
TheMilVet Podcast
Your hosts, Brendan Aronson and Tim Hsia, interview the highest-performing military veterans & civilian allies on earth. Our guests include CEOs of multibillion-dollar companies, founders of incredible businesses, and legendary investors. Our goal is educate, inspire, and entertain you.
Latest episodes

Jun 14, 2023 • 60min
30. Building a Mental Wellness Company with Marine Vet and Co-Founder/CEO of Forte, Vineet Rajan
Marine Corps Veteran Vineet Rajan is a Stanford GSB Alum and Co-Founder & CEO of Forte - a mental wellness employee platform that provides Content and Connections so employees can uniquely and meaningfully contribute at work, home, and in their community.Vineet joins Brendan to discuss the period of industry discovery he went through during business school, what it was like to execute a search fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how and why he decided to start a mental wellness company. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Jun 7, 2023 • 59min
29. Law School and Community Involvement with Marine Corps Vet and Real Estate Lawyer, Nate Jester
Marine Corps Veteran Nate Jester is a Real Estate Lawyer in Atlanta, GA and is an alum of USNA and Harvard Law School. Nate joins Brendan to discuss all stages of pursuing law, from applying to law school, to what life is like at law school, and opportunities afterward. Nate also provides some great insight into how intimidating the transition out of the military can be, and the value of volunteering in your community. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Jun 2, 2023 • 7min
FYSA. Service to School VetLink Summit
Service to School is hosting its first VetLink Summit on June 23rd and 24th at the University of Chicago!You will meet current students, alumni, and representatives from more than 20 colleges and universities at the event.To register, visit https://www.service2school.org/vetlink-summit or register through their linktree on Instagram @service2school_________________On day one, you will learn how veterans have succeeded in applying to VetLink schools, made an impact on campus, and used the degree to launch their careers.On day two, you will hear from top graduate schools and veteran professionals on how VetLink students can use their experience to succeed in their next career step. _________________ Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

May 31, 2023 • 51min
28. Brendan Aronson and Alec Emmert Talk All Things Business on Service to School Stories
Recently, Brendan was invited as a guest on the Service to School Stories Podcast. Service to School is an outstanding non-profit and an organization that we are proud to call a friend of The Mil Vet.In this episode, Brendan discusses his experience as an entrepreneur, his thoughts on transitioning from the military to the business sector and deciding whether an MBA is right for you, the power of networking, and more!Be sure to listen in to hear Brendan and Alec Emmert discuss the commonalities and differences between common post-MBA career paths and excellent summaries on various career fields. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

May 24, 2023 • 51min
27. Careers in Tech and MBA Admissions Resources with Army Vet and Google Strategy Lead, MaShon Wilson
Army Veteran MaShon Wilson is a Strategy and Business Operations Lead at Google, specializing in Go-to-Market, Ads Policy, and Growth Strategies. MaShon graduated with an M.B.A. from Duke University and B.S. from U.S. Military Academy at WestPoint.MaShon joins us this week to discuss his own transitions, first from the military to an MBA program and consulting, and then from consulting to tech. MaShon provides excellent insight into what it's like to "make the jump" into the tech world, and how he built the skills necessary to become a Strategy Lead at Google. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

May 17, 2023 • 54min
26. Fireside Chat with Marine Veteran and CEO of Carta, Henry Ward and Quil Lawrence of NPR
Henry Ward sits down with Quil Lawrence in front of a live crowd at The Mil Vet Startup Conference to discuss military service, Henry's path to tech and entrepreneurship, and the future of work and compensation, among other topics.If you enjoy this episode, join us at The Military Veteran Career Conferences or the Mil Vet Startup Conference to hear more successful veteran speakers and connect with other vets like you. Henry Ward is the CEO and co-founder of Carta. The company is trusted by more than 30,000 companies, over 5,000 investment funds, and half a million employees for cap table management, compensation management, liquidity venture capital solutions, and more. Carta’s liquidity solutions have returned $13B to shareholders in secondary transactions. The company has been included on the Forbes World’s Best Cloud Companies, Fast Company’s Most Innovative list, and Inc.’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Prior to Carta, Henry was founder and CEO of Secondsight, a portfolio optimization platform for retail investors. He also held leadership positions at software companies including Reddwerks Inc. and BetweenMarkets. Henry graduated from University of Michigan with a BGS in Mathematics and Computer Science and holds a MSC in Market Finance from EDHEC Business School.Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism. In the Spring of 2000, a Pew Fellowship sponsored his first trips to Iraq — that reporting experience eventually built the foundation for his first book, Invisible Nation: How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East (Bloomsbury, 2009). Lawrence has reported from throughout the Arab world and from Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan for twelve years, serving as NPR's Bureau Chief in Baghdad and Kabul. He covered the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the second battle of Fallujah in 2004, as well as politics, culture, and war in both countries. In 2012, Lawrence returned to the U.S. to cover the millions of men and women who have served at war, both recently and in past generations. NPR is possibly unique among major news organizations in dedicating a full-time correspondent to veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs. A native of Maine, Lawrence studied history at Brandeis University, with concentrations in the Middle East and Latin America. He is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Arabic.This chat was originally recorded on February 2nd, 2023. The video recording can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koAYWU6DurE Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

May 10, 2023 • 1h 3min
25. Finding a Mission in Business with Former Navy SEAL and ZeroEyes Co-Founder, Rob Huberty
Rob Huberty is a Navy SEA veteran, Wharton Alum, and co-founder of ZeroEyes. ZeroEyes is an AI weapons detection platform that identifies visible guns and provides schools, commercial buildings, and government sites with the best possible reaction time to threats. Rob joins Brendan to discuss his career as a Navy SEAL, the impact that gun violence has had on his life, and how he found his new mission after leaving the SEALs. Rob also provides exceptional commentary on how he views success and fulfillment in a career. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

May 3, 2023 • 48min
24. Private Equity and Nonprofits with Army Vet and Founder of Children of Fallen Patriots, David Kim
David Kim is a former Army officer and West Point and Harvard Business School alum. Since leaving the Army, David has spent nearly 20 years in the Private Equity industry. He is currently the Co-head of Investor Relations at Apax Partners. In 2002, David and his wife founded Children of Fallen Patriots (https://www.fallenpatriots.org), a non-profit that seeks to provide college scholarships to every American child who has lost a parent in the line of duty. David joins Brendan to discuss his transition out of the military, the private equity industry and raising capital, and the Children of Fallen Patriots mission. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Apr 26, 2023 • 58min
23. Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition with Founder of VetEvolve and Marine Veteran, Nick Lodestro
Nick Lodestro is a Marine Corps veteran and founder of VetEvolve. VetEvolve is a company that provides industry know-how and reliable support to veterinary teams, enabling them to deliver exceptional patient care.Nick joins Brendan to discuss his transition from the Marines, the invaluable experience he gained in his first civilian job, and how he leveraged that experience to become a successful entrepreneur. Nick also discusses what it's like to introduce institutional investment into a company, and provides great insight into entrepreneurship through acquisition. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Apr 19, 2023 • 51min
22. Entrepreneurial Spirit and How to Create a Company with Navy Veteran Ryan Green
Ryan Green is a USNA Alum and Navy veteran. After leaving the Navy, Ryan founded Gridwise. Gridwise exists to fix pain points and make gig drivers’ lives and jobs more productive and fulfilling.Ryan joins Brendan to discuss his journey in entrepreneurship, from starting a company while he was at the Naval Academy, to bringing Gridwise from an idea to a successful company. Ryan's recount of Gridwise's origins is a fascinating look at how a founder forms an idea and the process of building it into a product. Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet