What happens when a finance analyst bets on himself and pivots into business development leadership?In this episode of "Rookies to Rockstars," Amanda Ziadeh and Camille Tuutti sit down with John Hart, executive vice president and chief growth officer at Agile Defense, to find out.John shares how flexibility became his secret weapon as he moved from crunching numbers to driving capture and growth strategies for major government contractors. He opens up about the risks that reshaped his career, the mentors who guided him and the mistakes that sharpened his leadership edge.From “trust but verify” lessons to the importance of self-propelled drive in BD roles, John offers candid insights you won’t hear anywhere else. He also tackles hot topics for the next generation — hybrid work, networking anxiety and why every interaction matters. Hear his tips for college students and early professionals on how to build presence, confidence and connections long before graduation. Learn why lateral moves can be powerful stepping stones and how to know when it’s time to move on — or stay and grow. And yes, John even reveals his most cringe-worthy early-career mistake and what it taught him about attention to detail.If you’re curious about carving a resilient, upward-moving path in GovCon or any high-stakes field, this episode is your playbook.

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