TheMilVet Podcast

*This episode is a recording of our Fireside Chat with Tom Davin and Blake Hall at The MilVet Startups Conference (MVS 24) in San Francisco. To experience conversations like this firsthand, you can register for our events at www.themilvet.org/events

Tom Davin has over 30 years of executive leadership experience as a board member of mission-focused and category defining companies to include Taco Bell, Oakley, Panda Express, 5.11 Tactical, and most recently, Black Rifle Coffee. Prior to transitioning to the business, Tom served in the Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer for six years.

Blake Hall is the Founder and CEO of ID.me. ID.me provides secure identity proofing, authentication, and group affiliation verification for government and businesses across sectors. Blake is an Army veteran, serving as an Infantry Officer for four years. 

Tom, Blake, and Tim discuss:

• Finding the right problem to solve when looking for product-market fit
• The importance of adapting as an entrepreneur
• Finding potential in brands and companies
• Applying basic military leadership skills into companies or startups

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Sally Lee is a transitioning Army Officer and a Skillbridge intern for TMV.  On this episode of the podcast, Sally joins Brendan in a Q&A session about the upcoming career conference in Austin, TX to include: 

• The Intent of the Career Conference
• The Differences Between the Events hosted by TMV
• The Importance of Networking with Fellow Transitioning Veterans
• What to Expect at This Year's Conference

Tickets for The Military Veteran Career Conference are now available at https://www.themilvet.org/events and you can use discount code TMVPOD for 25% off your ticket.

If you have any topics you would like us to cover in the future, please email [email protected] and let us know!

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Kathy Borkoski is a military veteran and serves a Product Manager at CrossFit. At CrossFit, Kathy focuses on member generation, conversion and retention to increase gym profitability.

Prior to CrossFit, Kathy served in the Navy specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal. After leaving the Military, Kathy served in numerous project, program, and product management roles at various companies to include Facebook and Twill.

Kathy joins Brendan to discuss:

• Transitioning out of the Military and the Present Day Job Market 
• Challenges in Scaling a Business
• Difference between Product, Program, and Project Management
• Balancing the Reserves and Civilian Career
• The Power of the Veteran Community

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Olaseni Bello is a military veteran and serves an Associate General Counsel for product at Intuit. Olaseni partners closely with product, engineering, business development, marketing, operations, and compliance managers on matters ranging from generative AI product features to data privacy to regulatory and cross-border issues. 

Prior to Intuit, Olaseni served in the Army as a Judge Advocate General.  After leaving the Military, Olaseni served in numerous legal advisor and senior executive roles in both public and private sectors to include Meta, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley.

Olaseni joins Brendan to discuss:

• The path to becoming a JAG officer in the Army and his experience
• Transitioning from the Army to the Civilian sector
• Going to Business School as a Lawyer
• The advantages of experiencing a range of dynamic roles 

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Chris Homewood is a military veteran and serves as the Chief Operations Officer and of Valley Services Electronics, a leading contract manufacturing company using cutting-edge PCBA solutions and top-quality systems to serve a wide range of technology companies, worldwide.

Prior to becoming a COO of VSE, Chris served in the Marine Corps as an Artillery Officer. After leaving the Military, Chris served in numerous leadership and executive roles in retail companies to include Target, Ross, and TriMark.

Chris joins Brendan to discuss:

• Evaluating opportunities from linear to divergent and parallel pathways
• Experience working in Retail 
• How to manage multiple businesses and operations
• Managing relationships with founders transitioning out of their roles

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Joshua Broder is a military veteran and serves as the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Tilson Infrastructure, a national-leader in utility pole and tower development, and long haul campus fiber for lease-back to telecom carriers and others.

Prior to becoming a CEO, Josh served as an Army Signal Corps Officer on missions in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan designing, building, and operating the communications network for US forces.

Follow Josh on LinkedIn and subscribe to his newsletter to access more of his amazing content. 

Josh joins Tim to discuss:

• How he went from being an Army Signal Officer to CEO of a telecommunications infrastructure company
• The importance of Skillbridge for transitioning service members
• Why he chooses optimism
• The importance of hiring veterans

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

*This episode is a recording of an interview of Brendan on the Mission Oriented Podcast. Brendan talks about the upcoming MilVet Startups Conference and what to expect.

To sign up, go to www.milvetstartups.com and use code TMVPodcast30 for 30% off your ticket.

Are you interested in a SkillBridge opportunity with The Mil Vet? Reach out to [email protected] to learn more. 

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

*This episode is a recording of our Vets in Tech Panel at The Military Veteran Career Conference (TMV3) in San Francisco. To experience conversations like this firsthand, you can register for our events at www.themilvet.org/events

This panel, moderated by Brendan, consists of Steve Chiou (PM at Box), Kyle Eberly (PM at Google), Mashon Wilson (Strategy Lead at Google), and Yosef Adiputra (PM at Snap).

In this chat, the panelists discuss

• Their paths to breaking into tech careers
• The significant differences between big tech companies
• How compensation works in the tech world
• What a day in the life of a PM is like

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

*This episode is a recording of our Fireside Chat with Graham Weaver at The Military Veteran Career Conference (TMV3) in San Francisco. To experience conversations like this firsthand, you can register for our events at www.themilvet.org/events

Graham Weaver is the founder and managing partner of Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm that invests in software and services businesses. With over 20 years of experience in private equity, Graham founded Alpine based on the belief that exceptional people create exceptional businesses, a People First philosophy that guides the firm’s choices today. When he’s not helping to build Alpine, Graham teaches two courses on entrepreneurship at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB).

In this chat, Graham and Brendan discuss:

• How Graham's passion for people led him to found Alpine Investors
• Why Graham recommends that people think about their lives on a longer horizon
• Why you should always follow your passion

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Dave Gerhardt is the founder and CEO of Exit Five (exitfive.com), a media company focused on helping B2B marketers build successful careers through community and content.

Before Exit Five, Dave spent over a decade as a marketer working his way up to Chief Brand Officer at Drift and Chief Marketing Officer at Privy.

Follow Dave on LinkedIn and subscribe to his newsletter to access more of his amazing content. 

Dave joins Brendan and Tim to discuss:

• How he came to build a career in marketing
• Why side hustles can completely change your career
• What he sees as emerging trends in marketing
• Why he believes that trying to become "well-rounded" can be a waste of time

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet