Episode #2
From Startup to $90M: The Leadership, Culture & Communication Behind GovCon Growth
Brett McLaren spent 13 years building Metaphase from the ground up—and then he walked away. Not because the company failed. Not because he had to. Because he was done in the way only founders understand. In this episode of GovCom: It's a Vibe , Alexa Tsui sits down with Brett McLaren, Founder of Breakaway Consulting and former CEO & Co-Founder of Metaphase, for the kind of conversation that happens when two people who've spent years in the GovCon trenches finally hit the record button. They talk about founder burnout, the challenge of going from generalist to specialist as a company grows, and why it's almost impossible to recognize burnout when you're living inside it. Brett also shares how a backpacking trip across Europe with his teenage daughter helped him reset, reconnect with what energizes him, and ultimately led him to his next chapter: helping businesses build AI-powered organizational intelligence through Breakaway Consulting. Along the way, Alexa and Brett dive into: • Why founders often feel like fish out of water in the companies they built • The difference between work that creates energy and work that drains it • WIFO moments—and why every entrepreneur has them • Building a "corporate brain" with AI • Why most companies are still only scratching the surface of AI adoption • The proposed SBA size standard changes and what they could mean for GovCon • Niching down, standing out, and surviving in an increasingly competitive market • Why branding may be more important than ever in the age of AI-generated sameness From leadership and entrepreneurship to federal contracting and artificial intelligence, this conversation covers the challenges—and opportunities—facing GovCon companies right now. Real talk. No press release. Guest: Brett McLaren, Founder, Breakaway Consulting | Former CEO & Co-Founder, Metaphase #GovComItsAVibe #GovCon #GovernmentContracting #FederalContracting #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #GovTech #SmallBusiness #FORUMMediaNetwork #BreakawayConsulting Connect with FORUM Website: https://www.govforum.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/govforum Connect with the Host ️ Alexa Tsui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexatsui Interested in more conversations on government contracting, federal technology, leadership, growth strategy, and the future of GovCom? Follow #GOVCOM: It's a Vibe for new episodes featuring the leaders shaping the federal marketplace.
