ATFM episode 42: Modernizing Air Force financial management

What does it take to lead through change? For Lara Sayer, it starts with staying open to unfamiliar opportunities, trusting the people around you, and continuing to learn. In this episode of the All Things Financial Management podcast, presented by the Society of Defense Financial Management (SDFM) and Guidehouse, Ms. Sayer joins host Ruba Elbasha to trace her path from music to Air Force financial management and discuss PPBE reform, audit, workforce development, and the growing role of AI.

Ms. Sayer's story

So when I was in college, I worked on a music degree in my undergrad, and I had dreams of being a professional singer. But ultimately, I decided that that career wasn't the best fit for me, and I went on to get a Master's in Business Administration. And as I was trying to figure out what to do with my life, a family friend suggested that I apply for the Air Force PALACE Acquire Program. I was in Dayton, Ohio, where I'm from, and I drove over to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and completed an application in-person. And then several months later, I was accepted into the program, and I moved across the country to work at Los Angeles Air Force Base as a GS-7 Target 11 financial analyst. This really turned out to be a great fit for me, as music is all about numbers and math, so my degree translated well into the financial management field.

And from that point on, I jumped at every new opportunity and challenge that I could, whether it was a different part of financial management work in budget or cost estimating, earned value management, or audit. I did some time as an executive officer, and I've even had experience not just within the Air Force, but across the Navy, U.S. Special Operations Command, and even Congress. I can't believe how fast 28 years have gone by. It still feels a bit like a whirlwind, and I feel very blessed every day that I get to do this work for a living.

Read the full transcript