Uttam <> Jonathan

Date: February 6, 2026 Source: Granola Meeting ID: 021e73bb-c7c5-4e25-a2be-6344ef843f29 URL: https://notes.granola.ai/t/021e73bb-c7c5-4e25-a2be-6344ef843f29

Participants:

Summary

Former Marine infantry, transitioned to data/tech after service
Education: Management science undergrad, data science master’s
Career progression: USAA software development → data science → program/project management → Booz Allen (3 years)
Current role: Standing up data capabilities teams for government clients
- Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps clients
- Currently supporting Air Force cyber capabilities
- Integrating AI/ML into legacy government systems
- Staffing 116 FTE contract currently

Government pushing small business integration into contracts
Gap in market: insufficient small businesses to prime large opportunities
- Large firms like Booz Allen need small business partners to lead contracts
- Small businesses get prime position, large firms provide enterprise backbone
- Workshare arrangements between partners
8A classification removal opening doors for more small businesses
- Lower barrier to entry for federal space
- Many existing small consultancies will shrink due to bureaucratic overhead
- Prime opportunity for execution-focused firms like Brainforge

Seeking 90/10 split: 90% client relationship management, 10% technical proof-of-concepts
Wants to give direction rather than receive it (“bi-direction” vs taking orders)
Actively interviewing for director-level technical operations roles
Timeline: Actively looking now due to industry transformation window
Believes AI automation will eliminate traditional consulting roles soon
Interested in ownership, influence, and direct client impact
Values decentralized decision-making from military experience