“I wonder if when my family is talking about the deep state, if they realize that they are actually talking about me.” – Cadienne Hopkins
The term “deep state” developed in the 1990s, but it started to make headlines and come up more in dinner time parlance in the political fractures and era of distrust brought about in the past decade. The prevalence of the term – often used to disparage those working in critical functions within the Intelligence Community and national security – made Cadienne Hopkins, director of the Amazing Women in the Intelligence Community (AWIC), wonder if many who used the term really understood what they were describing.
This episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast discusses an exciting project recently launched by AWIC to help tell some of the untold stories of amazing women who have supported the IC in some big ways.
Hopkins is co-founder of the Command Purpose Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women veterans through their transition from active duty to civilian life,the co-creator and producer of the Iron Butterfly podcast, and works in the private sector trying to help government build safe, resilient, and sustainable supply chains. Megan Jaffer, co-host of Iron of Butterfly Podcast, co-founder of AWIC, and Board of Director for The Command Purpose Foundation, also joined the podcast to discuss AWIC’s latest project, and why storytelling is a key part of advancing the work of women and underrepresented groups in the IC.
A podcast created as virtual programming at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has morphed from a wee caterpillar into Iron Butterfly Media, an even bigger a platform where real stories from women can be shared, honored, and celebrated.
Jaffer and Hopkins discuss how they hope to shift the mindsets in the IC – from a gun toting James Bond to people who have common backgrounds and enjoy things like gardening and spending time with family. Humanizing government workers or IC personnel is one goal of the film, along with inspiring younger generations to support work as a public servant.
From “Velvet Hammer” to “Rebel at Work” (code names of some of the interviewees), Jaffer and Hopkins share notable stories they’ve come across, along with moving words of wisdom for listeners who currently support the IC or would like to. “You can do anything,” Jaffer notes. “It just has to stem from idea, along with the support of your people.”
Hopkin notes that “the thing that makes [these women] unique, which can be kind of a rough edge and doesn’t fit into a box – they have leaned into that.”
When you’re not a part of the majority – you’re expected to sand those edges. Hopkins and Jaffer hope this film is the permission someone needs to lean in on their distinctiveness supporting the IC.
