28]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet
[02:00] Start of the Day, Family Dynamics and Workload
[03:46] Professional Life - Today
[04:51] Transition from ER to Private Practice
[07:39] Continued Education in Obesity Medicine
[09:13] Reaction to Transition to Private Practice
[10:53] Starting Her Practice - Business Administration and Economics
[15:24] Engagement and Focus of Practice
[17:52] Baseline Testing for Patient Metabolic Data
[20:43] Physiologic Measurements Indicating Health
[24:21] Benefits of Exercise
[27:02] Medical Weight Loss Drugs
[31:25] Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Trends
[36:14] Intermittent Fasting
[38:02] Maryland Weight Care Grand Opening
[39:01] Branding and Outreach, Client Retention and Referral
[39:33] Bariatric Surgery and Today’s Treatment Plans
[40:46] Social Media Presence
[41:36] Childhood Goals and Today’s Achievements
[43:36] Higher Education Path
[45:17] Best Piece of Advice
[46:35] Book Recommendations
[49:19] Unexpected Fact
[54:25] Outro

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Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: Kassie Sandacz, CEO for Voices of Vets. Jun 04, 2024

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Advocacy, Freedom, and Finding Your Voice.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Kassie Sandacz, CEO for Voices for Vets. Kassie, a trained vocalist, was encouraged by her government teacher to visit Charlotte Hall Veterans Home to sing for vets when she was a senior in high school. Although she was focused on her math studies and didn't go at that time, years later she remembered the request and decided to give it a try. That one afternoon changed her life forever. Through the magic of music, she touches the hearts and minds of veterans in memory care facilities across the country, often reigniting a spark within them that was thought to be long extinguished. When she's not at her full-time job or doing her Peloton workouts, you can find Kassie traveling across America, singing songs of yesteryear and bringing joy to those who dedicated their lives to our freedom!

QUOTES

“Music is Magic!” - Kassie Sandacz [13:30]
“The thing I’ve learned over the years is letting go.” - Kassie Sandacz [35:00]
“Keep going. There are definitely going to be roadblocks, things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to; it’s not the way you handle things out of a situation, it’s about how you handle things in a situation.” - Kassie Sandacz [42:50]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet
[01:40] How Shana and Kassie Met
[02:11] Connecting Over Lunch
[06:11] Mission of Voices of Vets
[08:41] Three Major Components of Voices of Vets
[10:30] More Than Pictures
[12:28] Connecting to Vets Through Music
[14:28] Origins of Organization
[18:40] What Turned Voices of Vets into a 503c Non-Profit
[20:01] Veteran Homes Across USA - By the Numbers
[21:40] Voices of Vets Performances
[22:42] You’re A Grand Old Flag
[24:59] Growing Voices of Vets From a Pet Project to an Organization
[28:37] Singing Throughout a Lifetime
[31:41] Favorite Non-Patriotic Song to Perform
[32:16] Practice and Preparation for Musicians
[33:35] Voiceraisers
[34:24] Working Full Time While Growing Voices of Vets
[36:28] Proud Moment of Performances
[42:47] What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
[42:30] Book Recommendations
[44:55] Interesting Facts about Kassie
[48:45] Outro

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Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: Krista Crawford, Ph.D., MBA, SPHR, Vistage Chair. May 28, 2024

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Mindfulness, Connection, and Inner Work.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Krista Crawford, Ph.D., MBA, SPHR, Vistage Chair. Krista is the first member in many generations to attend college, a fact she credits to her Grandma. She uses this thirst for knowledge and teaching to shape her approach at Vistage. With a background in HR, Krista views interpersonal conflict as an opportunity to identify root causes and generate creative solutions. By fostering trust, connection, and vulnerability, she breaks down barriers, both internal and external, that universally impact leaders. Krista understands that putting on your own oxygen mask first doesn’t only apply on an airplane: you cannot pour from an empty cup.

QUOTES

“At the CE level, we don’t have anyone else in the room that is from your same industry. You hear from people who are not in your industry have your same issues; the way you apply them is different. There is some comfort in knowing you’re not alone.” - Krista Crawford [07:32]
“The more you connect, the more you can feel comfortable and then be vulnerable. Those periods of vulnerability are where the real growth can happen. You have to stretch before you can grow.” - Krista Crawford [19:24]
“If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together” - Shana Cosgrove [27:30]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet Krista Crawford
[02:58] Current Role as Vistage Chair
[07:07] Benefit of Investing in a Vistage Group
[09:04] Before and After: Business Growth with Vistage
[12:12] Krista’s Experience with Vistage
[18:19] Issue Processing
[22:02] Vulnerability
[24:42] Vulnerability Prompts
[29:48] Making the Best Choice from Bad Choices
[32:23] Personal and Wellness
[33:41] Consistency in Vistage
[38:18] Krista’s Academic Pedigree
[41:28] Conflict Resolution
[44:00] Clarity of Expectations and Job Descriptions
[47:50] Breathe
[50:54] A Proud Career Moment for Krista
[52:44] Book Recommendations
[55:24] How Krista Became a Vistage Chair
[58:00] Outro

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Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: Christine McDannell, Founder, Owner, and Successful Exits of over 20 Small Businesses. May 21, 2024

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Bootstraps, Trusting the Process, and Innovation.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Christine McDannell, entrepreneur and principal business intermediary at The Magnolia Firm. Christine was born with the unique gift to innovate, expand, and create. Starting at 23 years old, she (quite literally) rolled her sleeves up and got to work, turning her ambitions into an entrepreneurial streak that has exited 60 businesses in 20 years. Christine breaks down what the fundamentals of entrepreneurship are and what each unique business has taught her. From San Diego to Dubai, Christine has spent her life taking the leap and building her parachute as she falls!

QUOTES

“My first business was a cleaning company; it was very bootstrapped with only $300. [...] I was cleaning houses for a year and a half everyday and bartending at night to pay my bills. Then, grew it to the largest privately owned cleaning business in San Diego.” - Christine McDannell [02:50]
“There’s a debate on whether entrepreneurs are born or if you can become one. People who are willing to take high risks make perfect entrepreneurs; if you’re super conservative it’s very difficult to be a successful entrepreneur.” - Christine McDannell [12:00]
“The fortune is in the follow up. [...] People are so busy these days: myself included. ” - Christine McDannell [28:11]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet Christine McDannell
[02:50] Humble Beginnings - $300 and a Vacuum
[05:51] Exiting Companies: Perspective Then vs. Now
[08:49] Transitioning from Christmas Trees to Wellness Industry
[11:31] The Iceberg: Success Is Only the Tip
[13:48] Current Day Job: The Magnolia Firm
[15:58] Innovate an Industry
[17:34] Budgeting Daily Life While Continuously Reinvesting
[23:07] Finding Companies Ready to Sell and Companies Ready to Acquire
[26:26] Software Tools Used at The Magnolia Firm
[30:43] Social Media Influence on Sales and Marketing
[33:33] The Hustle
[36:05] Recommended Reads
[38:08] Find Your Tribe
[40:10] Outro

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Live well, Shana

A Little Bit Louder Now: The Honorable Susan “Sue” Gordon, Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence of the United States of America. May 14, 2024

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National Security, Integrity, and Self-Advocacy.

In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Sue Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (DDNI), Deputy Director of National Geospatial Agency (NGA), and Director within Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Sue begins by sharing how losing her career as a civilian in National Security became the catalyst for her future. Next, Sue speaks to a life inside in the CIA and how the CIA values performance over pedigree. A common thread connecting her talking points is the skill of critical thinking and decision making. Sue Gordon’s professional trajectory defied logic, landing her in top government appointments and it all began with a Bachelor’s in Zoology.

QUOTES

“I think there probably is a piece of wanting to figure out how to contribute when I’m the structure … I think I’m good at advice; I think I’m great at building.” - Sue Gordon [06:21]
“The best lesson I learned that I could have missed was early in my career … My second job moved me out of technical analysis into space policy. I had to learn to ‘do’ something, not ‘talk’ something.” - Sue Gordon [19:05]
“By that point, my children were 13 and 9 and it became obvious that my 13 year old in particular was starting to make some terrible decisions. I’m an ‘in’ or ‘out’ person and I didn’t know how to anymore be as good of a mom and as good of an Intelligence Officer as I wanted to be – so I chose the one that only I could be.” - Sue Gordon [48:45]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro
[01:34] Meet Sue Gordon
[03:10] Losing Her Career As Intelligence Officer
[08:26] Appointment to Deputy Director of National Intelligence
[10:51] Majoring in Zoology
[17:25] Significance of Working in National Security
[18:54] Important Foundational Universal Professional Skills in Early Career
[23:42] Women Are Frequently Pushed Out of Technical Positions into Speaking/Management Positions
[28:08] Benefits of Being Your Own Harshest Critic
[31:33] Job Specific Roles: Director vs. Deputy Director of National Intelligence
[39:50] Effective Perspectives to Implement Change
[42:19] Agile Decision Making
[48:26] Taking 8 Continuous Years Off of Work
[51:33] Coming Back to the CIA in 2007
[55:10] Being Comfortable Being in the Front
[59:31] How To Get Better at Making Decisions
[1:06:32] Decision-Making As a Group
[1:07:11] Personally/Professionally Impactful Books
[1:09:48] Lesser Known Fact About Sue Gordon
[1:10:47] Outro