Unveiled: GovCon Stories

• Bridge Season: The Pivot, The Purpose, and The Path Forward

  The Unveiled: GovCon Stories podcast returns for a special “bridge season”, a transitional series designed to reflect, refocus, and reimagine what’s next for small and micro businesses in the government contracting ecosystem.In this kickoff episode, hosts Tasha Jones and Yas Wynn revisit standout conversations from last season, from navigating reorgs and market volatility to leveraging AI for smarter pursuits, and unpack the lessons that continue to shape the GovCon landscape. The discussion explores how resilience, adaptability, and preparedness have become the new currency of success for small business owners navigating constant change.As Unveiled evolves, so does its mission. This season marks a strategic shift toward amplifying the voices of micro-businesses and consultants (1–5 person teams), the often overlooked but essential backbone of GovCon. The hosts share how the show is partnering with organizations, large and small, to deliver practical insights, tangible resources, and story-driven strategies that empower entrepreneurs to define and achieve success on their own terms.Whether you’re a founder, consultant, or corporate leader seeking meaningful engagement with the small-business community, this episode offers perspective, purpose, and an open invitation to collaborate on building a stronger, more inclusive ecosystem.Call(s) to Action:We want to hear and partner with you!! Are you a small or micro-business founder with a story to share?Do you provide training, funding, or technology solutions for small and micro businesses?Are you a large organization redefining how you engage small-business partners?Be a partner, guest, or recommend a topic that you would like to share, learn, or hear about on the podcast through our guest feedback and registration form.Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The GovCon Playbook: Season 4 Unpacked

  In this Season 4 blow‑out finale of Unveiled: GovCon Stories, we weave together powerful insights from thought‑provoking conversations to understand what it truly takes for small businesses—and especially Woman‑Owned Small Businesses—to thrive in government contracting. We unpack how some guests turned major contract losses into strategic wins, the misconceptions they faced about readiness and resilience, the role of AI and team collaboration in navigating SLED vs. federal markets, and how political shifts, contract terminations, and agency reorganizations reshaped their playbooks. We hear from those who treated strategy not as theory, but as a living, operational tool, and how clarity of purpose became their margin of advantage. Throughout, financial resilience, market diversification, and embracing innovation emerge not as luxuries, but necessities. This episode offers an unapologetically real reflection on GovCon’s triumphs, setbacks, and what lies ahead—and why preparedness is now the real differentiator for small businesses in this space.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Withum – A forward-thinking, tech-driven advisory and accounting firm supporting businesses through the full GovCon lifecycleFollow Withum on LinkedInSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Workflow, Win Rates, and the AI Advantage in Contract Pursuits

  In this episode of Unveiled: GovCon Stories, Mac Liu, CEO of Vultron, and Noura Bashshur, Sr. Director of Growth, discuss how AI is transforming GovCon BD. From proposal sprints to intelligent automation, they break down what makes GovCon unique—and why now is the time to evolve. Mac shares lessons from Google and DoD innovation, while Noura offers real-world guidance on using AI to boost proposal quality and delivery. Whether you're after city, civilian, or defense contracts, this one’s for you.Guest Bio:Mac Liu is the CEO of Vultron and a seasoned engineering leader with experience at Google, Robinhood, and Anduril. He’s led major defense projects with NASA, DoD, and the U.S. Space Force—scaling contracts to $240M. At Vultron, he’s applying that cross-sector expertise to help GovCon teams win smarter with AI-powered solutions.Noura Bashshur is Vultron’s Senior Director of Growth, leading strategy, partnerships, and AI-driven innovation in GovCon. With 7+ years in federal contracting, she’s led multi-million-dollar wins, built federal health practices, and brings deep expertise in BD, capture, and tech-enabled healthcare. Noura holds a Master’s in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about UnveilLenee: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveilLenee-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Learn more about Vultron, request a demoCheckout Vultron’s AI-Powered Federal Proposal Development Platforms: Evaluation Framework and FactorsSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Reorgs, Power Plays, and Survival Plans

  The GovCon landscape continues to shift under our feet. Agencies are reorganizing rapidly—driven more by politics than strategy. Budgets are in flux. Priorities are shifting. Entire programs are being paused, rebranded, or canceled.Here’s the reality: a few good tactics won’t cut it. In uncertain times, the businesses that survive—and grow—are those with strategies clear enough to guide decisions, yet flexible enough to evolve. Without that, you're not navigating change—you’re being swept up by it.In this episode, we unpack what happens when strategy takes a back seat and why now, more than ever, small businesses must pair big-picture thinking with tactical precision to stay competitive in a market where tomorrow’s rules are changing today.Guest Bio:Jazmen Jackson is a strategy consultant who helps small businesses grow with clarity and confidence. With over 10 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, family-run companies, and early-stage startups, Jazmen specializes in simplifying strategic planning, identifying growth opportunities, and turning everyday challenges into smart, actionable strategies.Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, Jazmen works directly with business owners to create clear, practical plans—whether it’s refining a business model, improving operations, or charting a course for sustainable growth. Clients appreciate her down-to-earth style, no-jargon communication, and genuine investment in their success.Jazmen holds a certificate in Strategic Management from Georgetown University and is a Certified Project Management Professional, Senior Business Strategy Professional, and Project Management Office - Certified Practitioner. She has experience in business process improvement, and small business consulting, equipping her with both the tools and insights to deliver real results—without the corporate fluff.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Standard Strategy (STS) GroupAccess the Strategy Under Pressure: Action GuideSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• More Than a Cage Code

  Today’s episode is for the dreamers and the doers—especially the ones who thought getting a DUNS, a Cage Code, and a nice logo meant they were ready to roll. Let’s be real—there are a lot of misconceptions about how easy it is to “start” in GovCon. The truth? Many businesses start officially, but never truly enter the market. And some find out the hard way that they underestimated the time, money, and focus it takes just to get to the starting line; and in this episode, we’re going to evaluate that. First, we’ll explore the many ways small businesses find their way into this space—some by design, some by default. Then we’ll unpack what it really means to build alignment between your vision, your capacity, and your funding over time. Whether you’re new and exhausted, or established and re-evaluating, this episode is your reminder: It’s not just about getting in—it’s about staying in and growing on purpose. Guest Bio:Shakira (Shak) McCants is the CEO of MacMore, a women owned, Management and IT firm. Shak is a results-driven professional with nearly 20 years of experience in business development, project management, operations management, and strategic planning. She has a demonstrated track record of driving revenue growth and winning new projects through delivery excellence and identifying and transforming clients’ business needs into valued solutions. She was a member of the 2019 American Council for Technical and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Voyagers program, served as a Leadership Industry Vice Chair for the 2021 ACT-IAC Associates program and she is currently the Industry Vice Chair for the ACT-IAC IT Management & Modernization Community of Interest and the ACT-IAC Voyagers 25 class. Shak holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of South Alabama. Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:MACMORE: https://www.macmorellc.com/ Follow MACMORE on LinkedInSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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