Episode 906: Unexpected Harmony: From Musician to GovCon Innovator - A Remarkable Journey | Jennifer Hanks

Diving into government contracting is no small feat—it’s a bold undertaking requiring courage and a deep grasp of the intricate landscape of policy making and implementation. As this challenging yet rewarding path unfolds, Jennifer Hanks, CEO of MMC Consulting and Co-Founder of Fed Propel Institute, seizes the opportunity with determination.

In this episode, Jennifer shares strategies for building and managing cost-effective teams, navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the unexpected twists of starting MMC Consulting amid pregnancy and parenting during the pandemic. Discover her commitment to shaping the next generation of acquisition professionals and the impactful initiatives of the FedPROPEL Institute, designed to empower women, veterans, and minority-owned businesses.

Tune in to learn more about how she sheds light on the imperative of staying informed, adapting to constant policy and technology changes, and the strategic development necessary to thrive and remain relevant in the ever-evolving government contracting arena.

Thriving Points:

• Imposter syndrome is real. And it's like, as confident as we can be, there are going to be those moments where you doubt yourself. - Jennifer Hanks 
• Even in your own business, there's going to be things that don't go as planned. And in that moment, we just had an attitude of we're doing this. - Jennifer Hanks 
• You're writing proposals and all of those things. It's those things that just make you stronger, more resilient. And you just gain a new respect for yourself, your partner, and your team. - Jennifer Hanks

Get to Know the Guest:

Jennifer Hanks, CFCM, NCMA Fellow, is a dedicated small business advocate and is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of MMC Consulting, LLC. MMC Consulting provides acquisition, program, and human capital management to federal and commercial clients with a commitment to delivering innovative solutions to challenges facing the federal government. Jennifer oversees the operations of MMC’s commercial and federal practice with a portfolio that exceeds $1B in value.

As a former warranted contracting officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), she obtained domestic and international contracting experience in Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Germany. She has also worked for several large federal contractors that gave her a complete understanding of the full buyer/seller experience and how to provide effective and creative solutions for clients. In addition to her responsibilities as CEO of MMC Consulting, Jennifer is also Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of The FedPROPEL Institute whose mission is to help 10,000 minority-led firms become elite federal contractors over the next decade.

Connect with Jennifer Hanks:

• Website
• LinkedIn

A Team Dklutr Production