Beyond the Uniform

Beyond the Uniform

By Justin M. NassiriBusinessCareers
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Beyond the Uniform episodes

  • BTU #345 - Flexible jobs that follow your life (Mika Cross)
    Why Listen: In 344 other episodes we spend so much time talking about WHAT sort of work people do - the industry they choose, the functional role they take on, the size of company, even the part of the world in which they work - but we hardly ever devote time to HOW they work. Well, today’s interview is all about the HOW. Mike is an Army Veteran and acclaimed expert on how the workplace affects employee engagement. We talk about remote working and other flexibility options, and why listeners may want to pursue this in their next career move.    I loved my conversation with Mika - she is energetic, knowledgeable, passionate and generous. She is also extending a discount for her company - Flexjobs - to all Veterans, and there’s additional info in the show notes for this episode at BeyondTheUniform.org   About Mika:   "Mika J. Cross is a widely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator specializing in interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of innovative global workplace initiatives, culture change, strategic communications, knowledge management, next generation/future workplace predictions, performance and talent management, and employee engagement. Her 20+ year career in public service includes assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community and across the Federal government. She is a veteran of the United States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer."
    52 min
  • BTU #344 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Admiral Mullen)
    Why Listen:  When I was in the Navy, I’m not sure how much I respected Admirals. I certainly feared them - I got that instilled in me at the Naval Academy. But I think I was caught up in this mindset of: it’s inevitable that I get promoted from O-1 to O-2, and from O-2 to O-3… so it can’t be that hard to make it to flag rank. In the ten years since I left the Navy, my respect for senior officers and flag rank officers has grown exponentially. I’ve seen how difficult it can be to reach the top of any organization - civilian, government or military. And I admire the determination, talent, and intelligence required to achieve these pinnacle leadership echelons.  Today’s interview only served to reinforce that respect. Admiral Mullen served as Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff under both President Bush and President Obama. I was fascinated to hear what it is like to work at this level, and a lot of the principles of leadership that helped Admiral Mullen achieve success. We also talked about leadership of the Beyond the Uniform audience - how we, as leaders, can look out for the men and women we served with, and how we can pay forward the benefits we’ve experienced in our careers. About Admiral Mullen: Admiral Michael Mullen is a retired United States Navy admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to both President Bush and President Obama. Previously, he served as the Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations, and was only the third officer in the Navy's history to be appointed to four different four-star assignments: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and the 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He retired from the Navy after over 42 years of service.  Fast Company has called Admiral Mullen “not just a new model for military officers-and a new kind of business titan-but also a case study in 21st Century leadership.” Since retiring from the Navy, Mullen has joined the boards of General Motors, Sprint and the Bloomberg Family Foundation. He teaches at the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He is also known for his efforts on behalf of service members, veterans and their families. He is renowned for his role in dismantling “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allowing gay service members to serve openly.
    43 min
  • March 2020 Sneak Peek

    A preview of 6 new podcasts and three new webinars coming your way in March. Also, if you're not yet on our Newsletter list, text 33777 with BTU to join, or subscribe at BeyondTheUniform.org

    7 min
  • BTU #343 - Army to U.S. Congressman (Rep. Brian Mast)

    Why Listen:
    Although Brian lost both of his legs while serving in Army, he didn’t let that deter him from finding a mission where he could continue to make a difference in the world. Brian ran for and is now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th District. In this interview we avoid politics and focus on what it’s like to work IN politics, as well as why Veterans may want to consider this as a career path.

    For listeners who enjoy this episode, be sure to check out:
    BTU #70 - Emily Cherniack: How New Politics is helping veterans of both parties run for office - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-70-emily-cherniak-how-new-politics-is-helping-veterans-of-both-parties-run-for-office?rq=emily%20cher
    BTU #250 - Navy Veteran to Congressional Candidate (Josh Welle) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-250-navy-veteran-to-congressional-candidate-josh-welle?rq=josh%20welle
    BTU #316 - Navy to Nebraska State Government (Jason Jackson) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-316-navy-to-nebraska-state-government-jason-jackson?rq=josh%20welle
    BTU #66 - Sean Barney: Purple Heart recipient to Congressional Candidate - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-66-sean-barney-purple-heart-recipient-to-congressional-candidate?rq=barney

    About Brian
    Brian Mast is a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th District. After high school, he followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Army where he served for over 12 years as a member of the elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as a bomb disposal expert. While serving, the very last IED Brian found resulted in sustained catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs. Following retirement from the Army, Brian continued his work in counter terrorism and national defense as an Explosive Specialist under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to show support for the freedom Israel represents throughout the Middle East and the world.

    30 min
  • BTU #342 - Army to Google Software Engineer (Joe Schafer)
    Why Listen: Joe’s story is a great example of a military Veteran who makes a BIG career change after the military. He majored in Computer Science at West Point, but never had any intention of going into Software Engineering. However, he loved to program and so he kept doing it on the side while in the military. That hobby landed him a job at Google and a completely different life and career path. In this interview we talk about Software Engineering - what it’s like, how to succeed in this role, what career progression looks like, and the difference between a large company like Google and a small startup like his current employer, Heap. Regardless of whether or not you’re interested in Software Engineering, Joe’s story shares great advice on how to make a transition to a wildly different career path than the military.   About Joe Joe Schafer is a Software Engineer at Heap, a technology that allows organizations of all sizes can remove technical bottlenecks and gain a single comprehensive view of their customers. He started out at West Point, where he studied Computer Science, after which he served in the Army for five years. After his military service, he worked at Google as a Software Engineer for nearly three years.
    37 min
  • BBTU - February 13, 2020

    We cover announcements, upcoming events, feedback around new offerings, newsletter responses, and two audience questions.

    Text 33777 BTU to join our newsletter

    Text 33777 BTUMM to get info about the Mastermind Program we're considering

    • BTU #98 - Jared Wymer: Marines to Amazon & a PhD… simultaneously - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-98-jared-wymer-marines-to-amazon-a-phd-simultaneously?rq=jared
    • BTU #103 - Dr. Felicia Haecker: From RV to Dr, entrepreneur, and mom - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-103-dr-felicia-haecker-from-rv-to-dr-entrepreneur-and-mom?rq=doctorate
    • BTU #50 - Aileen Teague: Marines to Fulbright Scholar to PhD Student - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-25-aileen-teague-marines-to-fulbright-scholar-to-phd-student
    24 min
  • BTU #341 - From Air Force to US Ambassador (Gary Grappo)

    Why Listen:
    There is so much to appreciate about today’s interview. First of all: diplomacy. This is the first interview I’ve done around diplomacy, and I started off in the deep end of the pool, to say the least. Gary went from Air Force Officer to the US Ambassador to Oman. He had an incredible career in which he was involved in monumental work around the world. However, what I appreciate most about Gary is the humility and specificity he brings to this interview. It’s not just about why Veterans may enjoy a career in the foreign service (and, by the way, Gary makes a pretty solid argument for this). It’s the texture he brings to the conversation, of finding his own career path, starting over again in foreign service after earning his MBA and working in the corporate world, of being diligent in learning a new craft and working his way up… after having done just that in both the military and the corporate world. It was a privilege to be able to learn from Gary, and I hope you enjoy this candid and enlightening conversation.

    About Ambassador Gary Grappo
    Gary Grappo is a Distinguishe Fellow at the University of Denver and the CEO & Founder of Equilibrium International Consulting. He served as the United States Ambassador to Oman from 2006 to 2009, and previously Grappo was Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor of the United States Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He served in the US Air Force for over 8 years, and holds a BS in Mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy, an MS in Geodesy and Survey Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

    54 min
  • BTU #340 - The Power of Meditation (Jon Macaskill)
    Why Listen Jon went from 20 year Navy SEAL to a meditation instructor. In this interview we talk about Jon’s work with Veteran’s PATH, since I believe that every listener could benefit from this free program. We also talk about mindfulness, how it has helped both Jon and I, and what it is. We also talk about how Jon found his way to the non-profit space.    One note, in my introduction I use the wrong title for Jon’s role at Veteran’s PATH - it is actually Deputy Director - my apologies on the oversight… if Jon catches wind, and his SEAL training overrides his meditation training, I could be in trouble on this one.   For those who enjoy this episode, be sure to check out: BTU #123 - The Veterans Yoga Project (Dr. Dan Libby) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-123-the-veterans-yoga-project-dr-dan-libby?rq=yoga%20project BTU #150 - Silent Meditation Retreats - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-150-silent-meditation-retreats?rq=yoga%20project   About Jon Jon is the Deputy Director at Veteran’s PATH, a non-profit that enables returning veterans to rediscover meaning, purpose, and joy in their lives through mindfulness, meditation, and a safe community. He started out at the Naval Academy, and since then has served as a Navy SEAL for nearly 19 years. For those who listened to episode #336 with Marguax Lohry on Tuck’s Next Step program, Jon is a graduate of that program as well. 
    48 min
  • BTU #339 - Purpose Mapping (Craig Filek)
    Why Listen: Many of the guests I’ve had on the show talk about their struggle to find a new purpose after they leave the military. I struggled with that as well, but - spoiler alert - that doesn’t end when you leave the military. I’m 39 right now, I’ve been out of the Navy for over 10 years, and I’ve been working on this same question for the last several months. That’s what actually led me to today’s guest, Craig.    Craig and I met through John Wineland’s Emobdied Men’s Leadership Training - that’s the yearlong program I’ve talked about before on Beyond the Uniform. We were in the same small group of seven people, which meant we’ve spent hundreds of hours together this last year.   However, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered Craig’s superpower: helping people find their purpose. Today’s interview is different, because Craig and I have spent about four hours together over the last couple of weeks working on helping me clarify my purpose and current mission in life. We actually rolled right into this interview after an hour together of some pretty heavy duty work together.   I deeply believe in the importance of this process - of finding one’s purpose, of having clarity about what one is seeking in life. I believe in it for myself and for our audience. So, you can view today’s episode as part one of a much bigger offering. Craig and I will be hosting a 90-minute webinar about Purpose Mapping, where you’ll get a worksheet and make significant headway towards refining your purpose in life. If you sign up for our webinar - either to attend live, or to watch the recording after the fact - we’re also going to include a variety of videos from my own work on this. I’ll show you an honest look of what this process has looked like for me.    It hasn’t been easy, but honestly the weeks since Craig and I met have been incredible. There’s a lightness in being closer to identifying what my mission is right now - of being able to say “no” to things more easily and “yes” to things where I otherwise might be hesitant.   Be sure to signup for the webinar if you’re at all interested in this topic. There’ll be links in the show notes for this episode, as well as on the Events page of BeyondTheUniform.org if you’re listening to this in real-time, or in the “on-demand webinar” section of our website if you’re listening this in the far-distant future. Craig and I are collaborating on a lot more in this arena, and the best way to stay abreast of that journey as it unfolds is by registering for the webinar.   About Craig: Craig is a a father, a depth coach and a highly attuned facilitator bringing over 20 years of experience in transformative men’s work, shadow work and authentic relating to the unique process for radically clarifying your purpose, making a powerful contribution and stepping into your flow. Enriched by a decade of applied study in Ken Wilber’s Integral Philosophy, and a founding member of the Integral Center in Boulder, CO, Craig's work is informed by the factors that precipitate growth and development in human systems. Craig’s 15-year entrepreneurial career has carried him from being an unemployable philosophy major with an unplanned child to building a company from 2 to 22 people and $1.5MM/yr in just under 3 years. Along the way, he churned through a dozen false starts because the businesses were not authentic for him.
    1 hr 7 min

About Beyond the Uniform

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Beyond the Uniform is a show to help military veterans navigate their civilian career. Each week, I meet with different veterans to learn more about their civilian career, how they got there, and what…