FTG 0044 – Being the Hero of Your Own Story with Former Diplomat, Defense Expert, Consultant, and Author Jaz Azari ’06

Following the Gong, a Podcast of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State

04/11/23 • 65 min

Overview:

Jaz Azari, Class of 2006, is a multitalented professional with experiences in diplomacy, defense, and consulting roles with the U.S. government, military, and private sector firms, currently serving as a Senior Consultant at Guidehouse in Washington, D.C. Jaz has previously worked with the Department of State and Department of Defense and was a Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Politics with Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in German Studies from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 2006, followed by an Masters of Art in War Studies from Kings College London. She joined Following the Gong to share her career path and insights with students. While helpful for students interested in her day job industries, this episode can be helpful for any Scholar trying to decide their thesis topic or exploring industries and majors. Jaz is also a published fantasy fiction author, and provides writing help, among other practical advice, for all Scholars. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes on your podcast app. With that, let’s dive into the conversation, following the gong.

Guest Bio:

Jaz Azari ’06 Lib is a Senior Consultant at Guidehouse in Washington, D.C. where she has helped clients with designing, developing, and implementing programs and facilitated client offsites and conversations to improve collaboration, communication, and strategic planning. Before joining Guidehouse in 2019, Jaz worked for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, was a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State and was a Fellow as part of the Global Fellowship Initiative for the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in Switzerland. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a dual B.A. in International Politics with Honors and German Studies with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. Jaz also holds an M.A. in War Studies from Kings College London, graduating with distinction. Jaz has worked on wide-ranging topics and is happy to speak about them further, including foreign policy and diplomacy, defense, military psychology, media broadcasts, environment, science, technology, maritime and oceanic issues, and entrepreneurship, among others. She is also the author of two young adult fantasy fiction novels, The Noble Rogues and The Obsidian Staff, Book One of The Lost Legacy Series. Please feel free to connect with her by email at [email protected] and visit her website at www.thelostlegacyseries.com.

Episode Topics:

Navigating a winding path to finding the right major for your interests and strengths
Learning from organizations, volunteer opportunities, and paid jobs
The importance of finding a motivating thesis topic, even if it’s “late in the game”
Writing tips for fiction, non-fiction, and business
Several stories and lots of advice from working with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and the State Department, as well as from think tanks, defense, diplomacy, and policy roles domestically and abroad
Integrating your interests, even if you didn’t major in them, into your career
A discussion of learning/training/development roles and techniques
A broad view of the differences between government and private sector employment
Helpful leadership advice for student leaders and organization
What it’s like being a published fantasy fiction author
Centering yourself as the hero of your own journey, setbacks and all
The pride of the Penn State network