2012 NextGen Schedule & Information

Make Friends & Eat

Dave Uejio, Lead for Talent Acquisition, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and President, Young Government Leaders
Steve Ressler, Co-Founder, Young Government Leaders & President, Govloop

”What Do Change-makers Have in Common”
Andrew Rasiej, Founder, Personal Democracy Forum RECAP VIDEO

”Corporate Rebel: How to be an Intrapraneur within Government”
Carmen Medina, Former CIA Director of Intelligence, author of series “Corporate Rebel” RECAP AUDIO VIDEO

”Creating Innovation in Government”
Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer RECAP VIDEO

Break

Government as a classical bureaucracy now has challenges in terms of a rapidly changing world, the rise of social networks both within and across agencies, the increased role of non-government and private sector organizations, and the increased need for greater fiduciary responsibility. Learn how to think horizontally and work across groups – while also operating within the classical hierarchy of the bureaucracy.

To solve social problems, the government must find creative ways to work with other types of organizations including foundations, private companies, and non-profit organizations. In this session, you will learn about innovative examples of cross-sector collaboration. The presenters will also provide you with tips on how to engage in cross-sector collaboration in your own work in the government.

From TSP to FEGLI to HSAs, financial planning can be boring and full of acronyms. But, it’s essential. Come to this session to learn the nuts and bolts about insurance and retirement in understandable English and tailored to the young fed experience. After all it’s not a benefit unless you understand it. RECAP  SLIDES DOCUMENT

There is a science to project management called the PMP exam. However, there is a true art to actually getting big projects done in government. Hear from young successful government leaders on how to get projects done in government – navigating the bureaucracy to building teams and alliances. RECAP  SLIDES

Sustainability is more than just a buzz word – it’s a widespread business model and an increasingly important federal government priority. Sustainability is not just about protecting environmental resources, there are financial and public health implications as well. This panel will discuss various ways of addressing sustainability from both public and private sector perspectives, and why all should be paying attention to sustainability policies, programs, and practices. RELATED INTERVIEW

There is an art to giving and receiving feedback. To get better, feedback is necessary – but it also can backfire if handled poorly. This session is for managers and non-managers and addresses the art of feedback and working with subordinates or peers/team members. SLIDES

Navigating steps, grades, and competition through USA Jobs can be overwhelming. This session will teach you the strategies and tips for boosting your federal career. You’ll learn how to maximize your resume, accelerate your advancement, and make a lasting impression on your organization. RECAP  SLIDES

Break

America needs a fundamental rethinking in the nonprofit and public sectors if we are to solve our most pressing social challenges. The cruel irony is that supply of funding for nonprofit and government services is diminishing at precisely the moment when the demand is soaring. To rise to these challenges, nonprofit and public-sector leaders will need to build on what they’ve already accomplished and increase their performance. In the midst of dramatic structural shifts, our society will only be as strong and successful as our institutions, and they will only be as successful as the talent that leads them. RECAP

Break

Being a seasoned government leader requires you to know what expectations government was designed to reward — and then make deliberate decisions when to work within expectations and when to step outside of them. This panel will discuss experiences and strategies for identifying knowing when to blend-in and when to rebel; when to operate within expectations and when to operate outside of them and survive.

This first-hand overview of how Congress affects the daily operations of every department and agency in the executive branch. He will provide tips on managing congressional relationships and dealing with congressional hearings on government programs. Additionally, he will provide an update on the 112th Congress and what government employees can expect this term. RECAP

To get ahead, it is important to have social grace and be savvy at the workplace. In this session, we’ll work through the fundamentals such as: how to work the room, work the halls, carry yourself, be reliable, dress to impress, interact across generations, behave at a meeting and navigate an organization.

Government agencies are using the power of analytics to understand government performance as well as analyze key trends, catch fraud, and drive better citizen engagement. In this session, you will learn tips on using data to effectively do your job better. Learn key analytical strategies that will help you become an analytical star within your agency or organization. SLIDES

All government agencies need input from stakeholders. So how do we increase civic engagement In 2012 across new technology channels and new forms of engagement? How do we co-create programs together with open innovation inside of working in silos? This session will talk about best practices in civic engagement and open innovation. RECAP

From giving a presentation to your SES to presenting your ideas in a meeting, it is essential to be a great public speaker. In this session, you’ll learn from Dave tricks on preparing a great presentation, creating compelling Powerpoint and presentation materials, and how to quickly and effectively pitch your idea at a meeting. RECAP SLIDES

One of the most effective ways to vault your career is by having a mentor. But sometimes you don’t know where to start. In this session, you’ll learn about GovLoop’s first-of-its-kind, government-wide mentors program and how you can get involved. We’ll have mentoring experts as well as a mentors and mentees from our Spring Program on hand to answer your questions in real-time. You can even sign up for our Fall 2012 Program on the spot. RECAP

Break

With the budget crunch confronting nearly every agency, federal employees are once again being asked to do more with less. Leaders offer continuous improvement and innovation as the answer, but where do you start? How do you generate good ideas? How do you take those good ideas all the way to implementation? Join us for a moderated, interactive panel discussion among leaders building their agencies’ innovation agendas. RECAP  SLIDES  AUDIO

Returning veterans come with many skills that would be perfect for federal jobs. However, it can be difficult to overcome the language barrier as military officers to transition to civilian life. This session will offer tips on translating skill sets and highlight new tools that help with the process.

There is no dispute that IQ matters in a leader. But what about EQ- emotional intelligence? Research shows that the most effective leaders – and the most effective and productive people in any role – aren’t those with the highest IQ, but those with high degrees of emotional intelligence (EQ). What does EQ mean and why does it matter? What does that mean in terms of your leadership skills? And how do you leverage those skills for your position, your career, your team and your work? This session will encourage you to answer those questions and put them into action.

Social media is no longer a fad or what you do for fun at night. Instead social media plays a big role in how to connect with citizens and improve collaboration in public service agencies. This session will teach you how to use social media effectively in government from tactical tips to insight on navigating the legal and security hurdles. RECAP SLIDES

To achieve a successful career government, no one is going to do it for you – you need to manage your own career. In this session, government leader Frank Digiammarino walks the audience through his career framework which provides a foundation to thinking through key decisions and building the skills to be the successful leader. RECAP GUIDE

Recent survey data reports that leaders spend between 30-40% of their week in meetings – that isn’t the worst of it, the survey also shares that leaders feel 50% of that meeting time is a waste of time!In a time where organizations want to ensure increased levels collaboration and teamwork it feels like more time is spent convening. This session will offer concrete tips on deciding what meetings are really necessary and for the ones that are, how to make meetings achieve the objective, take a minimum amount of time, and leave participants feeling that their time was well spent. RECAP  SLIDES

Managers of one are people who come up with their own goals and execute them. They don’t need heavy direction. They don’t need daily check-ins. They do what a manager would do – set the tone, assign items, determine what needs to get done, etc. – but they do it by themselves and for themselves.

Why is it that some view nonsupervisory work as “less than,” while some individual contributors develop significant influence and the ability to make things happen from any position that plays to their strengths? Effective preparation for either path involves developing a persistent belief in one’s own competence and understanding how to get results that matter to the organization. Trade insights with panelists who continually choose their paths from positions of strength, and come away with tools, connections, and next steps. SLIDES  RESOURCES

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Break

“A Journey Into Blindness: The Blind Professional”
Teresa Shea, National Institutes of Health RECAP VIDEO

Presentation of the NextGen Leadership Award

Registration Desk Opens & Office Hours

Participants will be grouped by job function and participate in a network and information sharing exercise

We all want to make a big impact on hard problems but big change in government is tough. In this session, we will talk to senior leaders about how to drive big change in government with real world examples how they’ve navigate successful outcomes with limited budgets, changing scope, and a myriad of stakeholders. RECAP

Break & Office Hours

Gen Y brings different skill-sets and cultural norms to management relative to Gen X and Baby Boomers. Discuss how these skill-sets both complement and may sometimes run counter to the management styles of other generations in government, and strategies for working across generations.

Come experience the power of design thinking in a fast-paced and hands-on activity. Design thinking is about tackling our world’s most complex problems in tangible and relevant ways by taking a human-centered and iterative approach to problem solving. It’s about putting more innovative options on the table. It’s about bringing ideas to life quickly through experiments to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s ultimately about opening ourselves to new possibilities in a time of uncertainty. Leading companies like Google, IDEO, and Facebook do this all the time, but it doesn’t stop there. Government has started doing it too!

There isn’t an app on the planet that can make you a better writer or critical thinker. These things come with practice, structure and support. Learn how to find your groove as a writer, as a thinker, and most importantly as a leader. RECAP SLIDES

Prezi as an alternative to Powerpoint, Dropbox as a means to share large files. Know that person in the office who always has the best tech tips? In this session, you will learn 50 ways to be more effective at work with tech tips from Code for America fellows. They will share tips, websites, and shortcuts they use to be more effective in getting the job done. SLIDES

How do you make the right decision? Big decisions are complex – sound decision making comes from a mix of experience, outreach to your network, and research. This session will describe best practices on how to gather research in decision making, empowering your team on decisions, and balancing the trade-offs in the decision making process. RECAP

Networking is a critical function in a successful career, and every individual must carefully select their networking opportunities to maximize their returns. This breakout session will discuss the importance of networking and how to use this tool to grow and sustain your personal network as well as provide insights on using your networking tool successfully. TOP TWEETS

Break

Matt Mullenweg, Founder, WordPress & Successful Young Entrepreneur
Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, White House 

Break

Office Hours

Acquisition is one piece of getting an agency the supplies and services it needs to accomplish its mission. Einstein is reported to have said that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend fifty-five minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution. Defining the problem or developing a good requirement is the foundation for a successful acquisition, yet far too often too little time is spent on this important step. Come spend an hour with us to explore the challenges in developing requirements and help us find some ways to more effectively identify and define government needs. Your input will be utilized in the development of upcoming government-wide acquisition guidance.

This workshop session will educate attendees in problem solving skills pertinent to improving technology. By attending, you’ll hear a United States Marshals Service (USMS) technologists describe the challenges they face with deploying advanced mobility platforms (iPads and iPhones) to a field force engaged in law enforcement activities. Participants will be asked to provide suggestions for an effective strategy that is compatible with the confidentiality and sensitivity of field operations. NextGen attendees will break out in teams to problem-solve, come up with new ideas, and propose solutions.

With diminishing resources, Government agencies are being asked to present budget justifications with evidence and rigorous evaluation. Strong evidence based on practical assumptions helps decision makers prioritize what is funded and helps frame a real debate on issues. What are the best techniques can agencies use to analyze and justify their budgets? What methods and tools should agencies use to conduct evidence analysis and how should the evidence be presented in budget documents? In this session, attendees will use interactive tools to discuss how agencies can jump data and analysis hurdles to develop and submit an evidence based budget submission.

Are you new to government? In the middle of a leadership program like PMF?

Hosted by the YGL Los Angeles and Philadelphia Chapter Presidents, this session will be a discussion about setting your career goals and what you can do to achieve them. Even if SES isn’t your ultimate destination, this session can still help you direct your career path and avoid a regretful retirement. Providing a menu of options, as well as practical Dos & Don’ts, the panel will include an up-and-coming NextGen leader, an SES member sharing their journey, and an OPM representative sharing leadership development & training opportunities for aspiring young leaders from PMF to SES, and everything in between. RECAP

Are you a new to the supervisory role or wanting to be a manager in the next few years? You might be asking: “What did I sign up for? Why does it matter? What does it take to be an effective manager?” This session will offer supervisor training amongst a panel of seasoned SES members sharing their proven practices on how to be a great manager from setting expectations, encouraging effective employee performance, learning the personnel and merit systems, and building a great team through coaching and mentoring. RECAP

Break

“Attributes of an Olympian”
Adam Nelson, 2-time Olympic Medal Winner, Shot Put AUDIO VIDEO