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Welcome to another insightful episode of Tactical Transition! Join your hosts, Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po, as they sit down with special guest Colonel Bryan Eovito, a distinguished "soon-to-be" 32-year veteran of the US Marine Corps. Bryan shares invaluable lessons as he is transitioning from military service to a senior director role at a Virginia-based tech company, specializing in AI-enabled digital transformation.
This episode is brought to you by Vet Mentor AI, a veteran-founded platform established in 2024 by Marine Corps veteran Paul Helinski. This AI-driven tool simplifies and enhances access to VA disability benefits. You can save $50 off your yearly access using the code ESELSEMINARS at vetmentorai.com.
Key Takeaways from Bryan Eovito's Transition Journey:
Beyond the Tactical: Bryan initially expected his transition seminar to be purely tactical (VA benefits, etc.). However, the ESL Seminars provided a more "operational, almost campaigning" approach, emphasizing networking and relationships. He realized, "this is going to be work".
Networking is Everything:
- Bryan highlights that networking is your "most important tool". It's about building genuine, "give-give" relationships, not just "taking" to get a job.
- Expand Your Network: While fellow veterans are always supportive, Bryan focused on meeting people who served long ago and are now in positions to help, as well as individuals who never served.
- Embrace Humility and Curiosity: Approach networking with "childlike wonder," an open mind, and humility. Be willing to learn from everyone, even younger professionals with different experiences.
- Master "Do" Questions: Instead of "yes/no" questions, ask "How do you, Why do you, Where do you, What do you" to truly learn. At the end, always ask, "What can I do for you?"
- Show, Don't Just Tell Your Value: Bryan's experience demonstrated that having good conversations can effectively showcase his value, making resumes less crucial initially. The company that hired him might not have even seen his resume before making an offer.
- Relationships Open Doors: Strong relationships can lead to unexpected opportunities like advisory board work, consulting, and partnerships, even after securing a full-time role. Bryan even gained the personal cell number of a managing partner at a $93 billion venture capital firm through networking.
Overcoming Networking Anxiety: Bryan advises, "Some will, some won't, so what?...next." Understand that the corporate world respects and expects people to reach out, unlike the military hierarchy. Civilians often understand military value more than veterans realize.
The Role of the Resume: Bryan found his general networking resume to be an "intellectual exercise," helping him quickly pivot and tailor his "elevator pitch" to different conversations. It's for your own clarity, not necessarily for handing out. The Commit Foundation was instrumental in developing his resume and provided an executive coach.
Negotiation Insights:
- "Pretty much everything's negotiable."
- Understand Your True Value
- Don't Be Afraid to Counter
- Research is Key
The Civilian World Differs: Unlike the military, where things are "made by committee," the civilian world has many who can fire you, accountability is tied to profit and loss, and there's less "rounding up" for mistakes.
Final Thoughts & Fun Fact: Bryan stresses the importance of reaching out to your seminar hosts, as Michele and Cyndi genuinely mean it when they offer continued support and relationship building.
As a fun fact, Bryan enjoys reading Warhammer 40k sci-fi novels and tries to code an hour a week to stay relevant, reflecting his belief that "humans who know how to use AI are going to replace humans who do not know how to use AI".
Connect with Bryan Eovito: Bryan has a wealth of knowledge and is happy to connect.
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