Show Summary

On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with conversation with Lydia Owiti -Otienoh, a Kenyan-Born lawyer, project management and international development consultant, and the Founder & CEO of the Foreign‐Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN). 

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About Today’s Guest

Lydiah Owiti is a Kenyan‐born lawyer, project management and international development consultant, and the Founder & CEO of the Foreign‐Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN).

Confronting the hurdles of new cultures, unrecognized credentials, and limited job opportunities as a foreign‐born military spouse, Lydiah carried out a research to understand better and learn how best to support, she launched a peer support group, now having over 6,000 foreign-born military spouses, and the Foreign‐Born Military Spouse Playbook, a comprehensive guide to navigating military life, American culture, career readiness, immigration, among other things.

Drawing on her personal experience, policy expertise and immigrant‐focused work, she now leads FMSN in outreach, advocacy, and empowerment, including shaping inclusive employment solutions and resource pathways for foreign‐born spouses.

She is now part of President George W. Bush’s Stand to Veteran Leadership Program (2025 cohort). The program is aimed at leaders from across the nation, including civilians, veterans, military spouses, and active military, who are addressing the most challenging issues facing the military-connected community.

Links Mentioned During the Episode

Foreign Born Military Spouse Network Web site

Foreign Born Military Spouse Network on Facebook

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Interviewing and Telling Your Story for Military Spouses. Taking the time to recollect your own story will help you to figure out the best way to position yourself with a potential employer and be able to edit it down to your ‘elevator pitch.’

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Interviewing-and-Telling-Your-Story-for-Military-Spouses

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

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Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com