Kari Smith

What led you to your career, or what inspired you to build a career in national security?

I was inspired to work in national security following an internship at the Federal Aviation Administration. While there, I learned about the variety of technologies impacting national security, including Artificial Intelligence, how it is used and its incredible potential.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Building positive work relationships while being encouraged to create a healthy work-life balance with a healthy work culture. 

Can you describe a skill you have carried throughout your career that has always proved to be valuable?

The most valuable skill that I have constantly used is being able to problem solve.  As a project team lead and quality assurance analyst, my role requires technical problem solving but I also help my team members learn how to improve their analysis and problem solving skills by talking through questions, details and guiding them to the answer instead of just giving it to them. 

What is your favorite movie, book, TV Show, or Podcast? Why?

One of my favorite tv shows/books is Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I like how Martin depicts the characters in the story such as Arya Stark as being smart and cunning, in a way that allows both readers/viewers to either have strong positive options of the character or have strong negative opinions such as Joffery. I also like how George Martin was inspired to write Game of Thrones from an event called War of the Roses in which two houses Lancasters and the Yorks, were fighting over the throne of England.