{"id":34153,"date":"2022-06-05T08:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-05T12:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/?page_id=34153"},"modified":"2025-05-07T17:23:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T21:23:23","slug":"case-study-becoming-self-aware","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/public-service-leadership-institute\/tools\/case-study-becoming-self-aware\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study: Becoming Self-Aware"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/i>Back to all case studies<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\n
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Case Study: Becoming Self-Aware<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

How one public servant\u2019s strong self-awareness helped create a more nuclear-secure world<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For decades, the federal government has worked to keep nuclear facilities around the world safe and secure. In the early 2000s, these efforts hit a snag when yearlong talks between the Energy Department and the Russian Defense Ministry stalled, leaving nuclear materials in the former Soviet country vulnerable to theft and misuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dynamic federal leader finally broke the logjam: Nicole Nelson-Jean, a recently hired 28-year-old working in the National Nuclear Security Administration\u2019s Material Protection Control and Accounting Program. Soon after she joined the agency, Nelson-Jean became a critical member of the U.S. team that had been negotiating with Russian authorities. In just four months, she revived the stalemated talks and hammered out a landmark agreement that laid the groundwork for the construction of the Kola Technical Center, the country\u2019s first nuclear training facility. Afterward, she received a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal<\/a>, a premier award that recognizes innovation and leadership in the federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nelson-Jean\u2019s unique sense of self-awareness made this breakthrough possible. Despite being the youngest person on the team, she ably related her own experiences to those of her Russian counterparts, cultivating an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect that facilitated productive talks. The characteristics inherent in this approach\u2014an authentic communication style, intellectual curiosity and an ability to self-reflect \u2014have helped Nelson-Jean create a more nuclear-secure world throughout her nearly three-decade career in public service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I’m presented with an opportunity, I accept it and I move forward. I think many times we limit ourselves and say, \u2018I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. I’m not sure if that’s something that I can do, or if I have the educational background or the social background.\u2019 None of that comes to mind when I am presented with opportunities. I say yes.\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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