TheMilVet Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, we sit down with David Harris, Software Investor at Vista Equity Partners, United States Air Force Veteran, and graduate of United States Air Force Academy and Stanford University, MBA to explore his transition from military service to the world of Private Equity—and how curiosity, grit, and strategic networking opened doors along the way.

David shares how his time at the United States Air Force Academy and his early career in software development laid the groundwork for an untraditional path into high finance. From navigating the MBA application process to landing internships at Blackstone and Scout Ventures, David walks us through the mindset and methods he used to translate military experience into business success.

He also opens up about the power of intelligent networking, how one cold LinkedIn message led to a chain of life-changing opportunities, and why the veteran community is uniquely positioned to support each other in the private sector.

You’ll hear about:

• Why David believes an MBA is the most efficient transition tool for vets unsure of their next step
• How internships and early exposure shaped his path into investing
• The myth of networking—and how to authentically “connect” instead
• How reaching out (even awkwardly) can lead to career-defining relationships
• His decision to skip investment banking and go straight into private equity
• Why software, people, and mission alignment led him to Vista Equity Partners
  
  

Whether you're exploring a pivot into finance, tech, or business leadership—or just want to hear how one veteran carved his own lane in a competitive industry—David’s story is packed with actionable insight and inspiration.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

#VeteranTransition #MilitaryToMBA #PrivateEquity #VistaEquityPartners #VeteranNetwork #TheMilVetPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #MilitaryExperience #CareerPivot #StanfordGSB #Blackstone #AirForceVeteran #VeteransInFinance #NetworkingForVeterans #MissionDrivenCareers #ForcesForGood

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, we sit down with Michael Osburn, Managing Director of Aristos Global and former Army contractor (civilian) assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Kunar during The Surge, to explore his unique path from civil-military operations in Afghanistan to tackling complex problems in private equity and construction consulting.

Michael shares how working alongside military, intelligence, and DEA teams as a civilian contractor shaped his approach to leadership, teamwork, and “being an asset, not a liability”—lessons that carried over into building his own company. From the challenges of fusing military and civilian efforts in dynamic environments to navigating a return to private sector life, Michael offers a grounded, practical perspective on how experiences in conflict zones translate into business acumen.

You’ll hear about:

• The challenges of integrating military, civil, and intelligence teams in Afghanistan
• The value of building real-world networks before you need them
• How Michael structured Aristos Global to operate as the “special operations” of construction consulting
• Advice for those transitioning from public service or overseas contracting into private equity, real estate, and construction

Whether you're considering a transition from high-stakes environments or interested in how crisis management skills apply to entrepreneurship, this episode is full of insight, authenticity, and practical wisdom.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

#ConstructionLeadership #MilitaryTransition #ContractorExperience #PrivateEquity #RealEstateDevelopment #SpecialOperationsMindset #AfghanistanDeployment #TheMilVetPodcast #CivilMilitaryOperations #VeteranNetwork #LeadershipDevelopment #AristosGlobal #ForcesForGood

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

Host Beau Higgins welcomes two powerhouse leaders from The Honor Foundation: Matt Stevens, CEO and former Navy SEAL, and Kelly McGraw, Chief Impact Officer and long-time Naval Special Warfare spouse. In this deep and personal episode, they explore the challenges and rewards of transitioning out of Special Operations and into civilian life.

Matt shares his journey from SEAL Team leadership to Honor Foundation graduate, tech startup exec, and now organizational head—underscoring how identity, introspection, and network-building reshaped his post-military path. Kelly brings the vital perspective of a military spouse navigating transition as a family affair, and highlights the groundbreaking programs helping SOF families redefine their next mission.

Together, they discuss:
- Why transition is a team sport
- The importance of introspection before reinvention
- The Honor Foundation’s expansion beyond SOF and into spouse support
- Real talk on fears, identity shifts, and family priorities after the military
- How companies can engage and hire elite SOF talent

If you're in the military community, preparing for transition, or want to understand the power of purpose-driven reinvention, this episode delivers the insights and honesty you’ve been looking for.

Learn more about The Honor Foundation at honor.org

#MilVetPodcast #HonorFoundation #VeteranTransition #MilitarySpouse #SpecialOperations #VeteranVoices #PostMilitaryLife #CareerAfterService #LeadershipAfterService #TransitionIsATeamSport #FromBootsToBusiness #VeteransInTech #MilitaryToCorporate #SupportOurVets #PurposeAfterUniform

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

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

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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_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

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_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

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_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

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_aronson
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Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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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_aronson
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Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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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_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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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_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet