Meg Tucker, a former army helicopter pilot and special operations expert, founded the Valkyrie Project after recognizing the need for specialized performance training and advocacy for women in the military. With 13 years of service, including two in the National Guard, Tucker has firsthand experience of the gaps in resources and gear for female soldiers. She emphasizes the importance of educating both men and women on topics related to women’s health and fitness, aiming to inform military leadership about the specific needs of female tactical athletes. Passionate about the Valkyrie Project’s mission, Meg led her organization through a pivot from a training company to a non-profit that provides research, training, and advocacy to support the future of women in the military.

Timestamped Outline

(00:00:14) Female Tactical Athlete Training Initiative (00:12:48) Bridging the Gap for Female Tactical Athletes (00:15:13) Advancing Women's Fitness in Special Operations (00:22:51) Empowering Military Women Through Nonprofit Transition (00:35:52) Navigating Masculine Identity in Military Transition (00:38:58) Personalized Support in Military Transition Programs (00:45:12) Military Women's Symposium and Female Athlete Research(00:46:04) Optimizing Female Tactical Athletes in Military

Link https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/

Socials: - Instagram: www.instagram.com/boots2boss - Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boots2boss-podcast

Matt and Kara Rutter retired from the Army after over 20 years of active service. Looking for something entrepreneurial and different, both began exploring agriculture. Their experiences during the pandemic underscored the critical importance of food security, prompting them to establish Project Victory Gardens, a nonprofit that supports veterans through agrotherapy and farm education. Both emphasize the need for iterative business planning and the value of pursuing ventures that bring daily joy and fulfillment, supported by programs like Soldier for Life and Boots to Business. As they pursue their PhDs at Clemson University, Matt and Kara continue to empower fellow veterans to pursue careers in agriculture and agritourism through their own initiatives and through their involvement in the Farmer Veteran Coalition of South Carolina.

Timestamps:

(00:07:59) Evolution of Agrotherapy Business Plans (00:15:25) Entrepreneurial Support in Military Transition Programs (00:21:04) Veteran Entrepreneurship Training with Mentor Support (00:27:28) Grant Application Effort and Financial Accountability (00:31:27) Agricultural Grants for Veteran Farmers (00:38:36) "Veterans' Holistic Support Through Agritourism Research" (00:44:06) Agricultural Training for Military Veterans (00:48:09) Veterans' Agribusiness Pathways and Support Programs (00:57:56) Agricultural Opportunities for Retiring Military Veterans

(01:01:06) Innovative Agricultural Ventures for Veteran Farmers

Socials: - Instagram: www.instagram.com/boots2boss_podcast - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/boots2boss-podcast - YouTube: www.youtube.com/Boots2Boss

Catharine Parnell left active-duty mid-career to better balance her family life as a dual-career family. She shares her journey of trying on different roles until she ultimately found one that fit - as general counsel of a fast-growing satellite startup. She shares her decision to continue serving part-time in the reserves and how she built her brand. Catharine also opens up about her decision-making process and how it helped her decide to leave the military mid-career and process the emotional change of leaving the military after serving for many years. She highlights the significance of "consciously uncoupling" from the military while still keeping it a part of one's identity. She advises transitioning individuals to be thoughtful, grateful, and present during their job search, valuing humility and the willingness to seek help and resources beyond their expertise.

Timestamps

(00:17:49) Balancing Reserves and Civilian Career Commitments

(00:24:51) Networking Success: Military to Space Technology Startup

(00:30:46) Ruthless Prioritization in Juggling Diverse Responsibilities

(00:35:45) Transitioning for Growth: Startup Career Development

(00:38:08) Navigating Growth in Startup Environments

(00:40:57) Embracing Change: From Military to Civilian

(00:40:57) Reflecting on Identity During Transition

Socials

- Instagram: boots2boss_podcast

- YouTube: @Boots2Boss

Chris Czaplak retired after 20 years of service, culminating as a Judge Advocate. As he reached his last few years of service, Chris realized that he was meant to do something different - and was inspired to pursue entrepreneurship. Driven by a desire to innovate and create on a larger scale, Chris used his G.I. bill to pursue an MBA, while simultaneously building a law firm. In this episode, Chris shares how he balanced school, building a new firm, and parenting his five young children. He talks about having the courage to start from scratch in a new area of practice, about closing the biggest deal of his life while hiding in a walk-in closet during a family vacation, and what's next for him as he works to support other veterans.

Timestamps

(00:06:05) Navigating Entrepreneurship: A Military Transition Story

(00:08:26) Financial Considerations in Military Entrepreneurship

(00:11:25) Embracing Failure: Key to Entrepreneurial Success

(00:12:20) Leveraging GI Bill for Entrepreneurial Success

(00:19:04) Maximizing VA Benefits for Veteran Entrepreneurs

(00:21:48) Navigating Uncertainty in Entrepreneurial Growth

(00:33:36) Strategic Client Acquisition through Networking Efforts

(01:02:46) Equity Partnerships for Veterans Legal Support

Links:

Hill Point Ventures

Homefront Law – Veterans Helping Veterans

Socials:

- Instagram: boots2boss_podcast

- YouTube: @Boots2Boss

Jason Billue served in the Army for over 20 years, including three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Looking for a new challenge after retirement, he dabbled in beekeeping before jumping in feet-first to the world of agriculture entrepreneurship, winding up with a bee-products business, hundreds of chickens, and a container hydroponic garden. Passionate about helping other veterans, Jason emphasizes the importance of networking, mentorship, and marketing strategies in agriculture & shares strategies and resources for those looking to explore or get started in farming.

Timestamps: (00:03:54) Why Jason decided to retire & his first steps into agriculture (00:10:35) How Jason got involved with beekeeping (00:24:30) How military skills translate to agriculture entrepreneurship (00:34:29) Balancing a civilian career in cybersecurity with a side-hustle (00:36:30) Farming mentors for veterans (00:39:53) How focusing small & local helps farmers cash in

(00:44:26) Resources and support for veteran entrepreneurs

Links:

Home | B2 Beekeeping (billuefamilyfarm.com)

[Use Code boots2boss for a discount]

Veteran | Project Victory Gardens | United States

Farmer Veteran Coalition | Mobilizing Veterans to Feed America (farmvetco.org)

Follow B2B on Socials: - Instagram: @Boots2Boss_Podcast - Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boots2boss-podcast

- YouTube: @Boots2Boss