Lessons Learned for Vets
219 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratingsSupporting veterans to achieve career success as they navigate the challenges of transitioning out of the military. Each week we will bring you a new mentor who will teach you the lessons they have learned as they traveled the military transition path before you.
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Episodes
Season 4 Episode 158: Job Interview Success with Brenda Mariah - Part 1
April 24, 2024 04:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Brenda Mariah. If you are having trouble getting others to see your value or recognizing your own value, this is where Brenda shines. Brenda Mariah, of Push Career Management, is a career-focused speaker, wordsmith, storyteller, encourager, author and strategist. She is the president of the National Resume Writers Association, the past president of the Resume Writers and Career Coaches Association and is certified in intervi...
Season 4 Episode 157: The Emotions of the Military Transition with Mary Polanco - Part 2
April 03, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBWe continue our discussion with Mary Polanco on Part 2 of this 2-part series. On the previous episode, Mary discusses the importance of taking time for yourself during the military transition process and the reality that separating from the military may cause grief. During this episode, we dissect content from her newly published book, Your Final Debrief, and dive deeper into healthy ways to deal with complex emotions that may arise before, during and after the military transition. Mary be...
Season 4 Episode 156: Dealing with the Grief of Leaving the Military with Mary Polanco - Part 1
March 27, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBAfter serving 23 years in the US Air Force, Mary Polanco retired from the Air Force. She is the founder and CEO of Live and Lead Well and the author of Your Final Debrief, which she describes as a must-read guide to learning how to break free from the military mindset and craft the post service life you truly desire. During Season 3, episode 128, we talked with Mary about her transition. This episode focuses on content from her newly published book. Mary retired earlier than planned, at th...
Season 4 Episode 155: Learning How to Market Yourself with Clarissa Merced
March 20, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Clarissa Merced. Clarissa used the SkillBridge program to upskill and land a role with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). During her 2.5 years at the VBA, Clarissa realized she needed a job that was more stimulating and rewarding. She got serious about her job search and learned how to translate her military skills and effectively market herself. Her hard work paid off, a...
Season 4 Episode 154: Exploring SkillBridge with Dave Schantz - Part 2
March 13, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we continue our conversation with Dave Schantz, SkillBridge expert. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we encourage you to download Episode 153 and learn more about what the SkillBridge program is and what it isn’t. This episode focuses on the employment part of the SkillBridge program. Dave encourages service members to run weekly keyword searches on the SkillBridge locations page to learn what companies are offering opportunities t...
Season 4 Episode 153: Exploring SkillBridge with Dave Schantz - Part 1
March 06, 2024 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBWe are excited to welcome Dave Schantz to the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. After retiring from the US Navy in 2019, Dave built a SkillBridge opportunity at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). Once he learned how to navigate the SkillBridge approval process for GDIT, he took over the program to attract more transitioning service members to the organization. As the administrator for the DoD SkillBridge Community of Practice LinkedIn group for several years, he shares his knowl...
Season 4 Episode 152: Bouncing Back from Underemployment with Dr. Derek Moore
February 28, 2024 05:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome back Dr. Derek Moore. Derek was originally a guest in Season 1 for a Q&A episode. Since retiring in 2021 from the US Marine Corps, Derek’s journey has had highs and lows, including a period of unemployment and underemployment. Today, Derek is the Director of the Joint Military Leadership Center at the University of South Florida. One of Derek’s challenges during his military transition was relocating from North Carolina to...
Season 4 Episode 151: Navigating the Financial Decisions of Transition with Todd Nelson
February 21, 2024 05:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBOn this episode of the Lesson Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Todd Nelson. Although not a veteran himself, he has dedicated his career to helping service members navigate their finances as a financial advisor for Edward Jones. There are often unique financial challenges that accompany transitioning service members into their next career. Todd is the host of Transition 30, a network that uses quarterly Zoom calls to connect service members to resources and organizations that support the ...
Season 4 Episode 150: Taking the Focus off You for Job Search Success with Lori Norris
February 14, 2024 05:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, host Lori Norris shares the best ways to help candidates stand out from the crowd during the job search process. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but a candidate who can shift their focus from themself to the needs of an employer will rise above the applicant pool. Whether it’s your resume, LinkedIn profile, a networking event, an interview or a job fair, you must have a strategy. A strategic marketing plan begins with knowing ...
Season 4 Episode 149: Military Transition Q&A with Taylor Lau
February 07, 2024 05:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we bring you the first Q&A session of Season 4. Taylor Lau currently serves in the US Army and is scheduled to separate in October of 2024 with terminal leave beginning in July. She is currently pursuing Salesforce certifications but is also open to working for a defense contractor. What are the biggest pitfalls that plague transitioning service members as they make their move to the civilian workforce? One of the biggest issues pla...
Season 4 Episode 148: Removing the Mental Health Treatment Stigma with Major General Gregg Martin
January 31, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we host Major General Gregg Martin. During his 36-year career, MG Martin commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division and served as Commandant of the Army Engineer School, President of the National Defense University and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He is also the author of Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness. By 2014, MG Martin had been unknowingly living with bipolar disorder. After several an...
Season 4 Episode 147: Seeking Stability with Travis Pearce
January 24, 2024 05:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Army veteran Travis Pearce. Travis separated in 2009 with very little notice and without a defined plan. He stepped off an airplane with a cell phone, a duffle bag and his Army training. When Travis joined the Army, he started in EOD and was then reclassed as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. With his GI Bill benefit, he went to college to study engineering. His first job after the military was as a monorail mechanic at the Tampa ...
Season 4 Episode 146: Getting 1000 Veterans Hired with Jai Salters
January 17, 2024 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBWhile serving as an active-duty US Navy officer, Jai Salters is also the founder and executive director of ACT Now Education and founder and CEO of his own consulting firm. He has a mission to get 1000 military service members and their spouses employed by the time he retires from the Navy in 2027. He has already helped hundreds of people successfully navigate their transition. When Jai hit the 10-year mark in the military, he made the decision to continue until retirement. Without a colleg...
Season 4 Episode 145: Going from Officer to Dependent with Charlene Wilde
January 10, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBThis episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast kicks off our 4th Season! We are excited to host Charlene Wilde who served as a US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer for six years. As a veteran and military spouse, Charlene is now the Senior Vice President of Operations at American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA). This podcast focuses on how she transitioned back into the civilian workforce after an 11-year break and the strategies she used t...
Season 3 Episode 144: Winning the Military Transition Game with Shawn Welsh
November 08, 2023 05:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBShawn Welsh recently retired from the US Army after serving in the intelligence field, but he started his transition years prior. Using his intel skills, Shawn took advantage of 26 military transition programs and obtained 7 different certifications. He currently works in business continuity and is the host of the VET S.O.S. podcast, which he launched in May of 2022. Shawn teamed up with a fellow transitioning service member, and together they explored different events and programs in the m...
Season 3 Episode 143: Strategic Career Changes with Sean Oliva
November 01, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBAfter 17 years of service, Sean Oliva was medically retired from the US Army. Because he had spent 10 years in a recruiting role, Sean thought he could easily slide into a similar role on the civilian side. His job searching proved to be extremely challenging and competitive. After accepting a role with a nonprofit, he transitioned into a talent acquisition role with Boston Scientific. Recently, Sean made an internal move into a project management position. When Sean medically retired in 2...
Season 3 Episode 142: Standing Up for What You Believe with Mary Kate Soliva
October 25, 2023 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBWe welcome back Mary Kate Soliva to update us on her life since transitioning 2 years ago. Mary Kate served more than 11 years in the US Army, with much of her service dedicated to Special Operations Forces. In 2021, Mary Kate separated and transitioned into the Army Reserve. She worked as a program manager for the Project Management Institute and is now supporting Special Operations at Motive International. As the host of the Veteran Voices podcast, Mary Kate brings to light insights, persp...
Season 3 Episode 141: Military Transition Q&A with Nicholas Perez
October 18, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBOn this episode, we bring you a Q&A session with Air Force transitioning service member, Nicholas Perez. Like most service members, Nicholas has held a variety of positions in the Air Force. In his current role as Director of Technical Training, Nick equips 1,300+ maintenance technicians with the most current knowledge and skills to meet their customer needs. With plans to retire from the Air Force in less than a year, Nick has found his focus and chosen to pursue roles in learning and devel...
Season 3 Episode 140: Eating that Frog with Lori Norris
October 11, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBMark Twain said, “If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that it’s probably the worst thing that’s going to happen to you all day long.” You might be wondering what that quote has to do with the military transition. On this episode, we dive into the “Eat the Frog” concept. Your “frog” is a task or challenge that you have been avoiding and procrastinating because it is daunting. Maybe it’s writing your resume...
Season 3 Episode 139: Advocating for Veteran Rights and Wellness with Chris McGhee
October 04, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBWe welcome back Chris McGhee to give us an update on his career and advocacy work. After retiring from the United States Air Force in 2018, Chris moved to Maine and enrolled in law school. After earning his Juris Doctor in 2022, Chris began working as an attorney for Jackson & MacNicol. He is on track to earn his Master of Law degree by the end of the year. Chris is the host of the 20 Years Done podcast that focuses on organizational culture. This episode is dedicated to his advocacy work an...
Season 3 Episode 138: Doing Things that Scare You with Matthew Langseth
September 27, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.6 MBAfter serving 21 years as a soldier in the Army, Army National Guard and Active Guard Reserve, Matthew Langseth retired in 2019. His first post-military role was working for 3 years as a Knowledge Manager for an organization that supports the Army. He is currently the Military Veteran Programs Coordinator for the City of Tucson and is the Marketing and Events Director for Vets2Industry. After working 3 years for the DoD, Matt decided to go in a completely new direction. After landing a rol...
Season 3 Episode 137: Advice from a Dual Military Married Couple with Curtis and Oneika Brown
September 20, 2023 04:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBOn this episode, we welcome a dual military married couple that have both retired from the Air Force. Oneika Brown retired first, after working in aviation maintenance and intel. Since leaving the military in 2018, she has been working for a government contractor using her administrative skills. In addition, she uses her creative skills in sewing and launched an alterations and custom fashion design business. Curtis Brown had a diverse career in the Air Force where he served as an aircraft m...
Season 3 Episode 136: Focusing on the Next Step with Kim Campbell
September 13, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBAfter a 24-year career serving as a fighter pilot and senior military leader, Kim “KC” Campbell retired from the United States Air Force and is now the Managing Director of Victory Strategies, a leadership development firm, and serves on the board for Special Operators Transition Foundation. While serving in the military, Kim flew more than 100 combat missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is the author of the best-selling book Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Lea...
Season 3 Episode 135: From the Navy to the NFL with Chris Bailey
September 06, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBAfter serving as a commanding officer, aviator and leader at the US Naval Academy, Chris Bailey retired from the US Navy. Even with the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris was able to utilize several transition programs that helped him to articulate what he wanted for his next career. When a role opened up with the Washington Commanders NFL team to lead their SALUTE veteran and military outreach and engagement program, it was like a dream come true. Chris speaks on his difficult ...
Season 3 Episode 134: The Journey from Infantry to Education with Mike Brown
August 30, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBMichael Brown joined the Army right out of high school because he knew he wasn’t ready for college. After serving 4 years as an infantryman, Michael separated and used his GI Bill to attend Northern Michigan University. Earning a degree in political science and applied ethics, he went on to work for then Congressman-elect, Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq War Veteran ever elected to Congress. Michael served as his Military and Veterans Affairs Director where he supported projects such as the r...
Season 3 Episode 133: The Transformation in the Transition with Misty Moreno
August 23, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBWe are excited to welcome back Misty Moreno. On Season 1, Misty talked about how to leverage LinkedIn to build a solid network. Today, she shares new perspectives on the military transition. In 2020, Misty retired from the USAF and landed a role in HR with Continental. After 2 years, she transitioned from HR to a Lean Manufacturing Coach. Misty created and teaches the Associate Professional in Human Resources Certification Course for Vets2PM and is the author of Get Your $hit Together. Rec...
Season 3 Episode 132: What Does Warren Buffett Know about Military Transition with Ioannis Kiriazis
August 16, 2023 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBOn this episode, we welcome transitioning service member Ioannis Kiriazis, who goes by John to make pronouncing his name easier. John is a US Army Lieutenant Colonel who is retiring in March of 2024 and recently started his transition leave. During his service, John served in many roles including Professor of Military Science at Marquette University. He is scheduled to begin a SkillBridge internship with the Junior ROTC program and is also interested in exploring roles in the international r...
Season 3 Episode 131: Lessons Learned for Military Transition with Marina Rabinek and Kasie Valenti
August 09, 2023 04:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBWe continue with Part 2 of our miniseries sharing previously LIVE LinkedIn events that showcase trusted advisors and their top lessons for the military transition. On this episode we feature Marina Rabinek, who is the Founder and President of the Military Women’s Collective while serving as the West Coast Regional Director for Four Block. The Military Women’s Collective not only provides resources for homeless and food-insecure veterans, but it also gives mentorship opportunities to women tr...
Season 3 Episode 130: Lessons Learned for Military Transition with Charlie Martinez and Donald Thompson
August 02, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we are sharing a LIVE LinkedIn event we did a few months ago. Over the past 3 seasons, our podcasts have helped thousands of transitioning service members successfully navigate the unknown. During this event, we spoke with Charlie Martinez and Donald Thompson. Charlie’s career in the Air Force included human resources and operations management. Working in talent acquisition and recruiting for both large and small companies, Charlie cur...
Season 3 Episode 129: Sharing Wisdom from the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army Jack Tilley
July 26, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBServing as the 12th Sergeant Major of the US Army from 2000 until his retirement in 2004, Jack Tilley shares wisdom gained from a 36-year Army career and the successful career he’s had since hanging up the uniform. While in the US Army, he held a variety of leadership roles including tank commander, drill sergeant and Command Sergeant Major. After his retirement, he founded the American Freedom Foundation, a 501(c)3 that supports veterans and their families. He is also a management consultan...
Season 3 Episode 128: Changing Your Inner Voice with Mary Polanco
July 19, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBMary Polanco served 23 years in the United States Air Force in multiple high-level leadership roles. As her final assignment, Mary was the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Air Force Resilience Directorate at the Pentagon. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Live and Lead Well, LLC, an author, leadership trainer, transformational speaker and curriculum developer. Her focus is helping people prioritize self-health, well-being and resilience. When Mary was promoted to E-9, she had no plans ...
Season 3 Episode 127: Navigating Veteran Benefits with Dr. Paul Lawrence
July 12, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBKnowing how to effectively use your veteran benefits is a key part of post-military success. On this episode, we uncover how to navigate your benefits with help from Dr. Paul Lawrence. As a businessman, author and passionate veteran advocate, Dr. Lawrence served as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he was in charge of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and led a team of 25,000 people with an operating budget of $4 billion. Each year, he...
Season 3 Episode 126: Letting Go of Your Ego with Eric Brew
July 05, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBAfter serving 24 years in the Marine Corps and the Army, Eric Brew started his post-military career working for Still Serving Veterans. His most recent role has been Manager of Military Engagement at American Corporate Partners. He continues to serve and honor the military community by assisting them in building meaningful lives through connections to fulfilling careers and proactively strengthening the veteran community through example, leadership and collaboration. Retiring as a senior ...
Season 3 Episode 125: Changing the Way We View Failure with A.J. Yawn
June 28, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBFrom a Division 1 college athlete to a US Army officer to cybersecurity company founder to now a partner at a Top 20 CPA firm, AJ Yawn has experienced as many setbacks as successes. AJ has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in regard to mental health and is joining us today to talk about taking care of your mental health, lessons he’s learned from founding a start-up company and how he landed a role as a partner in an accounting and business consulting firm despite not having either in ...
Season 3 Episode 124: Transformation Instead of Transactions with Kevin Greene
June 21, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBRetiring from the Army in 2021, Kevin Greene started his transition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Kevin spent the first 8 years of his military career as an infantryman, the bulk of his career was spent as a recruiter. Thanks to a mentor who taught him how to translate his army recruiting skills and experience, he was able to pivot from a business development role to a career in technical recruiting and talent acquisition, first for Amazon and now for iCIMS. Kevin is active on Linke...
Season 3 Episode 123: Resume Writing Tips and Tricks, Part 2 with Marisol Maloney
June 14, 2023 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we continue our conversation with Marisol Maloney. On the previous episode, Marisol discussed her transition and her insights as a recruiter. While working with veterans and transitioning service members during the recruiting process, Marisol realized the military community could benefit from her wisdom as a recruiter. She is the founder of Secret Squirrel Consulting, which provides resume services and military-to-transition coaching. ...
Season 3 Episode 122: Charting a Career Path Full of Pivots with Marisol Maloney
June 07, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBMarisol Maloney is a retired Navy veteran, military spouse, recruiter for a defense contracting company and an entrepreneur. During her military career, Marisol experienced many pivots. Starting as an enlisted sailor in the logistics field, she transitioned to become an officer and nurse. After 10 years in nursing, she became an intel officer before retiring in 2019. She is the founder of Secret Squirrel Consulting, a company that provides resume services and military-to-civilian transition ...
Season 3 Episode 121: Embracing the Inevitable Changes in Military Transition with Bruce Thompson
May 31, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Bruce Thompson. In the military transition space, Bruce is one of the most prolific veteran advocates and volunteers. Retiring from the Marine Corps 7 years ago, Bruce is now the Executive Director of The ASCEND Collective, the nonprofit arm of Talents ASCEND. This organization not only works with underserved communities to help them become employment ready, but it also partners with employers to ...
Season 3 Episode 120: Backwards Planning Your Military Transition, Part 2 with Ken Davenport
May 24, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBOn this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we conclude our 2-part series with Ken Davenport. Author of The Stoic Transition, a Guide to How Veterans can Thrive in their Next Adventure, Ken brings a fresh, civilian perspective to the military transition process. Ken encourages transitioning service members to start the process at least 18 months out. While this is common advice, Ken further explains why. There is a massive amount of information that is passed to service member...
Season 3 Episode 119: Applying Stoicism to Your Military Transition with Ken Davenport
May 17, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBWe are pleased to welcome Ken Davenport to the microphone on this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. For more than a decade, Ken has provided mentorship to military veterans in their transition to the civilian world as a board member for the Travis Manion Foundation, instructor for Boots to Business at the Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University and FourBlock. As an entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of Mission Edge, a social impact organization ...
Season 3 Episode 118: Navigating Nonverbal Communication with Lori Norris
May 10, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBOn this week’s episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we are pausing our traditional format to bring you an episode focused solely on nonverbal communication. Did you know that only 7% of how you communicate with the world is from the words that come out of your mouth? This means that 93% of how you engage with the world is through nonverbal communication. This term includes your grooming and how you’re dressed, your body language and your tone of voice. People make impressions o...
Season 3 Episode 117: Focusing on the Next Chapter with Jesse Gemberling-Johnson
May 03, 2023 04:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBHaving served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer, Jesse Gemberling-Johnson uses skills he developed in the military as the Director of Talent Recruitment and Development for MCFA, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and consulting firm. With 15 years of project leadership and human capital strategy experience, he works with both public and private sector clients in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. He recently published a thesis, “An...
Season 3 Episode 116: Military Transition Q&A with Jennifer Jones
April 26, 2023 04:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBJennifer Jones is wrapping up her 20-year career in the US Air Force as a paralegal manager who trains and develops 350 other legal professionals. Jennifer is in the process of transitioning and is contemplating roles in the human resources, data analytics or financial fields. On this episode, Jennifer asks questions to help clarify the actions she needs to take for a successful transition. I have heard it said many times that superintendents are "jack of all trades, master of none.” How d...
Season 3 Episode 115: Taking a Step Back to Move Forward with Leon Thomas
April 19, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBLeon Thomas wrapped up his Air Force career as the Airman Leadership School Commandant. Retiring in 2022, Leon is now in a learning and development role with Allstate, a Fortune 100 company. Though he landed a great role that provides well for his family, he has experienced some challenges along the way. As a veteran with an impressive career in the military, Leon believed he would have multiple job offers when he retired. Over the course of 3 months, Leon applied to 30 jobs and was fortun...
Season 3 Episode 114: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable with William Wunschel
April 12, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBWilliam Wunschel is currently in the process of retiring from the United States Air Force as a senior maintenance officer. Over the course of his 20 years in the military, Bill has held leadership positions at the tactical, strategic and headquarters levels. He began his terminal leave in early February, with an official retirement date of June 2023. Over the past several weeks, Bill has narrowed his search to program management positions and tailored his resume accordingly. In addition, he ...
Season 3 Episode 113: Getting Intentional with Shirley Baez
April 05, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBRetiring from the Army in 2021, Shirley Baez went directly from the military to her first job. Like many veterans, Shirley left her first role for a better fit within a year after retiring. Learning from her own transition, Shirley encourages servicemembers to take time for introspection and learn how to shift from a military mindset to one that focuses on the future. She is passionate about advocating for veteran entrepreneurship and volunteers with Action Zone, an organization that is ded...
Season 3 Episode 112: Sharing Hard Truths with Keith Cassant
March 29, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBWhen Keith Cassant retired from the U.S. Army in 2019, his intention was to transition straight into a role in law enforcement. After learning he was physically ineligible, Keith had to find a new focus. Since retiring, Keith has held four different roles. His current position with Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a great fit, and Keith shares the lessons he learned along the way. Like many veterans, Keith made the initial mistake of putting all his eggs in one basket...
Season 3 Episode 111: The Quality over Quantity Debate with Josh Mason
March 22, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBAfter serving as a military cargo pilot, Josh Mason transitioned his career focus in the US Air Force to cybersecurity. Leaving the military in 2019, Josh has had an exciting and diverse employment history. He has taught at the US Air Force Special Operations School, the DoD Cyber Crime Center’s Cyber Training Academy and the veteran training organization, WithYouWithMe. Today, Josh builds curriculum and teaches cybersecurity tactics and techniques as a Senior Instructor at Neuvik Solutions....
Season 3 Episode 110: Bouncing Back from Being Laid Off with Jonathan Fisher
March 15, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBUS Army veteran Jonathan Fisher spent his military career in aviation maintenance. When he decided to retire, he also made the decision to start his next career in the IT industry. Using SkillBridge as a launching pad to land his first role with start-up company, ByteChek, Jonathan worked as an Auditor and GRC Engineer. With financial trouble looming due to economic uncertainty, Jonathan and his coworkers unfortunately lost their jobs. However, using the power of LinkedIn and relying on his ...
Season 3 Episode 109: Figuring Out Who You Are with Bob Newlin
March 08, 2023 05:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBWe welcome back to the microphone, Bob Newlin, who joins us on this episode to reflect on his transition after hanging up the uniform 18 months ago. Bob’s diverse career in the United States Air Force included time in the USAF band and as a defense attaché, most recently to Ukraine. His transition wasn’t smooth, especially with the added challenge of transitioning from overseas. However, his transition has been successful. Today, Bob works in quality assurance at Bristol Myers Squibb. For th...