Kelsi Sheren is an Afghanistan war veteran who served with the Canadian Armed Forces until she was medically released in 2011 after sustaining a critical and permanent injury. Lost and confused, Kelsi began to turn to art therapy, and in 2014, her company Brass & Unity (https://brassandunity.com/) was born.Picture this: fine jewelry made from empty bullet casings and a commitment to supporting veterans worldwide through each sale. What started on Kelsi’s kitchen table years ago has now blossomed into a globally loved brand on a mission. Brass & Unity’s products have been spotted on celebrities such as Ellen, Michael Buble, Jenna Dewan, and Kevin Hart.In 2021, Kelsi will be coming out with a memoir with a foreword written by Jim Treliving of Dragon’s Den and Boston Pizza fame. Please join me for this very special interview —the longest of our series so far (and for good reason). Welcome Kelsi Sheren to the show.Show Notes:0:00 - Intro4:21 - Kelsi Sheren’s story7:38 - A discussion on women in the military (including Kelsi’s experience as one)9:33 - The older female veteran who changed Kelsi’s life13:55 - How Kelsi handles sexism (professionally and in life)15:00 - What the process of military training is like27:21 - Deployment to Afghanistan in 200929:42 - Day-to-day life on the front lines of war36:26 - Kelsi’s injury39:11 - A glimpse into the psychological toll of war42:21 - Getting diagnosed with PTSD in Kandahar47:35 - Coping with the end of her military career50:17 - Recovering from trauma: expectation vs reality58:31 - The founding story of Brass & Unity1:03:46 - Why Kelsi has made it her life’s calling to continue to support veterans and first responders1:04:57 - Kelsi’s struggles with her insurance provider (and a bigger-picture discussion on veterans falling through the cracks of the system)1:08:27 - The moment Kelsi realized the Brass & Unity was going to be much bigger than she had anticipated1:16:02 - What is the true value of celebrity endorsements of your product?1:20:40 - The parallels between military training and competitive sports (and the shared qualities veterans and pro athletes have that prime them for entrepreneurial success)1:27:00 - How Kelsi got her book deal —and meeting Jim Treliving of Dragon’s Den1:37:29 Kelsi’s message to her 18-year old selfFollow Brass & Unity:Website: https://brassandunity.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brassandunity/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brassandunity/Follow Kelsi:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsie_sheren/Follow Julianne: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliannekeu/Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliannekeuFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliannekeu/Follow Behind the Grind:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btgglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/btgglobal + Check out our YouTube Channel for full episodes, highlights, and more!