Podcast

, , ,

BTU #228 - Career transition advice with Financial Advisor Bezan Morris

, , ,
BTU #228 - Career transition advice with Financial Advisor Bezan Morris

Why Listen:
Special thanks to Dan Piontkowski from BTU #90 for making the introduction to Bezan. In this interview we talk about taking the long-game in one’s career, and not rushing to get rich quick. Bezan gives some spot-on, tactical advice on networking, resume prep, LinkedIN profiles, financials responsibility, and other topics that are broadly applicable to anyone going through a career transition.  This is a resource-rich episode, so be sure to check out the show notes at BeyondTheUniform.io to check out links to all the books, podcasts, and more that we discuss. 

About Jesse:
Bezan Morris is a Financial Advisor at Raymond James, a public company based in Florida that provides financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. Bezan started out at the Naval Academy, after which he served in the Marine Corps as an Artillery Officer for over 6 years. His civilian career has included work at Toll Brothers, Turner Construction, Amazon, and Chewy.

, ,

BTU #227 - Navy Veteran to NASCAR Driver (Jesse Iwuji)

, ,
BTU #227 - Navy Veteran to NASCAR Driver (Jesse Iwuji)

Why Listen:
This is an inspirational episode. Jesse is a case study in pursuing one’s dream - figuring out what unique aspirations you have, finding others to hold you accountable, and not letting the opinions or doubts of others get in your way. Jesse talks about how he used a kickstarter campaign, credit cards, and his personal savings to inch his way closer - one race at a time - to becoming  a NASCAR driver. We talk about advocating for yourself, how to run a crowdfunding campaign, and how to train day in and day out to make your dreams come true. The topics we cover in this episode are relevant to every single career path - whether you too want to become a NASCAR driver, or want to start your own business, or write a book, or whatever your personal goals may be. If you like this episode check out our show notes at BeyondTheUniform.io, where, in addition to the resources we discuss in this episode, I also list 3 other episodes very similar to this one.

About Jesse:
Jesse Iwuji is the first active duty US Naval Officer to compete in NASCAR. He is also the Founder of The Red List Group which is an auto racing event company bringing drag racers together from the West to compete for trophies and cash prizes at track events. He started out at the Naval Academy, after which he served as a Surface Warfare Officer for 7 years before transitioning to the Navy Reserves. 

, ,

BTU #226 - Navy Corpsman to Performance Coach (Chris Diaz)

, ,
BTU #226 - Navy Corpsman to Performance Coach (Chris Diaz)

Why Listen:
Chris is a Performance Coach with prominent companies including Johnson & Johnson. In this interview we talk about the psychology of high performers. We talk about “perpetual transition” and how one’s transition from the military is a continuous and ongoing process, not a one-time event. We talk about finding a new purpose after the military, and how to build it out of one’s own experiences, values, and relationships. We talk about the process of pursuing a PhD, and more. 

About Chris:
Chris Diaz is a Performance Coach at Equilibria Leadership Consulting. He is also the co-Founder & Executive Director of Action Tank, which tackles tough problems by harnessing the experiences, skills, and relationships of service-minded citizens to improve the social conditions of our community.. Currently working toward a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Chris also serves as a performance coach for the Johnson and Johnson Human Performance Institute. Chris started out in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, where he served for 6 years. 

,

BTU #225 - 12 Strong and Combatting Terrorism (Mark Mitchell)

,
BTU #225 - 12 Strong and Combatting Terrorism (Mark Mitchell)

Why Listen:
If you have seen  the movie, 12 Strong, or read the book Horse Soldiers, you know a little bit about Mark’s work. Both in the military and out of it, Mark has played a pivotal role in our countries defense. In this interview, we talk about his work in special operations immediately after September 11th, as well as his career since his military service as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict. Mark works with a $13B budget and a 70,000 person team. This is a great interview for those of you looking to learn about government contracting roles or becoming a Senior Executive Service government employee, or those of you looking to hear some INCREDIBLE military stories.

About George:
Mark Mitchell is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. For those of you who have read the book Horse Soldiers, or seen the movie 12 Strong, you will be familiar with some of Mark’s incredible work. Mark started his career in the U.S. Army, where he served for over 28 years, most recently as a Colonel. Mark was among the first U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan after 9/11 and advised the Northern Alliance prior to the fall of the Taliban regime. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in the November 2001 Battle of Qala-I Jangi in Mazar-e Sharif.

, , ,

BTU #224 - 24 Year Army Vet to Principal at the McChrystal Group (Patrica Collins)

, , ,
BTU #224 - 24 Year Army Vet to Principal at the McChrystal Group (Patrica Collins)

Why Listen:
After the loss of her leg, Patty continued to serve on Active Duty and eventually competed for the US in the Paralympics. In this interview she talks about how her accident changed her view on athletics, and how to shift one’s thinking from Post Traumatic Stress to Post Traumatic Growth. We talk about the difficulties Veterans face in their career transition around finding a new identity, and how to get out of your comfort zone and find new goals to combat this. We talk  about the “imposter  syndrome,” workalike balance, consulting, and more.

About Patty:
Patty Collins is a Principal at the McChrystal Group, which has leadership development offerings that are designed to equip leaders with the knowledge and tools to shape culture and cultivate performance within their organizations. Patty served as an Army Communications Officer for over 24 years, and spent over seven years assigned to Special Mission units within the Joint Special Operations Command. After her transition from the military, Patty was a member of the 2016 US Paralympic Team, representing the U.S. in the sport of Triathlon in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Patty holds a Master’s degree from the National War College and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.

,

BTU #223 - Start with Why (Peter Docker)

,
BTU #223 - Start with Why (Peter Docker)

Why Listen:
Today’s interview was a real privilege for me. I saw Simon Sinek’s TED Talk years ago called, Start With Why, and it has had a major impact on my professional and personal life. If you have not seen this 20 minute video, you really owe it to yourself to check it out, as well as Simon’s book, Start With Why. My guest today is Simon’s right-hand man, and works with leaders throughout the world about helping them find and pursue their purpose. Many of the guests I’ve had on the show have talked about how difficult it is to find a new purpose after the military - this interview is exactly the help you need to set you on this path.

About Peter:
Peter Docker is part of the Start With Why team, where he helps individuals and organizations harness the power of Why. The result is extraordinary cultures and sustainable high performance. Peter is the co-author of Find Your Why, a practical guide on how to discover the Why for any individual, team or organization. He's also a guide of the online Why Discovery Course.

Peter's multifaceted career has included being an international negotiator, leading an aviation training and standards organization, teaching postgraduates at the UK’s Defence College and leading multibillion dollar international procurement projects.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Start With Why team since 2011, Peter works with organizations around the world to help them articulate their purpose, educate their leaders and to create cultures where each individual thrives.

, ,

BTU #220 - Live Podcast @ TIAA

, ,
BTU #220 - Live Podcast @ TIAA

Why Listen:
This is Beyond the Uniform’s first live podcast, and it took place in downtown Denver at the TIAA building. For those of you who are not familiar with TIAA, it is a 100 year old company, that is dedicated to helping those who teach, heal, and serve achieve financial well-being. TIAA is the leading provider of financial services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields, serving more than 5 million people.

In this live podcast interview, I speak with two TIAA team members about their military transition, and it was an honor to join each them on stage.

There were a whole host of people at TIAA who worked to put this together, but I wanted to say a special thanks in particular to Kadeem Collins. Kadeem came across my interview with Frank Van Buren, all the way back in episode #33, where we talked about Frank’s 18 years at Wells Fargo. That set in motion a journey that started nearly 6 months ago, putting together this first live show.

If you enjoy this format of a panel, write to us and let us know and we will try to do more episodes just like this. So with that, let’s dive in to my conversation with Joseph and Brian at TIAA.    

About Joseph & Brian:
Joseph Kaniatobe is a Financial Services Consultant at TIAA. He started out in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Sergeant and Forward Observer for over 7 years. After his military service, he worked at JPMorgan Chase as a Financial Advisor before joining TIAA.

Brian Fox is a Client Relationship Consultant in Wealth Management at TIAA. Brian started out in the Peace Corps, after which he served in the Navy for four years. He has worked at TIAA for over 14 years.

, , ,

BTU #221 - Navy Veteran to the Cannabis Industry @ CannaCraft (Cheriene Griffith)

, , ,
BTU #221 - Navy Veteran to the Cannabis Industry @ CannaCraft (Cheriene Griffith)

Why Listen:
The cannabis industry is absolutely exploding. In recent interviews I’ve talked with Veterans in the Crypto Currency / Blockchain space, as well as the Cyber Security space. Each of these industries seems to attract people who are passionate about the product or service, and a mission-driven culture. Well, in today’s interview, we talk about a very different industry that shares these same two characteristics: the marijuana industry. We talk about working in a stigmatized industry, how unique this field is given the current legislative environment, and how it’s not just an industry filled with stoners… there are legitimate operators, investors, and business people. And, we talk about why military Veterans should consider making this part of their career path.

About Cheriene:
Cheriene Griffith is Vice President Of Production at CannaCraft, a community oriented, sun-grown, sustainably farmed, Seed-to-shelf California cannabis producer & distributor. She started out at the Naval Academy, served in the Navy for five years, and has worked in Quality Assurance and Operations positions at the J.M. Smucker Company, the Crystal Geyser Water Company, La Tortilla Factory, CHEVOO, and more.

, ,

BTU #222 - Career Transition Advice from 16 Years of Recruiting (George Randle)

, ,
BTU #222 - Career Transition Advice from 16 Years of Recruiting (George Randle)

Why Listen:
Today’s interview is an absolute goldmine of career advice for transitioning military Veterans. George has spent his entire post-military career in recruiting and has some of the best answers about career transition I’ve had on the show. We talk about the two  biggest mistakes Veterans make in their transition to a civilian career. We talk about how to break down your job in the military. We talk about the black hole in recruiting, where your resume will never bet seen. We talk about the toughest question you will get in an interview and how to prepare. We talk about what to do after your interview, how to respond to a job offer, how to acclimate to a new job after your military service and more. George and I will be doing a follow-up interview, so if you have questions for George, please submit them on the BeyondTheUniform.io website.

About George:
George Randle is the Senior Director, Global Talent Acquisition at Forcepoint, the human-centric cybersecurity company that understands behavior and adapts security response and enforcement to risk. He started out in the Army, where he enslisted in 1984, and was commissioned via ROTC. He served in the Army for 21 years, with over 11 years on Active Duty. Since his military service, he has worked in the recruiting space at companies including BearingPoint, BoozAllen Hamilton, HP, and Millennium Management

, , , ,

BTU #219 - Quadruple Amputee to Recalibrated Warrior, NYT Best-Selling Author, and Non-Profit President (Travis Mills)

, , , ,
BTU #219 - Quadruple Amputee to Recalibrated Warrior, NYT Best-Selling Author, and Non-Profit President (Travis Mills)

Why Listen:
Travis is one of only five veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his quadruple amputee injuries. His life and story since then are inspiring, including becoming a NYT Best Selling author, starting the Travis Mills Foundation to help other “re-calibrated warriors”, to being the subject of an upcoming major motion picture release. He lives his motto: never give up, never quit.

About Travis:
Travis Mills is the President of the Travis Mills Group, President of the Travis Mills Foundation, and a NYT Best Selling Author of the book, Tough as They Come. On April 10, 2012, while a Staff Sergeant in the Army, Travis was on a mission during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. He set his backpack down – and a buried IED exploded on impact. When he woke up four days later on his 25th birthday, he had lost all four limbs. Travis is one of only five veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his quadruple amputee injuries. His journey since then has been one of hard work, inspiration, and helping other combat-injured vets. Last summer, SSG Mills and the Travis Mills Foundation opened a fully accessible facility for recalibrated warriors and their families. For the second year, the retreat offers – at no cost – adaptive sports, recreation, spa services, chef-prepared meals, and whatever else the families need to rest, relax, and reconnect. Travis is also an in-demand motivational speaker and the co-owner of a lodge and marina. His story is set to be the subject of a major motion picture which is expected to be directed by Sylvester Stallone, who will also co-star with Adam Driver. He is also the subject of the award-winning documentary, Travis: A Soldier’s Story.

Our Sponsor: 

  • This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

  • StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

  • Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

,

BTU #218 - Marine Corps Veteran to Founder of Warfighter Hemp (Steve Danyluk)

,
BTU #218 - Marine Corps Veteran to Founder of Warfighter Hemp (Steve Danyluk)

Why Listen:
There is a major problem in the military Veteran community around over-medication, suicide, and drug dependancies. While in the Marine Corps, Steve realized this epidemic, which led him to start Warfighter Hemp. In this episode we talk about the legally approved, non-psychoactive CBD Oil that his company sells. While CBD Oil helps with anxiety and pain, it is non-addictive, and does not build up a tolerance in one’s body like many drugs do. Additionally, we talk about starting a company while having a full-time job and more. Steve is offering a 50% discount to the Beyond the Uniform audience at https://www.warfighterhemp.com/btu

About Steve:
After returning from a ground combat tour in Iraq with the Marine Corps, Steve spent the following year working wounded issues, primarily in the National Capitol Region at Walter Reed and Bethesda. Steve was so troubled by what he perceived as the over-medication of service members and Veterans that it led to him founding an all volunteer non- profit with the mission of addressing the myriad problems of what he believed would become long term crisis. Unfortunately, his fears materialized, and today’s Veterans suffer one of the highest suicide rates on record. Steve founded Warfighter Hemp based on what he learned from wounded Warfighters he has befriended over the past decade. He currently serves as an unpaid consultant for Warfighter Hemp, a Veteran founded and run business that provides CBD to the Veteran community. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserves as a LtCol in 2014. His wife Valerie still serves on active duty in the Marine Corps in the National Capitol Region and was recently promoted to the rank of full Colonel. 

,

BTU #217 - Army Veteran to Cyber Security and the Department of Homeland Security (Malachi D. Scott)

,
BTU #217 - Army Veteran to Cyber Security and the Department of Homeland Security (Malachi D. Scott)

Why Listen:
Malachi went from the infantry into Cyber Security without any background in Cyber Security. We talk about federal jobs in general, and why Veterans should consider a career in Cyber Security. Malachi also managed to get a tremendous amount of education debt-free, and talks about all the Veteran resources he used to do this. We talk about all the fields inherent in Cyber Security and the 2 Million job openings anticipated in this field

About C. “Malachi” D. Scott:
Mr. C. “Malachi” D. Scott serves as Program Analyst with the Cybersecurity Education and Awareness Branch in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C), U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS). Before his current assignment with DHS, he was an IT Pathways Intern within SECIR. Prior to working for DHS, Mr. Scott served as an Analyst in the Executive Office of the President at the White House. Previously, Mr. Scott served as the Operations Maintenance Chief at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Mr. Scott also has served in the U.S. Army, and is currently serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard as an Infantryman. 

Mr. Scott graduated from University of Western Florida with a Graduate Teaching Certificate. He also holds a Bachelor of Science and two Associate of Applied Science degrees from Thomas Edison State University. Mr. Scott also holds Associate of Applied Science degrees from Hagerstown Community College. He also holds an Associate of Science Technology degree from Penn Foster College. Mr. Scott also holds a Diploma Nursing. 

Our Sponsor: 

  • This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

  • StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

  • Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

,

BTU #216 - Army Veteran to the Shark Tank & Rumi Spice (Kimberly Jung)

,
BTU #216 - Army Veteran to the Shark Tank & Rumi Spice (Kimberly Jung)

Why Listen:
Today’s guest was introduced to me by Kill Anderson, from episode 182 at the Pat Tillman Foundation, who described Kim Jung as someone who moves a “mile a minute.” That may be an understatement. Kim went from the Army, to Harvard Business School, where she started Rumi Spice, a for profit company that employs over 2,000 women in Afghanistan. She raised over $500k in 24 hours, appears on the TV show the Shark Tank, where she raised funds from Mark Cuban himself. And is now at MIT getting another advanced degree, and focusing on the space industry. She asks herself frequently about if she is operating at 100% happiness… and if not, finds a way to get there. There is something for everyone in this episode. 

About Kimberly Jung:
Kimberly Jung is a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Bunker Labs. She started out at West Point, after which she served as an officer in the Army for 5 years, most recently as a Brigade Construction Officer. After her military service, she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, and then started Rumi Spice, a for-profit social enterprise that imports saffron from Afghan farmers and cooperatives. 

,

BTU #215 - Army Veteran to Head of Cyber Security (Chris Koc)

,
BTU #215 - Army Veteran to Head of Cyber Security (Chris Koc)

Why Listen:
I’ve done several interviews about Cyber Security lately, but Chris is perhaps the most senior person I’ve spoken with on this subject. As Corporate Vice President of Cyber Incident Response at the New York Life Insurance company, as as Chief Information Officer previously at two separate companies, Chris has a very unique perspective. His story of switching from CIO to focus on cyber security, and about the incredible growth coming in this field is compelling for anyone even remotely interested in considering Cyber Security as a career path. We also talk about his experience in the Reserves and advice to other Veterans about considering staying in the Reserves.

About Chris Koc:
Chris Koc is the Corporate Vice President of Cyber Incident Response at the New York Life Insurance Company. He started out in the Army, where he served as a Communications Officer for over four years on Active Duty. Since his military service, he has worked at Accenture as a Technology Manager, at the Facility Group as their Chief Information Officer, LakePoint Sports as a Chief Information Officer, and more. He has served over 21 years in the Army Reserves, retiring at the rank of Colonel.

This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

  • StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

  • Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

,

BTU #214 - Army Veteran to Founder of Busy Baby Mat (Beth Fynbo, Bunker Labs)

,
BTU #214 - Army Veteran to Founder of Busy Baby Mat (Beth Fynbo, Bunker Labs)

While I’ve had a lot of guests on the show to talk about entrepreneurship, Beth is in the trenches right now, and towards the starting point of her entrepreneurial journey. In this raw interview, Beth opens up about a Kickstarter campaign she just launched, that didn’t work out as she hoped, and what she learned from that. She talks about the “imposter syndrome” and what it’s like to not feel like a “real entrepreneur.” She talks about working a full-time job, starting her own company, and raising her son, and not dropping the ball on any of those three. We talk about Bunker Labs, dreaming big and going for it, doing what you want to do, getting enough sleep, and fusing the gaps in your day.

About Beth:
Beth Fynbo is the Founder of Busy Baby Mat. She is also an Enterprise Account Manager at Cardinal Health, a global, integrated healthcare services and products company, providing customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices worldwide. She started out in the Army as a Crytpologic Linguist and Broadcast Journalist, where she served for over 10 years. Since her military service she has worked at the National Guard Bureau and Alutiiq.

,

BTU #213 - Navy Veteran to Cyber Security at FireEye (Lauren Burnell)

,
BTU #213 - Navy Veteran to Cyber Security at FireEye (Lauren Burnell)

Why Listen:
Lauren is the first person I’ve interviewed in the Cyber Security and Information Security space. This is an EXPLODING space that seems to be poised to continue to grow for a very long time. Lauren makes the case about how Veterans - regardless of your background - are well suited to this expanding field, which is very mission and team centric. There are going to be 3.5 Million unfilled security jobs by 2020… this is a BIG opening and opportunity for Veterans. We talk about how Cyber Security may meet a Veterans need for purpose and for a team-centric environment.

About Lauren:
Lauren Burnell heads up Federal Programs & Cloud Alliances at FireEye, a company that protects customers from the impact and consequences of cyber attacks. She started out at the Naval Academy, after which she earned her Master’s Degree in Political Science & Government at the University of College Park Maryland. She served as an Officer in the Navy 5 years before joining PCM-G as a Security Systems Architect.

,

BTU #212 - Founding The Institute of Veterans and Military Families (Michael Haynie, Ph.D)

,
BTU #212 - Founding The Institute of Veterans and Military Families (Michael Haynie, Ph.D)

Why Listen:
Michael is amongst the top thought leaders in the Veteran transition space in the country. In this interview, we talk about how IVMF is solving transition problems and opening transition pathways for Veterans and their families. We talk about business ownership, credentialing and licensing programs, and how IVMF helps with all of these - for free. We talk about entrepreneurship, and how fear is the biggest obstacle on this path. We talk about how the military trains people to be planners, and how this can be a major obstacle to success. And we talk about the cure: small, actionable steps.

About Mike:
Dr. Mike Haynie is the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation at Syracuse University. He is also the founding Executive Director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. The IVMF is the nation’s first, interdisciplinary academic institute focused purposefully on informing and impacting the policy, economic, wellness, and social concerns the nation’s veterans and their families. Today the IVMF’s educational programs directly impact more than 35,000 veterans and family members annually, and the IVMF is widely acknowledged as the nation’s hub of academic thought leadership related to the post-service concerns of America’s veterans and military-connected families.Michael started out as an Officer in the Air Force, where he served for 14 years. Mike also serves as an appointed member of the U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach, and as a member of the advisory committee for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Veterans Coming Home project.

, , ,

BTU #211 - Running the Bulls, Creating a Documentary, and Team Rubicon (Dennis Clancey)

, , ,
BTU #211 - Running the Bulls, Creating a Documentary, and Team Rubicon (Dennis Clancey)

Why Listen:
Dennis is a renaissance man. He started his career at Amazon, before transitioning to one of the nation’s pre-eminent nonprofits, Team Rubicon. Along with that, he has done the running of the bulls over 80 times over the last 12 years, and directed a documentary about his experience. Team Rubicon is an organization that should be on every Veterans radar. They unite the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. This meets a need for purpose, connection, contribution and excitement that many guests on my show have expressed they missed after their military service.

About Dennis:
Dennis Clancey is the Deputy Director of Field Operations for Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. He started out at West Point, after which he served in the Army for over six years earning a Bronze Star for combat leadership. Since his military service, he has worked at Amazon as an Operations Manager, and as the Director of the documentary, Chasing Red.

, ,

BTU #210 - Army Sergeant to Stanford Law School and Chief of Staff at Hewlett Packard (Drew Kambic)

, ,
BTU #210 - Army Sergeant to Stanford Law School and Chief of Staff at Hewlett Packard (Drew Kambic)

Why Listen:
Drew went from Active Duty Army Sergeant to Stanford Law School, which is an incredible leap. He talks about advice for getting into Law School, what it’s like, why Veterans may love (or hate it), what career options it opens, and more. He also talks about his decision to go into the corporate world instead of practicing law. We talk about his work at Hewlett Packard Enterprises, and how he served as Chief of Staff for the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. We also talk about how Veterans are qualified to do project management and strategic operations work.

About Drew:
Drew Kambic is the Director for Strategy & Planning as well as the Head of Operations for License Verification in the Americas for Micro Focus (formerly Hewlett Packard). He started out in the Army, where he served for over 8 years, most recently as a Sergeant and Infantry Team Leader. While on Active Duty he earned a B.S. and B.A at The Ohio State University, and after his military service he earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He has worked at HPE as a Senior Manager for Operations Performance, as well as the Chief of Staff for the Chief sales and Marketing Officer.

, ,

BTU #209 - Army Veteran to Serial Entrepreneur and #1 Amazon Author (Mike Nemeth)

, ,
BTU #209 - Army Veteran to Serial Entrepreneur and #1 Amazon Author (Mike Nemeth)

Why Listen:
Mike has such an original and transparent take about the military transition. Starting with his own unexpected departure from the military due to an injury, and how he had to overcome this adversity. We talk about the importance of having a “side hustle” and how Mike has published 9 books, one of which was the #1 book on Amazon’s military section (as well as one which was #6). We talk about entrepreneurship and all the things that you NEVER hear entrepreneurs talk about. And we talk about avoiding a comparative mindset, and all the pitfalls that leads to.

About Mike:
Mike Nemeth is the Founder of Emblem Athletic, which provides custom athletic apparel to thousands of athletes across the country, from high school teams, private gyms, to members of the US Olympic team. He started out at West Point, was unexpectedly medically discharged, worked in the defense sector in both industry and a government contractor, and then started his own company.  He's also currently on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Dept. of Commerce. He is also the author of 9 books, one of which reached #1 on Amazon’s best-selling military books list.