The best leaders inspire by their actions backed up by their words.
Our teams’ deep passion and expertise in the mission inspire me. Every day I work with teams, including in law enforcement to keep us safe and facilitate the lawful movement of people, in our climate practice to bring data to better understand climate change, and in our aviation practice to secure the national airspace. There is nothing better.
Chris Hegedus is a leader in Booz Allen’s civil business, managing operations and growth for the firm’s domestic resilience practice. Chris’ deep expertise, which includes software development, cloud, and IT transformation, allows him to bridge the gap between mission needs and IT. He and his teams help clients define their technology needs and forge breakthrough solutions in law enforcement, immigration and migration, and climate and infrastructure.
Before joining Booz Allen, Chris worked for companies including Accenture, SAIC, and General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). Among his many accomplishments, he developed the case management system for the Securities Exchange Commission and core patent and trademark systems for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Chris holds a B.A. in international political economics from the College of William and Mary. He is also a certified program management professional.
What makes you excited to come to work every day? I most look forward to the interaction with my co-workers. I work with some of the smartest and most insightful people I have met in my career. Their passion for the client mission inspires me and keeps me interested every day.
What are the three most pressing needs in your industry? One of the most significant needs in our industry is to strengthen the link between IT and the mission. Too often, technical solutions are decoupled from the business need. Secondly, we must lead innovation for our federal clients by serving as a bridge to bring emerging and appropriate technologies to their attention. Finally, we must increase the technical talent pool to develop superstar technical consultants for whom we have a continual need.
How do you inspire your teams to do excellent work? How do your teams inspire you? My philosophy of leadership is to always lead from the front. I like to set examples of personal engagement and contribution to demonstrate the level of commitment I expect from teams. I see the best leaders inspiring by their actions backed up by their words. My teams inspire me with their deep passion for, and expertise in, the mission.
Why is it important for Booz Allen to be a diverse and inclusive workplace? Throughout my career, I have worked to create an inclusive work environment. Companies can become insular and develop common viewpoints. Diversity brings new perspectives that help us assess our practices and better tailor solutions for our diverse clients. I have found by making space for people, they feel safe to express their views. I then learn from them and adapt my behavior and approach to incorporate their perspectives.
