From Battlefield to Boardroom—and All Points In Between

While I was working in the White House following my year as a White House Fellow, I had the opportunity to have breakfast with businessman and technology entrepreneur, Steve Poizner.?At one point, when I mentioned that I was thinking about retiring from our Army as a Special Forces Officer, Steve stopped and looked up at me.?

“John, you guys in the military just don’t know how much you’re worth!”

I smiled, and replied, “Well, Steve, I know exactly how much I’m worth—and I’m in the red!”

We both laughed.?“No, that’s not what I’m talking about,” he said.

“You see, in the corporate arena, we have planners and we have executors. Very rarely do we have both in one person. But as veterans, you are the total package!”

I nodded and agreed.?“Normally our outcomes are only as good as our plans,” I explained. “So that’s our incentive.”

“Well, I’m just telling you,” he said. “That’s worth a lot.”

I never had anyone explain a veteran’s skillset this way; and so I left our breakfast encouraged and grateful, on many levels. In my experience since, I've learned that he is correct on all counts.

Throughout history, military servicemembers have been transitioning to the civilian sector.?A great deal of attention has been focused on those transitions.?

Ken Falke, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Special Operations Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer, retired from the Navy and became a serial entrepreneur. He founded two for-profit and two nonprofit companies. He was the Founder and CEO of his A-T Solutions.?Together with his wife, Julia, Ken founded Boulder Crest Retreat, to teach servicemembers and veterans how to thrive in the aftermath of trauma and achieve posttraumatic growth.?One message Ken frequently shares with veterans is,

“Don’t allow your military service to be the last, best thing you’ve ever done.”

And yet, with all of the focus on transitioning out of military service, not as much attention has been placed on the many instances where veterans have proven themselves as valuable assets in the corporate and non-profit worlds. By any measure, their unique experiences and skills honed in service equip them to lead in any environment.?

?Veteran Skill Sets

I’ve continued to reflect on my conversation with Steve Poizner that day, over two decades ago. After my own 10+ years of experience in the corporate arena, I’ve realized that there are a whole host of key leadership skills that veterans possess:

Those skills range from Adaptability and Resilience to Attention-to-Detail, Teamwork and Critical Decision-making.

My brother, Mark Fenzel, is a successful shipbroker in Chicago. In that capacity, and with an intimate knowledge of each ship’s capabilities, he routinely matches different types of cargo (steel, grain, etc.) with large ships worldwide, scheduling and positioning them around the globe.?We’ve had many memorable conversations over the decades.?During one of them, Mark said,

“You know, when we make mistakes in business, we lose a lot of money.?But when you guys make a mistake, you can lose many lives.”?

Of course, he was right. In the military, mistakes can result in the loss of lives.?It’s part of the environments we operate in--high-pressure situations where quick thinking, decisiveness, collaboration, and communication are crucial. But I had never viewed it quite from that angle before. And it’s often from that perspective that we, as veterans, view a problem or issue.?Resolving high-pressure challenges requires quick thinking, decisiveness, collaboration and communication.??

Dynamic landscapes are often a comfortable environment for veterans—it’s simply what we do.

Recently, my son and I had an amazing opportunity to tour a Nuclear Attack Submarine in the Navy. During the tour, I had a conversation with the Assistant Navigator, who shared a memorable story about a deployment in the Atlantic where they discovered an undersea mountain that was not in their database, and the submarine was in danger of colliding with it. With the captain urgently seeking his input, the Assistant Navigator was able to provide a quick solution, and the sub turned dramatically upward within seconds to avoid a potential impact.

There are numerous equally harrowing stories that occurred on land, sea, and air, each serving as a testament to the unwavering professional values upheld by our military services.

Veteran Corporate Leaders

?There are many notable examples of veterans who transitioned into the business and non-profit arenas, and have gone on to excel in their respective fields.?Here are several:

?Bob McDonald, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is a U.S. Army veteran. He served in the military for five years (1975-1980) after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975. McDonald attained the rank of Captain during his service. He freely admits that his experience in the Army helped shape his leadership skills and commitment to teamwork, which he later applied to his successful career at Procter & Gamble. During an interview last year, McDonald said,?

?I think transitions are always difficult in life. And to me, one thing that can inhibit a successful transition is being afraid to start over again. For example, I was in a leadership role at West Point. And then when I graduated and I became a student at Ranger School, I wore no rank. I was starting over again. When I left the Army, I went to the Proctor & Gamble Company. I started at the bottom. I was starting over again.

And while that seems like you’re moving backwards. You must have confidence in yourself and confidence in the talents you gained, particularly if you’re a veteran. Don’t be afraid to start over again and then build from that base. I started at the entry level at the Proctor & Gamble Company. When I walked into the VA, I was brand new. So don’t be afraid to start over again.

Frederick “Fred” W. Smith served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and eventually reached the rank of Captain. During his service, Smith served two tours in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller and was responsible for coordinating air support for ground troops. In addition to his combat role, Smith was also involved in logistics, which helped shape his understanding of the importance of efficient transportation systems and ultimately inspired him to create FedEx. Years later, Smith said,

“I do not believe I could have built FedEx without the skills I learned from the Marine Corps.”

?Bill Simon served 25 years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves. While on active duty, he received commendations for combat service in the Grenada conflict as well as service as part of a Multi-National Peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon. Simon was President and CEO of Walmart U.S. from 2010 to 2014. When he joined the company in 2006, he led the team that created and launched Walmart’s $4 prescription drug program. In 2007, Simon was named COO for Walmart U.S and held that position until he was appointed President and CEO. As CEO, Simon was responsible for over $280 Billion in revenue and 1.2 million employees.?As CEO of Walmart, Simon said,

“We love to hire veterans. Veterans not only have a record of performance under pressure, but they are educated and technologically savvy; quick learners; and team players.”

?Ultimately, veterans bring a wealth of experience, skills, and perspectives to their leadership roles in both military and corporate environments. Their adaptability, decision-making abilities, and team mindset have served them well throughout their careers, making them invaluable assets to any organization. Especially to those who appreciate what they bring to the table.

A Personal Message to Currently Serving Servicemembers?

One thing almost all veterans can agree on is the value we place on our own military experience – the skills, values, and discipline – that has helped shape our character and prepared them for success outside the military.?

As veterans, our experience also demonstrates the importance of continuing to apply the values and lessons we learned during our military service to new challenges we encounter throughout our lives.

When it comes time to step out of uniform, do so confidently.?

You bring unique experiences, perspectives, and skills to their leadership roles in both the military and the business and government sectors. Through your service, you have demonstrated your ability to adapt, make decisions under pressure, and lead teams through challenging circumstances.?You will, no doubt, continue to do so throughout your successful careers beyond the military.