In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire sits down with Nicole Mayerhauser, co-founder and COO of Emerald One and a former federal executive with nearly two decades of service. Nicole shares her journey from economist at the Bureau of Economic Analysis to senior leadership at the VA, and now to entrepreneurship. She dives into the importance of outcomes-driven work, building meaningful relationships beyond agency walls, and how her government background gives her team a unique edge in consulting.  Nicole also opens up about the misconceptions surrounding federal employees and stresses the urgent need for leadership development even amidst budget cuts. Her reflections offer both practical advice and a passionate defense of the federal workforce. To connect with Nicole, visit her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Emerald One, visit their webpage here. If you liked listening to this episode, view our Former Fed Perspectives page here. To view all of our podcast series, visit our podcast page. Thank you to our sponsor vTech Solution.