Lessons in Leadership with M. Shane Canfield, CEO

Deborah Lee James, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and seasoned corporate board member, shares insights from leading one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world. Drawing on her experience across public service and the private sector, she discusses the importance of putting people first, fostering transparency, and building trust. In conversation with WAEPA CEO Shane Canfi...

Sean O’Keefe — former Navy Secretary, NASA Administrator, and senior leader across multiple presidential administrations — reflects on the principles that shaped his long federal career. In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, he joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss motivating teams through uncertainty, leading across agencies, and staying rooted in mission during times of public scrut...

Phil McNamara, former Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Department of Transportation, emphasizes that in government, relationships matter more than titles. On this episode of Lessons in Leadership, McNamara shares how he’s led large teams, navigated the future of work, and built trust across agencies. In conversation with Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, he offers practical insights on le...

What makes a great leader? Christine Harada has spent her career answering that question—across the White House, GSA, and beyond. With roots in aerospace engineering and experience in some of the most pivotal roles in government, Harada shares insights into public-private collaboration, influence without authority, and why purpose—not power—should guide leadership. In this episode, she joins WAEPA...

Dr. Janet Woodcock didn’t set out to become a federal leader—but over the course of more than three decades at the Food and Drug Administration, she helped transform the agency from within. As former Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Woodcock championed modernization, tackled resistance to change, and stayed rooted in a mission of science-driven policy and patient impact. In this episo...

Retired U.S. Army General Robert Brown’s path to leadership was anything but conventional. Drawn to the military by its unwavering focus on mission, his decades of service in the Army emphasized mentorship, trust, and selflessness. Now president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), General Brown joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights on making tough decisions and lea...

Raymond Limon’s commitment to public service is rooted in his belief in the power of community. As Vice Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, Limon views a deep understanding of human capital as essential to effective leadership. In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, he joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights from a leadership journey that spans multiple agencies a...

For Susan Neely, President and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), leadership extends beyond the workday. It”s also about being “for” a cause, both professionally and personally. Neely joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share insights from her career in government and the private sector and discuss how she hopes to empower the next generation of women in leadership. See Privac...

After a storied career at the IRS and years of working as a union representative, Doreen Greenwald was elected National President of the National Treasury Employees Union. Greenwald joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss how to foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not just heard but valued, and how she harnesses the richness of experience from federal employees across numer...

As the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Chief People Officer, Elizabeth Kolmstetter sees a focus on people as absolutely crucial to her leadership style. Kolmstetter joins Shane Canfield, WAEPA CEO, to reflect on her years of experience leading in the federal human capital space See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Retired Army Major General Tammy Smith felt for the first time that she could lead her team authentically. Smith, a long-time Army leader and one of the military’s highest-ranking openly gay officers, joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share her perspective on collaborative and genuine leadership. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...

After years of leadership with both the largest federal employee union and as a pastor, Everett Kelley reflects on his deep-rooted values of integrity and hard work. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share how his upbringing in rural Alabama eventually propelled him to the forefront of thousands of union members ra...

After growing up in rural Alabama and becoming the first person in his family to attend college, Dr. David Wilson has paved a 30-plus-year career in higher education, focused on elevating others from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Wilson, President of Morgan State University, joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss how his experiences transformed him into a leader in education.  See Privacy...

Shawn Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Chief of Staff to the Office of the Chairman at the Special Olympics joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss the importance of leadership, inclusion, and community building. To learn more about how you can get involved with the Special Olympics in your community, visit https://www.specialolympics.org/get-involved See Pri...

After an exemplary career as a former executive at the FBI focused on policy and strategy, Sasha O’Connell, PhD is guiding future federal leaders as the Executive in Residence in the School of Public Affairs at American University. Sasha joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss her exciting career, the future of the federal workforce, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. See Pri...

Angela Bailey, former Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Homeland Security and Founder and CEO of Ananda Life, joined host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss continual growth in leadership and how truly caring about those you lead can elevate a team’s dynamic. Listen to Angie’s insights about how being a life-long learner can positively impact your leadership style. See Privacy...

Melissa Bradley, a tri-sector leader and Managing Partner at 1863 Ventures, talks with Shane Canfield, host and CEO of WAEPA, about her experience with entrepreneurship, investment and leadership. Listen to Melissa’s insights about what future leaders can do to drive positive change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

Cutler Dawson, Vice Admiral of the US Navy (Ret.) and former president and CEO of Navy Federal, joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss his leadership philosophy and offer practical insights he learned throughout his time in command both afloat and ashore. To learn more about Cutler’s leadership lessons, you can find his book, From the Sea to the C-Suite, at https://www.usni.org/press/...

Rick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, joins host Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to discuss lessons that have inspired his career journey, how the events of 2020 have shaped his leadership and the profound impact of Federal workers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac...

Leadership today, especially within the Federal workforce, is being tested more than ever before. Join Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, as he talks with FNN Host, Mike Causey, about how leaders are choosing to lead with empathy and transparency, and the unique call to service shared by Federal workers that inspires him each day. Shane and Mike discuss what listeners can expect from Shane’s new podcas...