The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Professional Services Council have unveiled the finalists for the 14th Annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards, the premier awards event for the Washington area government contracting community. The winners will be named at a Nov. 1 gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.
WashingtonExec sat down with one of this year’s GovCon Awards Gold Sponsor, Mike Mason, partner and head of the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Industry Group at Hogan Lovells, to discuss the GovCon marketplace.
WashingtonExec: What motivated you to take part in the GovCon Awards?
Mike Mason: The GovCon awards value leadership, innovation and a commitment to excellence. Hogan Lovells values the same principles. Our five values are a fundamental part of who we are: They reflect the principles by which we conduct ourselves, shaping what we do and how we do it. They are also real and reflect the ethos of our legacy firms.
- Clients come first
- Excellence in all we do
- One team worldwide
- Commitment to our success
- Good citizenship
WashingtonExec: Where in the GovCon space is your company involved?
Mike Mason: Conducting business with the U.S. government involves a host of specialized challenges. At Hogan Lovells, we combine our large government contracts practice with our industry focus on aerospace, defense and government services. We not only have the substantive legal knowledge; we have practical experience that allows us to identify and mitigate risk, and help clients make the most of business opportunities.
Our global team brings together recognized leaders in government contracts and grants law as well as lawyers with corporate, investigatory and litigation experience to help solve any problem. We work closely with government regulators so we understand how they interpret rules and regulations and apply them to contractors.
We navigate around procurement hazards and protect clients in disputes and government investigations. Our industry focus enables us to fully understand business challenges you face. We help our clients anticipate emerging issues before they become a problem and offer practical advice that achieves results.
Hogan Lovells represents a broad array of industry sectors, including defense and aerospace contractors; information technology and telecommunication providers; pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and other suppliers of health-related goods and services; energy and environmental contractors; and universities, medical centers and other research organizations. We have also worked with dozens of middle-market businesses, emerging companies, new ventures and investment banks and private equity firms active in the industry.
WashingtonExec: As these awards are in large part a recognition of great leaders in the GovCon space, what do you believe are qualities that make a great leader?
Mike Mason: We believe every member of our firm can and should be a leader. At Hogan Lovells, we created a set of leadership behaviors so that everyone knows what to do, expect and celebrate at every level. These behaviors include:
- Be bold: Imagine and embrace new approaches and ideas where others see barriers.
- Build trust: Live these behaviors. Make and keep clear agreements. Look out for each other.
- Engage: Lead from any chair to get the best out of teams. Be passionate about what we are doing.
- Act like an owner: Take responsibility. Think long term. Focus on our overall success. Be ambitious.
- Be generous: Help each other. Take pride in, and recognize, others’ success. Make this a great place to work.
- Practice straight talk: Offer and seek out real-time feedback. Collegiality does not mean we ignore problems.
- Exercise discipline: Attend to business basics. Consider how your actions affect others.
- Be a role model: Look in the mirror. Always set the right example.
WashingtonExec: What makes a company a great place to work?
Mike Mason: In great workplaces people feel included, valued and empowered. Hogan Lovells strives to provide a diverse, collaborative and client-centered team focused on solving problems. We are at our best when we can be ourselves – working together and delivering for our clients.
We strive to create a high-performance culture that strives to be ambitious, committed, accountable, innovative and supportive; we think these characteristics bring out the best in ourselves and each other, and creates an great place to work.
WashingtonExec: How is your business involved in the community? (corporate citizenship)
Mike Mason: Giving back to communities and society is important and fundamental to good business. And it’s part of our core. We are advocates of justice, equality and opportunity. Everyone at Hogan Lovells is asked to volunteer at least 25 hours a year as part of their normal work duties, and our lawyers devote more than 100,000 hours every year to pro bono matters.
Around the world, our people are making a difference through pro bono activities, community investment, and social justice. We invest our time, talents and resources in the places where we live and work, and across our global community.
Related: Spotlight with 2016 GovCon Award Gold Sponsor, Morgan Higgins of JPMorgan Chase
