The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is Cybersecurity Executive of the Year finalist in the Private Company with annual revenue less than $250M category Robert Carey, who is president of Cloudera Government Solutions. Here, he talks shaping the next generation and proud career moments.
How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?
We can help shape the next generation by teaching them to lead rather than manage. Industry uses the term “manager,” when I prefer “leader,” as it connotes being able to motivate the workforce to perform. In my humble opinion, we have throngs of managers and a dearth of leadership. I try to get my mentees to understand that difference and understand the satisfaction that comes from being accountable and delivering success, whatever that may be.
Watching an organization that is well led is especially heartwarming as they possess great morale and can achieve almost anything.
Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of?
I think one of the things I’m proud of is that I was able to be a commissioned Officer in the Navy (Reserve) for 25 years while I was also a civilian serving the Navy and Department of Defense. I was twice recalled to active duty, once in 1990-1991 for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and then again in 2006-2007 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I was able to serve the Nation in two distinctly different roles, ranging from being an acquisition professional and IT leader to that of a civil engineer attached to Marines in a combat zone.
Both positions deepened my passion for the country, the Constitution, and what it means to have a role in the public service realm.