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Tell us about your academic background and what inspired you to
pursue a career in government contracting.
I was lucky enough that government contracting seemed to have found me. During my last semester of law school, Wright Patterson AFB held an informational session on government contracting in collaboration with the associated business school. I was so inspired by the interesting career field and the mix of law, business, and government that I immediately
interviewed.
In addition, I jumped at the chance to give back to my country and pay homage to my grandfather who fought in World War II. My grandfather always wanted to be an Air Force pilot and it has been an absolute honor to work on some of the next-generation aircraft platforms in partnership with so many remarkable Airman. I have been very fortunate to have amazing growth opportunities and challenging positions with the Air Force that have honed my technical and leadership skills.
What is your approach to online teaching, and how do you aim to inspire students in your classes?
My goal is to give each student hands-on, practical experience drafting government contracting documents—expanding upon the book knowledge learned throughout all their government contracting courses.
My course is unique in that after learning a module, the student is encouraged to apply that knowledge—utilizing both individual and group projects. By developing these projects in collaboration with other students and myself, this hands-on experience solidifies the learning material. It has been so rewarding to hear students tell me years later that this course helped them excel in a new position or give them the confidence to take on a new opportunity at work.
Given the ever-evolving landscape, are there any emerging trends or changes in your field that you find particularly intriguing or promising?
Regarding employment, I think this is a career field that will forever need great talent. The challenges in government contracting require "the best" and investing in this career will pay dividends. There is a high level of personal satisfaction since there are always so many opportunities and new things to learn. You can go your whole career and never be bored!
Regarding industry trends, I think data rights and commerciality will be at the forefront as agencies look at innovative and more agile ways to procure goods and services.
Tell us a little bit about yourself outside the classroom.
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Favorite food? Italian food is my favorite, and you can never go wrong with a great pizza.
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Hobbies? I have three small children, so when I am not their Uber driver, I enjoy reading a good thriller. I am also exploring the world of podcasts and am looking to create one soon!
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Guity Pleasure? My guilty pleasure is any show on Bravo TV. My housewife tagline would be: “Diamonds aren’t a girl’s best friend ... an education is, and I am always in learning mode.”
For more of Molly Colaneri's wealth of knowledge and expertise in government contracting, be sure to enroll in her Contracts III: Drafting course.
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