Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions! Executive DoD Civilian, US Navy Engineer, & Leading With Questions | Steffanie Easter #07
"My biggest transition was going from asking questions from a knowledge-focused perspective to asking questions from an understanding perspective." - Steffanie Easter
Steffanie Easter grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and is a proud alumnus of North Carolina State, where she earned her chemical engineering undergraduate degree and, later, from the Catholic University of America, a master's degree in engineering. The latter portion of her illustrious 34-year career as a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian includes positions such as executive director of the Navy's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology and the first civilian director of Navy staff for the Chief of Naval operations.
Steffanie was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2002. She has been recognized with multiple awards including the Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Army Exceptional Civilian Service Award, and the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She also received the 2010 Black Engineer of the Year Award for Professional Achievement and the 2009 Women of Color Award for Managerial Leadership.
Since 2020, Steffanie has shifted to the private sector and served as a strategy executive and board member, helping companies work with the government.
Steffanie recounts learning through asking questions while growing up and her early career as a US Navy civilian. She explains mentors' impact in shaping her inquisitive leadership style, what taking risks looks like, and how to lead with transparency. Additionally, Steffanie discusses navigating power structures as a minority woman decision-maker, how one can be an ally through effective leadership, and her current pursuit of improving as a listener and practicing self-care.
Episode Notes:
Steffanie explains how she learned half an inch makes a difference on something as big as an aircraft carrier [2:20]
Defining the role of a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian [3:55]
Curiosity and questions growing up [5:30]
Understanding the power of questions [7:16]
Using questions to lead and put people at ease [8:07}
Mentors that modeled asking questions [9:50]
Taking risks and persisting [12:50]
Transitioning from doer to leader of doers and from knowing to understanding [23:20]
Coming to grips with not knowing everything and having to ask questions [26:30]
Leading with transparency [31:30]
Navigating the halls of power as a minority woman [34:30]
Building confidence is a continual process while remaining true to self [38:45]
How to be an ally to minorities [43:50]
The consistency between government and industry [48:05]
What people should know about the DoD [49:02]
Favorite questions [49:37]
Getting better at asking questions [53:00]
Questions at home [54:49]
Life as a beginner in self-care and listening more closely [59:00]
Additional question application [1:03:18]
Resources Mentioned
Department of Defense Civilian
Questions Asked
What did you learn about the difference a half an inch makes on an aircraft carrier?
What is the role of a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian?
Were curiosity and questions a part of your childhood, and how so?
Where's the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
Were your parents open to the difficult questions?
When did you learn the power of questions?
Did you have any mentors to model the use of questions?
What do you think you want to do?
Did you immediately add these tools to your toolbox?
How are you taking risks?
How do you persist?
What is your process for evaluating risk?
How did your questions change as you made that transition from doer to leader of doers?
How is your day going?
What was the internal talk when you thought that you should know the answer?
Why do I have to be the one to always ask?
I understand that to mean this; is that what you are talking about?
What does your product do?
As a black woman, how did you use questions to mitigate potential stereotypes in a field where few looked like you?
Am I missing anything?
What things could I [as a White male} do or do you think would be helpful?
How have questions changed between the government and industry?
What would you like people to know about the DOD?
What questions do you enjoy asking?
What does that look like for you?
How have you strengthened your question-asking game?
Does your family encounter your curiosity and questions at home or is it reserved only for work?
Will you just stop asking so many questions?
Why do you have to know everything?
What happened today at school?
What questions did you use to draw out details from your kids?
Who would you invite if we did something at the house?
What area of your life are you a beginner?
What is your metric for knowing you are getting better at listening?
When are you gonna start doing what you're saying?
Any other thoughts or encouragements about how questions might be used that we haven't touched on?
Where is the best place for folks to engage with you?
Would you be open to doing this?