The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Alexandra Gurney, EY U.S. government and public sector civilian and security accounts leader and finalist in the DHS Executive of the Year, Private Company, category. Here, she talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
I have found that DHS has deep appreciation for innovation and fresh insights. So, my focus is to bring innovative but also practical ideas applied by EY’s commercial clients worldwide to DHS where it makes sense. Why this is so critical to the mission is that the bad actors that threaten our homeland are active adopters of such innovations to carry out their own illegal activities. Therefore, it is important for DHS to continuously be aware of not only the innovations that they can adopt but also those that are used for illegal purposes. Additionally, I will focus on expanding our account team with colleagues who are passionate about the DHS mission and creating a learning and growth platform for our team to deepen their knowledge and connections to DHS.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Lead with questions and seek to understand.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know?
I used to be a metalhead… my first concert ever at age 14 was AC/DC’s “Back in Black.”