Transforming a Federal Agency

Introduction: What the Reader Can Expect

“Never retire.” I often reflect on the conversation I had with Frank Dragotta, my high school principal, about 30 years after graduation. I was playing golf with my father-in-law and his friend, Frank. We were on a golf course near my hometown of Belvidere, New Jersey, which is tucked away in the northwestern part of the state. Belvidere is basically a tiny country town surrounded by farmland, and I visit the area too infrequently. Turning to the back nine, we got to talking about my career and the fact that my firm, where I was a partner, had a young mandatory retirement age. Frank said, “Never retire. You'll be bored. With your mind and skills, you'll want, and need, to do something.”

Frank was right, and his words have reverberated around in my thoughts ever since. Since I'm an extreme planner, when I turned 50 I started thinking about life after retirement. I would be financially okay, but I wanted to continue doing meaningful work and keeping my mind active. I grew up with humble beginnings, and giving back from a successful career in some way was important to me.

Another 10 years later, after a full 37-year career, I was facing retirement as a senior global assurance partner with Ernst & Young. At EY, retirement is pre-fixed around 60 years of age; it's part of the partnership agreement signed many years earlier. While I considered which road to take next, I received a surprising email from the White House. Before I knew it—though ...