What's Working in Washington

John Ourand, media reporter for the Sports Business Journal and cohost of the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media podcast, is a true fan of D.C. and mid-Atlantic sports. John and Mark discuss the recent $6.05 billion purchase of the Washington Commanders, headed by Josh Harris, Mitch Rales, and Magic Johnson, and speculate on the group's strategy and top priorities as new owners. John also discusse...

Elizabeth Shea is the EVP of Public Relations at REQ, a leading digital marketing agency that acquired her firm, SpeakerBox, in 2019. Elizabeth is a seasoned PR and marketing professional in the DMV region with deep expertise in B2B and B2G communications. On this episode, Elizabeth explains the opportunities and challenges that accompany digital transformation, discusses strategies for government...

Jonathan Aberman is the Dean of the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount University. As economic conditions continue to evolve, many job seekers are understandably questioning the value of investing in a college degree. Jonathan Aberman highlights the changing desirability of college degrees in the post-COVID job market, where many employers prioritize tangible s...

Chad Scarborough is the founder and CEO of The Jet, a groundbreaking, first-class travel service operating between New York City and Washington, D.C. As a frequent commuter himself, Chad shares the moment he was inspired to create an all-new travel experience that combined the luxury and personal space of a private jet with the affordability and convenience of a motorcoach. Equipped with the world...

Tien Wong is the CEO of Opus8, a private investment, advisory, and conference management firm located in the Washington, D.C. area. He is also the Chairman and CEO of the Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Forum, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, venture capitalists, and CXOs. Tien Wong shares his expert perspective on what's new in D.C.'s capital marketplace, providing updates on vibrant in...

Lisa Wise is the Chief Strategic Officer and co-founder of Birdwatch, a subscription-based home maintenance service helping busy homeowners save time, money, and energy on home repairs. From leaky roofs to wallpaper installation, Birdwatch offers a comprehensive suite of services completed by qualified and reliable technicians. Lisa explains how Birdwatch's long-term service model creates a better...

Jonathan Aberman is a seasoned economist and the Dean of the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount University. On this episode of What's Working in Washington, Jonathan answers some of today's burning economic questions: What causes a to bank collapse? What does it mean for our economy going forward if we take all the risk out of finance? What's happening with the...

Mike VanZetta is the creator and CEO of PiZetta Media, a streaming platform and production company that shares the human side of everyday heroes. After a long career in local news, Mike recognized the need to amplify human interest stories, and created a platform with his wife to do just that. Listen in to learn about a fascinating new way we're being entertained and informed, and how PiZetta Medi...

Latane Meade is the CEO and founder of Allied Title and Escrow, a one-of-a-kind company that makes homebuying fun. Whether a client is purchasing a $200,000 home or a $4.5 million mansion, Latane's firm is ready to celebrate each milestone with ping pong tables, beer, and confetti. On today's episode, Latane shares how his unconventional career path led him to transform the mundane business of tit...

Mary Abbajay is a career consultant and president of Careerstone Group, an organizational and leadership development consultancy for business and government. She is also the author of bestselling career guide, “Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss.” Nearly a year later, Mary and Mark nailed their predictions about the post-COVID workforce, and reconvene to di...

John Ourand is the media reporter for Sports Business Journal and cohost of the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media podcast. An expert on D.C. sports, John opines on Dan Snyder's plans to sell the Commanders and shares how regional sports networks are struggling. John also discusses the surge in legal sports betting, explaining what gambling in the sports arena means to teams, viewers, and advertis...

John Arundel, son of a D.C. media legend with over three decades of media, diplomatic and political experience of his own, joins Mark to share his expert perspective on the D.C. media marketplace. John describes his fascinating career arc, from starting his own newspaper to working as a publisher for the Washington Life magazine, and shares his recent experience attending the renowned 2023 World E...

Jonathan Aberman is the Dean of the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount University and a long-time friend of What's Working in Washington. With the capabilities of artificial intelligence reaching unprecedented heights, Jonathan explains AI's growing impact on higher education, and shares timely updates on the state of the D.C. economy and post-pandemic job mark...

Sean Gibbons is the CEO of the Communications Network, a D.C.-based organization that connects, gathers, and supports leaders working in communications for good. Sean describes how he and his colleagues empower philanthropic organizations, like the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, with strong communication tools to advance their missions. In an endless matrix of narratives and stories, Sean share...

Shaara Roman is the founder and CEO of The Silverine Group, a boutique consulting firm working at the intersection of people, strategy and culture to build resilient and sustainable companies. Shaara, author of The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis, knows that balancing the desires, aspirations and expectations of young professionals with profit-motivated management...

Raymond Baker, esteemed authority on financial crime and author of Invisible Trillions: How Financial Secrecy is Imperiling Capitalism and Democracy and Ways to Renew the Broken System, sits down with Mark to discuss the controversial topic of financial secrecy. Raymond reveals how invisible money is gathered and protected by corporations through illicit financial flows, corruption, illicit trade...

Here at What's Working in Washington, we spotlight the unsung heroes of the D.C. region. At the conclusion of each episode, we ask our guests a simple question: if they could make any change in the world, what would it be? Part two of this special holiday series features more of our favorite answers from our guests. We hope you enjoy listening, and we wish you and your family a happy holiday from...

Here at What's Working in Washington, we spotlight the unsung heroes of the D.C. region. At the conclusion of each episode, we ask our guests a simple question: if they could make any change in the world, what would it be? For part one of this special holiday series, we’ve compiled some of our favorite answers from our guests. We hope you enjoy listening, and we wish you and your family a happy ho...

Dan Reed is the regional policy director for Greater Greater Washington, a nonprofit organization that discusses, organizes, and advocates for issues impacting the D.C. region. From building codes to crime stats, to sports and entertainment venues to the future of public transportation, you won't want to miss this lively discussion on how Greater Greater Washington is advocating for a more accessi...

Mark Drapeau is a founding partner and chief research officer at RXN Group, a data-driven consultancy providing counsel to public policy teams and c-suites on public affairs issues and strategic challenges. RXN gathers data to make a case for things that matter to legislators and lobbyists, and sometimes, the results are quite surprising. In this insightful conversation, Mark explains how RXN is m...

Shubhi Mishra is the founder and CEO of Raft, a data-intensive digital engineering consultancy that serves, among others, our Department of Defense. Shubhi is passionate about Raft's commitment to diversity and mindset of intentional disruption, and believes these have underscored the company's success.. On today's episode, Shubhi shares Raft's origin story, sheds light on the challenges of being...

You've probably heard of — or at least heard — today's guest, Wes Johnson. Wes is an actor, cartoonist, comedian, voice artist, and announcer for the Washington Capitals and the Washington Kastles. A self described "fan with a mic," Wes chronicles his 22-year-career shouting for the Caps, voicing over 70 video game characters, and taking voiceovers to the next level. You won't want to miss this co...

Corinne Cannon is the founder and executive director of the Greater DC Diaper Bank, a nonprofit organization that provides diapers, baby care items and personal hygiene products to low-income families across the DMV. The Diaper Bank's reach is astonishing — over 10 million diapers were distributed across the region this past year — but the DMV's need is far greater. You won't want to miss this ins...

Jenny Abramson is the Founder & Managing Partner of Rethink Impact, the largest gender-focused venture capital fund that discovers, invests in, and nurtures female-owned companies. Despite data demonstrating higher ROI and increased capital efficiency in women-led businesses, only 3% of venture capital currently goes to female CEOs. Jenny shares how Rethink Impact is solving this problem, and...

David Plotz is the CEO of City Cast, a media company that produces daily local newsletters and news podcasts in cities across the country. Proudly operating in 10 cities and counting, including our very own Washington, D.C., City Cast is a smart and easy way for citizens to connect with what's happening in the place they live and love. On today's episode, David and Mark discuss the economics of lo...