Nate Copeland is vice president of growth & culture at Xcellent Technology Solutions, and is described in his bio as an “inclusive intelligence executive with decades of experience.”
With a career spanning business operations, capture, team leadership and organizational culture, Copeland brings a track record of building high-performing, inclusive teams that win.
“For the past 40 years, I’ve provided a broad range of intelligence services to multiple three-letter Intel agencies and the Department of Defense, both CONUS and OCONUS,” Copeland told WashingtonExec. “I’ve been honored to have served in uniform, with large companies, and both mid-sized and small businesses.”
Copeland credits his career path to one core strength: his ability to build and empower mission-focused teams.
“As is often said, ‘Hard skills get you hired, lack of soft skills get you fired,'” Copeland said. Below, he shares how that philosophy shaped his leadership style, the role his background plays in driving impact, why mentorship matters in GovCon and more.
Can you provide a brief overview of your professional background and career progression? Please include what ultimately landed you in your current role.
In reflecting back, from growing up in Southeast Washington, D.C., to high school as marching band drum major, to college, to the military, to corporate America, my strength has always been my passion for employing my soft skills – succeeding through others.
At an early age, I found that my personal leadership style is motivating to teams. I take time to learn teams in my purview and leverage their strengths in the accomplishment of our mission- whatever that mission is (from a high school football halftime show back in the day to onsite customer delivery for our Federal customers today). I’m deeply in tune with my weaknesses and have always surrounded myself with folks that fill those gaps.
Once the team is secured, I’ve done what I do best – love on those folks (i.e. listen to them, empower them, develop them, take time for them, etc.). They embrace my vision, drive results, and we succeed together. Now looking back, it’s something I’ve done at every step of my 40 year career.
Why was this the path you chose, and how influential was it to your career?
As stated above, “Hard skills get you hired, lack soft skills get you fired.” While my soft skills are part of who I am, it was the Air Force that initially “tagged” my hard skills. Back in 1984, during my junior year of college, I visited a local Air Force Recruiter and ultimately took the AF Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT). The results of that test revealed that I was very analytical – go figure . . . as a soft skills kind of guy.
From there, the Air Force suggested that I would be a perfect fit in the Intelligence career field- specifically, as an Imagery Intelligence Officer. Unknowing what that was, I accepted the challenge and have never looked back. Now referred to as Geospatial Intelligence, I’ve served in varying technical, management, and leadership roles for the past 40 years. Thank you AF for seeing in me something I had never considered as the path for my professional life.
How important is mentorship & networking in GovCon? Were they influential to your career?
Networking and mentorship is VITAL to success. I’ve benefited from many folks pouring in to me over the years, and, in turn, I’ve given back that gift of mentorship. Those relationships have just exponentially grown through the years. That is greatly beneficial for trust across industry resulting in effective business development and growth.
What is something most people don’t know about you personally?
I’m “musically motivated.” As a former trumpet player, now singer, and DJ, I find respite in music. Whether it’s leading people in to spiritual reflection as a worship leader, or driving unbridled fun at an event as a DJ, music feeds me and allows me to unplug from the intensity of the Intelligence Community and GovCon.