Angelica M. Garner

Success Coach

Service Member's Branch - Army

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 16 years

What has been your military spouse career/entrepreneur journey so far?

I started my career journey as an assistant preschool teacher in July of 2008. From there, I moved to a mentor teacher, education advocate, adjunct instructor, and now, success coach.

Tell us about yourself.

I am from Missouri. I enjoy reading and traveling. I have four children and have been a military spouse for 15 years.

Tell us about a "typical" day in your professional life.

As a Success Coach, with the Student Veterans of America, I support transitioning service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers as they maneuver through life post the military life experience. From higher education readiness to career exploration, I assist the military population as they define their personal success.

If you've been stationed overseas, how did this affect your career and or business?

N/A

What has been your biggest military spouse career struggle and how did you overcome it?

My biggest military spouse career struggle has been finding professional roles that recognize the various aspects of the military lifestyle. To overcome this struggle, I focused my career search on organizations that were military-friendly.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

Mentors and sponsors played a significant role in my professional and personal journey. With the assistance of mentors and sponsors, I gained a network of people who recognized the role of the military spouse and provided me with guidance that was conducive to both my educational and professional journey. I am forever indebted to the mentors and sponsors who guided me through various personal and professional challenges. Due to their selfless reassurance, I have gained a greater desire to empower and inspire a population that means so much to me.

How does your career path differ from what you imagined for yourself?

My current career path differs from what I once imagined for myself in that I originally believed I would work in the public school system as an elementary school teacher. However, most recently, I have found my passion for adult education. As a success coach, I have the pleasure of working with adult learners as they navigate various transitional experiences.

How did military life (PCSing, deployments, trainings, etc) factor into your career decisions?

Military life provided me with an opportunity to learn more about my capabilities and the various career opportunities that were available to me. With regular permanent change of station moves, deployments, and trainings, I was forced to increase my resiliency and develop multiple contingency plans. I am forever grateful for the experiences I have gained as a military spouse, and I am confident that I will continue to learn and advance my proficiencies in this space.

Have you ever had to geo-bach due to your career/entrepreneurship?

What resources have you found to be useful in your career/entrepreneur journey?

Hiring Our Heroes, Military Spouse Advocacy Network, National Military Spouse Network, Military One Source, Student Veterans of America

Final word: what are your top tips for other military spouses about navigating a career within the military lifestyle?

As an Army spouse, military family advocate, and success coach, I know how necessary it is to have equity within all walks of life. Through my various experiences, within the military lifestyle, I not only recognize how critical the role of the military spouse is in the human experience, but I also acknowledge that there is a substantial need for military spouses to flourish in their attempts to create a better life for themselves regardless of their relationship to the military. In thinking of a career search, as a military spouse, I find peer-mentorship with one-on-one coaching to be an indisputable tool for effective career navigation within the military life experience. Mentorship is a major component to the empowerment and equity of the military spouse community.

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