Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged

What does it take to lead transformation in organizations that serve millions of people?
In this episode of Coach's Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett sits down with Patrick Newbold, Chief Information Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to discuss the leadership principles that have guided his career across CMS, the Social Security Administration, NASA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Rather than focusing on technology, this conversation explores the human side of leadership, how Patrick's upbringing and experiences with public services inspired a career in public service, why trust, integrity, and empowerment are the foundation of effective leadership, and what he's learned about guiding organizations through large-scale transformation. Whether you're leading a team, managing change, or developing your own leadership style, Patrick shares practical insights on building trust, empowering others, and creating lasting impact in complex environments.
To connect with Patrick, visit him LinkedIn page here.

Why is health IT so hard?
It sounds like a simple question, but the answer reveals a web of complexity that goes far beyond technology. From interoperability and legacy systems to competing priorities, cybersecurity threats, organizational incentives, and human behavior, health IT sits at the intersection of some of the most challenging problems in modern healthcare.
In this episode of Coach's Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett chats with Dr. John Scott, Interim Chief Data Officer for the Veterans Health Administration, pediatric cardiologist, and clinical informatics leader with more than 35 years of experience across military and veteran healthcare systems.
Together, they explore why health IT remains one of the most difficult challenges facing healthcare organizations today and what that reveals about leadership. The conversation examines the gap between technical expertise and effective leadership, the tension between business priorities and operational realities, and the challenges leaders face when making decisions about systems they may not fully understand.
Dr. Scott also shares insights on measuring what truly matters in healthcare, balancing the needs of clinicians, patients, and stakeholders, and navigating the unique complexities of operating within large federal health organizations.
Whether you're a healthcare leader, technology professional, government executive, or simply interested in how large systems succeed—or fail—this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, operational excellence, and managing complexity in an increasingly data-driven world. Topics include:
Why health IT is harder than most people realize
The hidden complexities behind interoperability and system integration
Leadership lessons from clinical informatics
Balancing business priorities with technical realities
The impact of incentives on healthcare outcomes
Federal healthcare challenges and opportunities
Building trust between leaders, clinicians, and technical teams
What future health IT leaders need to get right
How leadership evolves throughout a career
To connect with Dr. John Scott, visit him LinkedIn page here.
Connect with Laura Bennett on LinkedIn here. 

What shapes a leader’s confidence—and why do so many capable leaders still question themselves?
In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett sits down with Robin Atkins—organizational psychologist, executive coach, and change leadership expert—to explore the concept of leadership self-efficacy and how identity, culture, and lived experience influence the way leaders show up.
Drawing from her research on first- and second-generation East Asian American women, Dr. Atkins shares insights on the internal side of leadership—how confidence is built, where it gets challenged, and why relational leadership is often overlooked. This conversation goes beyond surface-level leadership advice and gets into the real tension between capability and confidence.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “ready” to lead—or how to help others step into leadership more fully—this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership from the inside out.
To connect with Robin, visit her LinkedIn page here.

In this episode, Laura Bennett, Principal and Leadership Coach, reconnects with Kathleen Scudder, President of Trusted Driver Federal Solutions and former Senior Executive with the U.S. Border Patrol, where she spent over 27 years leading complex, mission-critical operations. Since her last appearance, Kathleen has made a significant transition from federal service to industry—and now into entrepreneurship—bringing a fresh perspective on leadership and reinvention.
Laura and Kathleen explore what it really means to step away from a long-standing career identity and build something new. Their conversation touches on leadership evolution, resilience through change, and how the definition of “having it all” shifts across different stages of life and career. This episode offers an honest look at transition, growth, and what it takes to lead in a completely new chapter.
To connect with Kathleen, visit her LinkedIn page here.Learn more about Trusted Driver Federal Solutions by visiting their website here.

What does it really mean to shape a market instead of chase one?
In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett sits down with Mike Nachshen — founder of Fortis Strategic Communications and former aerospace and defense executive — to talk about leadership at every altitude. From serving as a U.S. Air Force officer to leading international communications for a $16B business unit at RTX, to launching his own firm, Mike shares the hard-earned lessons that only come from operating inside high-stakes environments.
We unpack the difference between visibility and influence, how strategic communications becomes a competitive weapon, and what it takes to build credibility in the aerospace, space, and defense ecosystem. Mike offers candid insight into stepping out of a prime contractor environment and into entrepreneurship — including the leadership muscles that had to stretch.
We also explore his personal involvement with the Space Force Association at the New England chapter level, and why investing in the next generation of national security space leaders matters now more than ever.
This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly real — including a few unscripted moments that remind us leadership isn’t polished… it’s practiced.
If you care about strategy, national security, entrepreneurship, or shaping markets with intention — this one’s for you.
To connect with Mike, visit his LinkedIn page here.Learn more about Fortis Strategic Communications by visiting their website here.
 

What does it really take to move federal health from data and ideas to real-world outcomes?
In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett sits down with Jess Denman, Global Client Director for Federal Healthcare (Military Health) at ServiceNow and Outreach & Collaborations Chair for the HIMSS National Capital Area Chapter.
Jess shares her leadership journey—from youth coaching and Air Force service to navigating complex federal health systems—and the values that have guided her through every chapter: service before self, people-first leadership, and accountability in action.
Together, Laura and Jess explore why progress in federal health isn’t driven by technology alone, but by trust, change management, and collaboration across agencies. They unpack the purpose behind the HIMSS NCA Federal Health Focus Series and the common thread running through the 2026 programs—turning insight into impact through cross-sector partnership.
Jess also offers a powerful real-world example of how interagency data sharing can directly inform public health response, and shares her vision for how HIMSS NCA serves as the connective tissue helping leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution.
This conversation is for federal health leaders, industry partners, and anyone working inside large systems who wants to understand what leadership looks like when the goal isn’t just innovation—but outcomes that matter.
To connect with Jess, visit his LinkedIn page here.

For the one-year anniversary of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura welcomes back Jeremy Wood — host of The Geek Within podcast and Chief Enterprise Architect at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In this milestone conversation, Jeremy and Laura dig into the moments that don’t make the official bio: the pivots, reinventions, stalled chapters, and unexpected breakthroughs that shape a mission-driven career. They explore how federal modernization is really evolving, why IT must operate as a true value center, and the mindset shifts leaders need to navigate complexity in today’s government landscape.
Jeremy draws on 20+ years across the military, private consulting, and federal service to unpack the “messy middle” of leadership — the setbacks that became turning points, the power of clear communication, and the habits that keep him aligned to mission rather than burnout. The episode closes with a deep dive into mentorship, including the guidance he gives early-career professionals over and over because it never stops being true. This anniversary episode is thoughtful, honest, and energizing — a reminder that meaningful leadership is never linear, and modernization is as human as it is technical.
To connect with Jeremy, visit his LinkedIn page here.

This week on Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, ⁠Laura Bennett⁠ sits down with ⁠Greg Dietrich⁠, Former Senior Defense Program Manager & DEVCOM ARL Leader with an expertise in Test & Evaluation, Soldier Lethality, and Technology Integration, whose career has shaped some of the most important advances in soldier readiness, survivability, and future-force innovation.
They talk about what it really takes to modernize a force, why “innovate or die” isn’t just a slogan, and how science, technology, and human judgment come together in high-stakes decision-making. Greg brings decades of experience—plus the grounded humility of a longtime paramedic—to a conversation about leadership, transformation, and what the next era of national security requires from all of us.
Short, powerful, and packed with insight.
To connect with Greg, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.

In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett talks with Mark Junda, a seasoned federal technology leader who’s bridged the gap between government and industry. From driving procurement reform at the VA to now leading Digital Experience at TISTA, Mark shares how challenging the status quo, taking risks, and reinventing yourself can redefine leadership. It’s a candid conversation about courage, innovation, and what it really takes to lead transformation on both sides of the table.
To connect with Mark, visit his LinkedIn page here.Learn more about TISTA by visiting their webpage here.

What does leadership look like when you step completely outside your comfort zone?
In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett sits down with Blake Harvey, VP of Growth at Red Team Consulting, who has traveled to Ukraine four times in the past year—most recently for five weeks.
From working U.S. hours in a Ukrainian village to navigating language barriers and limited resources, Blake shares powerful lessons about resilience, adaptability, and leading with values during times of turbulence.
This conversation is not about politics—it’s about humanity, growth, and the courage it takes to lead when everything around you shifts.
🎧 Listen in and discover how his experiences abroad can inspire you to rethink resilience, leadership, and navigating uncertainty.
To connect with Blake, visit his LinkedIn page here.Learn more about Red Team Consulting by visiting their webpage here.