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 scrutiny and change.

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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 leading with humility, empathy, and clear communication in today’s complex federal landscape.

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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 CEO Shane Canfield to discuss leading from the middle, navigating high-stakes environments with humility, and centering service over status to drive lasting change.

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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 episode, she joins Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA, to share how conviction, courage, and collaboration shaped her federal career—and what today’s leaders can learn from the challenges she faced.

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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 leading with purpose.

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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 and tackles diverse challenges.

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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.

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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 numerous agencies.

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