The FourBlock Podcast

This week, we continue our look back at the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast with #2 on the countdown, "How to Seize Opportunity in Your Career and Market Yourself as a Veteran" with former Army Pilot, Global Account Manager at LinkedIn, and FourBlock Board Member Darren Sumter.

In this interview, Darren recounts his experiences growing up, serving in the Army, and transitioning into the civilian workforce. Darren also shares his expert recommendations for veterans on how to market yourself and how to seize opportunities in your post-military careers.

For over 20 years, Darren has worked as a management consultant and a business development strategist specializing in providing companies with business-to-business software solutions to drive innovation and improve profitability.

Currently, Darren works as a Global Account Manager at LinkedIn, where he manages responsibilities for several strategic customers in North America across several sectors.

Prior to LinkedIn, Darren was a member of several big data B2B software strategic consulting companies where he held responsibilities for new market and new customer business development. Prior to his software career, Darren was a strategy consultant in the US and Europe. He attended Harvard Business School (HBS), where he earned his MBA.

Prior to HBS, Darren attended the US Military Academy at West Point where he earned a B.S. in mechanical and aerospace engineering and served in the U.S. Army's aviation branch.

He is a veteran of the first Gulf War where he served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Resources:

LinkedIn Resources for Military Spouses

LinkedIn Resources for Veterans

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number three on the countdown is a conversation with Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and retired Army Colonel John Tien, originally released on January 13, 2020 and recorded when John was serving as a managing director with Citigroup.

In this episode, Tien discusses his incredible service, the impact of his time in the Army on his family, and the similarities and differences between leading troops in combat and teammates at Citigroup. If you are a civilian seeking to better understand military service or a veteran trying to learn how to most effectively transition military leadership principles to a corporate environment – this is a must-listen episode!

Prior to becoming the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Tien spent ten years serving in senior executive roles in the critical infrastructure financial services sector as a managing director at Citigroup. As a chief operating officer, he provided customer service support to tens of millions of customers to include safeguarding their accounts against fraud, data breaches, and other cyber threats.

Tien previously served in the Obama Administration as the National Security Council Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009-2011, the Bush Administration as the National Security Council Director for Iraq from 2008-2009, and the Clinton Administration as a White House Fellow in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 1998-1999.

Tien began his career of public service at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was the first Asian American to ever serve as the First Captain and Brigade Commander, West Point's top ranked cadet position. For the next 24 years, he served as a U.S. Army combat arms officer, retiring in 2011 at the rank of Colonel. He is a veteran of three combat tours to include serving as the Task Force 2-37 Armor Battalion Commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his unit were responsible for securing and stabilizing the Iraqi cities of Tal Afar and Ramadi with an emphasis on counterinsurgency operations, community partnership, creating rule of law institutions, and the training of thousands of Iraqi police officers. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Badge, and the Valorous Unit Award.

Tien holds a Bachelor of Science from West Point and a Master of Arts from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and was also a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number four on the countdown is a conversation with former U.S Army officer and author Jason Dempsey, PhD, discusses his own transition, explores the meaning of service, and shares insights from his research on the military to civilian career transition.

Jason served for over twenty years in the Army as an infantry officer, deploying twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. He last served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity he oversaw the Chairman's strategic priority of Keeping Faith with the Military Community and led the development and launch of the Call to Continued Service, an initiative endorsed by all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which encourages members of the military to continue their public service after they take off the uniform.

Jason is the co-founder of MILLIE, a company that seeks to empower the community of veteran and military spouse real estate agents and to help military families through the moving process. He is also a Senior Adviser to the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration and an Adjunct Senior Fellow of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. Jason has written extensively on Army efforts toward gender integration, the experiences of Hispanics in the military, and our counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan. His book, Our Army: Soldiers, Politics and Civil-Military Relations was published by Princeton University Press and was the first major work to delve into the social and political attitudes of the active-duty military.

Jason is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a PhD in political science from Columbia University.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number five on the countdown is a conversation with entrepreneur, writer, coach, transition and retirement life planning expert, and FourBlock Board Member Rick Miners.

Rick was the co-founder and president of FlexCorp systems, a business process outsourcing company. Shortly after Inc. Magazine named FlexCorp as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, he unexpectedly sold the company and quickly realized he didn't have a plan for what he was going to do next.

Rick co-authored the books, Don't Retire, REWIRE!: 5 Steps to Fulfilling Work That Fuels Your Passion, Suits Your Personality, and Fills Your Pockets and On Target: Enhance Your Life and Ensure Your Success.

Rick has made appearances on The Today Show, CNN, and PBS about the rewiring process and is frequently quoted in the press on the changing face of retirement.

He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and an Army Veteran. He is also a FourBlock Board Member and currently serves as its treasurer.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number six on the countdown is a conversation with Wells Fargo managing director Chris Pink, originally released on January 20, 2020. Chris heads Asset-Backed Finance and Securitization within the Corporate and Investment Bank, which encompasses nearly 400 clients and a risk portfolio of approximately $130 billion. Chris also Co-Chairs the Corporate and Investment Bank's Diversity and Inclusion Council.

In this episode, Chris discusses his experiences and insights in making successful career transitions, how to navigate corporate culture to advance your career, and effective leadership in today's diverse work environment.

Chris invests a considerable amount of time mentoring and supporting veterans in transition and is a staunch believer in the power of people, creating diverse teams, and servant leadership.

If you are a veteran interested in getting into financial services, successfully navigating corporate culture, and effectively translating your military leadership experiences to the civilian workforce or if you are someone interested in better understanding the challenges associated with career transitions and development – this episode is for you!

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number seven on the countdown is a conversation with author, keynote speaker, and career search advisor Steve Dalton.

What is the first step for a veteran looking to transition out of the military into a civilian career, or for any job seeker? What are the areas where veterans can excel in the career search process? How is hiring going to change in response to the impacts of COVID-19?

Steve Dalton joins hosts Lindsey Pollak and Mike Abrams to highlight the importance of professional relationships and referrals, discuss how the hiring landscape may change, and provide prescriptive advice for conducting a successful career search.

Steve addresses the areas where veterans excel that can help provide an advantage in the job search process. He also explores the similarities and differences of career searching today versus career searching during the financial crisis in 2008 and explains why he has optimism for job searchers today.

Steve is a Program Director and Senior Career Consultant for the full-time MBA Program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He holds his own MBA from the same institution and a chemical engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Prior to entering the career services industry, Steve was an Associate Marketing Manager at General Mills, and a Strategy Consultant at A.T. Kearney (now Kearny). Steve is also the founder and CEO of Contact2Colleague, a corporate training firm specializing in helping organizations teach their personnel to turn strangers into advocates on demand.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

Number eight on the countdown is an insightful conversation with Susan Rietano Davey, co-founder and owner of Prepare To Launch U (PLTU), a national learning company that guides women through challenging work-life transitions.

The episode was originally released on December 9, 2019. Since recording this episode of the podcast, FourBlock went on to partner with Susan and her PTLU co-founder Kelley Biskupiak on a joint Military Spouse Career Readiness Program, a comprehensive, instructional career transition program for military spouses looking to return to work or pivot into new careers.

Susan began her career on the executive track at the Xerox corporation, where she moved rapidly up the ranks earning top performance honors along the way, recognizing the need for more and better flexible work options after becoming a mother.

Susan went on to join Flexible Resources, a regional consulting and staffing firm that championed Flexible Work. Over two decades, she helped establish the company as the industry expert on flexible work policy while coaching countless women to find or create flexible jobs and achieve positive work-life synergy.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

This week, number nine on the countdown is a powerful conversation with Damien Bertolo, originally released on July 6, 2020.

After moving out on his own at 15 and dropping out of high school, Damien Bertolo found guidance and support from an unexpected mentor, who motivated him to go back to school. Damien went on to graduate high school, get accepted to college, and ultimately go on to join the Marine Corps, where he served on active duty from 2003-2012. On this week's episode, Damien shares his transition experience and talks about why that lesson of mentorship stuck with him and why he continues to give back to others today.

Damien now works as a Manager Management Consultant at Accenture, based in San Francisco, and previously served as the Director of Operations for FourBlock, where he had been involved as a volunteer as early as 2013.

Damien served as a Marine in Iraq in 2006 and 2007 and was selected to enter a commissioning program while deployed. After earning his degree at Cal State University San Marcos and a commission as a Marine Officer, Damien served his final two years and ended his active-duty service in 2012.

After pursuing a career in real estate in New York City, Damien gained experience in talent acquisition and in program and operations management. While performing his duties at FourBlock, he pursued and completed his MBA at NYU Stern with a focus on corporate strategy, finance, and business analytics. Damien has helped develop and advise business models for veteran recruitment and retention, and currently focuses in change management and business transformation.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

For the remainder of the year through the New Year, we're looking back at the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019.

In the meantime, we're lining up some great interviews with new guests. Enjoy the top-10 countdown and stick with us for more new and engaging content in 2022!

Rounding out the top 10 this week is an incredibly informative interview with Dr. Amanda Spray, originally released on October 28th, 2019, that examines the truths and debunks some common myths about PTSD.

Dr. Spray is the Director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at NYU Langone Health and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare system on the Manhattan campus.

Dr. Spray founded the training program within NYU Langone Military Family Center, which now trains 12 to 14 doctoral and postdoctoral students annually. She provides supervision and training within the center and the community at large. She provides individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy to veterans and family members in the military family center and specializes in health psychology and adult ADHD.

Note: This episode contains in-depth discussions regarding PTSD. We advise listening to this episode with caution. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line. This nationwide, toll-free hotline connects veterans and service members in crisis and their loved ones with information and qualified Department of Veterans Affairs responders.

For more information, call 800-273-8255.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

"If you ask 100 people for feedback on your resume, you're going to get 100 different perspectives." This week on the FourBlock Podcast, co-host and FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams shares some tips and lessons learned when it comes to resume writing.

ABOUT US

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

Follow FourBlock on Social Media

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.