Speaker Background:

• Robert M. Alleyne is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Supply Corps officer.
• He served aboard USS Boxer (LHD-4) and with Military Sealift Command.
• After his naval service, he pursued professional basketball and later transitioned into the corporate world.
• He worked in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors (e.g., Lexus, Target, New York Life).
• He earned an Executive MBA from Rutgers and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
• In 2017, he founded Alen Consulting Group, specializing in IT and management consulting.

Key Takeaways from the Talk:

Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life:

• Transitioning requires planning, networking, and developing new marketable skills.
• He encouraged leveraging military discipline and leadership for success in civilian roles.
• He recommended the DoD SkillBridge program for gaining civilian experience while still in uniform.
• Emphasized the value of business planning, capital readiness, and customer identification for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship Insights:

• Alen Consulting Group focuses on IT solutions and management consulting, mostly through government contracts.
• He highlighted the challenges of entrepreneurship: fear, uncertainty, capital, and defining a business model.
• Advocated for incubators, accelerators, and networking organizations for support.

Community Involvement & Service:

• Blue and Gold Officer: Helps interview and mentor Naval Academy applicants in NYC.
• Naval Academy Minority Association (NAMA): Supports diversity and outreach, organizes:
  • Leadership Symposiums celebrating underrepresented groups at USNA.
  • STEM outreach programs in underserved middle schools tied to the Army-Navy game.
• Black MBA Association – Metro NY Chapter:
  • Serves as Director of Military, Veteran & Community Affairs.
  • Created the “Those Who Served” initiative, offering:
    • PMP workshops
    • Career fairs
    • Interviewing and soft skills development
  • Hosts entrepreneurship summits, networking events (e.g., during Army-Navy games), and collaborates with other chapters in Philadelphia and NJ.

Advice to Transitioning Members:

• Start preparing early and build your network.
• Identify your next career path or industry.
• Learn project management, sales, and business development.
• Tap into support from groups like NNOA, Black MBA, and NAMA.
• Know that the transition is ongoing: “You never lose, you either win or gain experience.”

Highlighted Resources:

• SkillBridge Program
• Black MBA Association Chapters (national network)
• NAMA website and initiatives

• Upcoming events:

   

  • Army-Navy Game networking (2024 in DC, 2025 in Baltimore)
  • Entrepreneurship Summit – May 10 (NYC)
  • Congressional Black Caucus networking (September)

Closing Thoughts:

Robert M. Alleyne emphasized resilience, community, and giving back. His journey from active duty to CEO showcases how skills developed in uniform can lead to impactful civilian careers. He urged attendees to leverage organizations, stay connected, and believe in their potential to lead—whether in business, community, or public service.

Leadership Philosophy – “The Three A’s”

1. Authenticity 
   • Be yourself regardless of rank.
   • “People can see through inauthenticity.”
   • Title or promotion should not change your core identity. 
2. Approachability 
   • Stay connected to your team.
   • Encourage open dialogue so people bring you real concerns, not just what they think you want to hear. 
3. Accountability 
   • Own both successes and failures.
   • Leaders must take responsibility, not deflect blame onto juniors. 

Other Core Traits of Effective Leadership

• Self-Awareness: Know your strengths (“assets”) and areas for growth (“liabilities”).
• Empathy: Recognize personal struggles others may be facing; fosters inclusivity and support.
• Emotional Intelligence: Builds stronger teams and better decision-making.
• Fairness, Honesty, Commitment: Be the “iron fist with a heart of gold”; firm, fair, and compassionate. 

Advice on Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life

• Be Yourself: Don’t feel pressured to change professional identity. “Respectfulness never goes out of style.”
• Civilian Culture Shift: You may be seen as “too military”. Stay authentic but adapt communication style.
• Confidence in Skill Sets: Military experience (discipline, leadership, mission-focus) is valuable and respected by employers.
• Overcome Doubt: “Yes, they will want you”; your experiences translate. 

Teamwork & Organizational Culture

• Foster collaboration and synergy.
• Create a culture where “Your Voice Matters.”
• Know your legacy and what you want to be remembered for.
• Use six-word leadership mantras to define your command culture. Hers:
  “People First. Mission Always. You Matter.” 

Key Questions from the Audience & Takeaways

• Handling underappreciation in volunteer work: “Give yourself grace. Keep serving, even if not always recognized.”
• Working under less experienced civilian supervisors: Be tactful. Make your ideas theirs. Build trust.
• Staying in during workforce shortages: Lead where you are. Invest in those already serving. Your presence matters. 
• Transition anxiety: It’s normal. Employers need your leadership and integrity. Be open to growth. 

Closing Advice

• “Listen. Lead. Learn.”
• Be the leader you would want to follow.
• Continue to serve with integrity and purpose; whether in uniform or out. 

Key Themes and Insights

1. Transition Mindset: “Who Do You Want to Be?”

• Start with identity, not just job titles: “Who do you want to be?” should guide your post-service decisions.
• For Evans, that meant being close to family in Beaufort, SC, and giving back to his community.
• Choose where you want to live first, then explore career options that support that decision.

2. Leverage Your Military Experience

• Everything learned in the Navy prepared him for civilian success—strategic thinking, decision-making, problem-solving.
• No need for extensive retraining—just a new vocabulary and understanding of civilian culture.

3. Build and Use Your Network

• Begin building a civilian network before transition.
• Use LinkedIn to your advantage (especially for board opportunities).
• Let your network know your interests. People will support you if you’re authentic.

4. Corporate Board Participation

• Corporate boards value strategic thinkers with leadership and oversight experience.
• Organizations like National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) offer board education (e.g., Battlefield to Boardroom).
• He secured two board seats within a year post-retirement. Uncommon for a one-star but made possible through networking and preparation.
• Typical compensation: $180K–$250K/year, in both cash and stock.

5. Balance Passion and Practicality

• Started a logistics company post-retirement—generated over $2M in revenue—but left to refocus on passions.
• Also does consulting, volunteerism, and nonprofit board work, but is learning to say “no” to preserve bandwidth for high-impact efforts.

6. Advice to Junior Officers and Early Transitions

• Even for O-3/O-4s, assess your transferable skills and develop a path forward.
• You may need to go where the opportunities are to build your experience and network.
• Consider entrepreneurship or joining a growth organization, depending on your risk tolerance and skill set.

7. Work-Life Balance – Lessons Learned

• Admitted to poor balance during active duty, which had personal costs.
• Post-retirement: prioritizes health, quarterly travel, meditation, and personal growth.
• Take care of your mental and physical health. Being present and healthy matters more as you age.

8. Practical Takeaways

• Start planning early. Build relationships before you need them.
• Be selective. Don’t say “yes” to everything; value your time and expertise.
• Be authentic. Focus on what fulfills you, not just what pays.
• Have a 10-year plan. Evans is grinding now, but with the goal of slowing down and maintaining quality of life by age 67.

Contact Info (Shared with Attendees)

• Email: sevans342@yahoo.com
• Phone: (757) 504-7600 (Voicemail preferred if calling)

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. Transition vs. Reintegration

• Transition: Comparable to a PCS or PCA move; from one role to another.
• Reintegration: A more holistic and intentional process of rejoining civilian life, encompassing identity, purpose, and role outside of the military.

2. Personal Impact of Transition

Welch’s transition journey was framed through three main lenses:

• Psychological: Self-reflection, loneliness, identity, sense-making, and constructing meaning from military service.
• Physical: Maintaining physical activity post-service is critical to preventing depression and supporting well-being.
• Social: The loss of daily social interaction from military service requires rebuilding new social environments and connections (e.g., volunteering, teaching, community involvement).

3. Self-Discovery Paths

Post-military reflection often leads to:

• Reinvention: Pursuing something radically new (e.g., business ownership, new fields).

• Reintegration: Rediscovering and fulfilling deferred personal goals or passions.

4. Planning & Timing

• Start early: Welch recommends starting transition planning at least two PCS cycles (about five years) before retirement.
• Unlearning & Relearning: Critical to adapt to civilian expectations, culture, and opportunities.

5. Documentation & Details

• Get your service records, medical/dental documentation, awards, and deployment dates correct before retiring.
• Post-service corrections are bureaucratically difficult and potentially harmful to your benefits.

6. Identity, Values, and Beliefs

• Reflect on whether your values and beliefs still align with your goals and desired future.
• Vision is more important than having a detailed plan early on. Your path will emerge over time.

7. Emotional Aspects

• Expect loneliness, self-doubt, and uncertainty, but don’t rush decisions.
• Develop a new battle rhythm and social framework. Stay connected to trusted advisors.

8. Career & Life Options

• Post-military options include employment, entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, education, and board service.
• Welch personally committed to never earning another W-2 and became a government contractor and former Cold Stone franchise.
• Encourages veterans to imagine their legacy and make decisions that align with how they want to be remembered.

9. Resume, CV, and Bio

• Be prepared with tailored documents depending on your goals:
  • Resume – For employment
  • CV – For academic pursuits
  • Bio – For boards or public profiles

Audience Questions & Insights

• On pursuing AI: Welch values relevance in education; chose AI to position himself where social impact and technology intersect.
• For those unsure about leaving: Don’t leave unless you’re sure. Seek counsel, assess your values and motivations.
• For involuntary separation: Use criticism as reflection, not judgment. Reframe challenges as opportunities for growth and reinvention.

Closing Reflections

Welch emphasized that retirement eligibility is a rare achievement, and those reaching that point have much to be proud of. He encouraged participants to use the fireside chats and NNOA community as a continual learning space.

Background on Megan LaBossiere

• 2009 U.S. Naval Academy graduate
• Former H-60 Search and Rescue helicopter pilot
• MBA from Georgetown University (completed part-time while still in service)
• Over 15 years of leadership experience in and out of the Navy
• Currently a Senior Relationship Manager in Commercial Banking at Bank of America
• Formerly at JP Morgan through a veteran leadership development program

Key Themes & Insights

1. Transition Challenges & Mindset

• Transitioning out of the military can be disorienting: loss of structure, lack of career clarity, and decisions (e.g., where to live) that were previously made for you.
• LaBossiere emphasized starting early, leveraging networks, and engaging in “career exploration” well before separation.
• It’s okay to have knowledge gaps. Success comes from recognizing them and actively closing them through learning.

2. Industry vs. Function Pivot

• Function Pivot: Same industry, different role (e.g., military to defense contractor)
• Industry Pivot: Same role, different industry (e.g., military pilot to commercial pilot)
• Double Pivot: Different role and industry; The hardest path but not impossible (e.g., Navy pilot to commercial banker)

3. Path to Finance

• Chose banking for its challenges and opportunities, despite having no finance background

• Used her MBA to build business acumen and credibility

• Participated in structured programs like FourBlock and American Corporate Partners (ACP) for mentorship and exposure

4. Commercial Banking Defined

• LaBossiere works with companies between $50M and $2B in annual revenue
• Serves as a relationship manager, connecting clients to the right products and internal partners (e.g., credit, treasury, FX)
• Success relies on interpersonal skills, executive presence, and leadership; all of which veterans already possess

5. Translation of Military Experience

• Avoid military jargon in interviews and resumes; use plain language
• Always “speak for the job you want, not the job you had”
• Test your resume on someone unfamiliar with military terms to ensure clarity

6. Impostor Syndrome & Confidence

• LaBossiere discussed feeling out of place at Georgetown and JP Morgan
• Graduated in the top 20% at Georgetown despite doubts
• Encouraged listeners to not discount themselves. Many peers learn on the job too

Career Advice Nuggets

• Make finding a job your job — be deliberate and proactive
• Conduct informational interviews (coffee chats) to explore unfamiliar industries
• Use tools like a net worth tracker to assess your financial position and goals
• Read Die With Zero to reconsider retirement planning and money usage

Personal Financial Strategy

• Owns multiple homes including rental properties
• Maintains an aggressive investment strategy with diversification
• Believes in living intentionally, rather than deferring enjoyment to an uncertain future

Final Notes

• LaBossiere recently transitioned to Bank of America for increased responsibility and compensation, motivated in part by the leadership of a Black female market executive
• She emphasized the importance of representation, sponsorship (vs. mentorship), and women of color in leadership
• Expressed commitment to giving back and supporting fellow veterans in their transitions

Resources Mentioned

• FourBlock Foundation
• American Corporate Partners (ACP)
• Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
• USAA for free financial advice

Commander George Allen Floyd’s Background:

• Served 33 years in the Navy, beginning as an enlisted nuclear machinist and commissioning through the “Hip Pocket” scholarship.
• Held numerous leadership roles across four aircraft carriers and various surface combatants.
• Supported counter-IED efforts in Iraq (2006) as part of a Navy augmentation team.
• Final tour: Helped establish the NROTC program at the University of Hawaii, retiring on the USS Missouri.
• Currently a senior scientist at Savannah River National Laboratory (Dept. of Energy), working on nuclear materials, environmental protection, and global security.

Key Themes and Guidance:

1. Transition Planning:

• Start early; ideally 18–24 months out.
• Use a structured timeline even if time-constrained (start from the beginning regardless of how close separation is).

2. Resources for Veterans:

Floyd presented a digital guide containing valuable hyperlinks. Highlights include:

• Onward to Opportunity: Offers free certifications (PMP, cybersecurity, HR, etc.).
  
• American Corporate Partners (ACP): One-on-one mentorship tailored to desired industry.
• LinkedIn Premium for Veterans: Free for 1 year, vital for visibility. Floyd got hired through a LinkedIn cold call.
• VA Education Benefits: Including VetTec (tech training with stipend), if funded.
• SkillBridge: Paid internship opportunities before retirement.
• BOOTS TO BUSINESS: Entrepreneurial training for aspiring veteran business owners.
• Rülin Course: Peer-based mentoring and elevator pitch development for senior transitioning service members.

Five Questions to Ask Yourself (Self-Reflection Guide):

1. What do I want to accomplish next?

2. What skills/certifications do I need?

3. What time will I commit to my growth?

4. Who is my network?

5. What is my deadline for goals (to turn dreams into goals)?

Five Promises to Make:

1. Revisit your answers until satisfied.

2. Be honest with yourself and others when you need help.

3. Stay mentally, physically, and spiritually fit.

4. Give yourself grace through setbacks.

5. Use every available veteran resource.

Final Motivational Thought:

Commander Floyd shared Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” quote, emphasizing the value of daring greatly and not being deterred by critics who aren’t in the fight.

Audience Engagement:

Participants (active-duty members and soon-to-retire officers) shared their transition plans, concerns, and experiences. The team encouraged networking, leveraging clearances, and mentoring through personal and professional connections.

Takeaways:

• Preparation, mentorship, and mindset are critical to a successful military-to-civilian transition.
• There are ample no-cost resources tailored specifically for veterans.
• Transition is challenging, but with deliberate effort and support, it’s highly manageable.