Jeana Feely

President

Service Member's Branch - Navy

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 16 years

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

My husband and I got married in 2015 and I started my career in the semiconductor industry in 2014. In July of 2023, we moved from San Diego to Virginia so I had to leave my career of 10 years and this is when I started my company.

I am Jeana, a dedicated mother of three young children, a technology professional, the wife of an exceptional man, an innovative thinker, and a passionate creative. Driven by my desire to make a positive impact, I strive to continually push boundaries, inspire others, and leave a lasting legacy. Whether it's revolutionizing technology processes, bandaging scraped knees, or exploring new artistic endeavors, I am all in.

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

Every day starts around 5:30 am.

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 husband's most recent transfer from San Diego to VA has been the most difficult for me. We thought about having him geo-bach so I could stay and continue my career and take care of the kids. Ultimately, for our family, we decided it would be best for us all to stay together. I had to leave the company and career that I really loved. But this is what allowed me to start my company and pursue my interest in software development and AI.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

Mentors have played a critical role in my journey. My first mentor taught me everything I know about running a lean business, putting people first, strategies for growth, and general business acumen. My second mentor encouraged me and provided guidance when I decided to start my own company. It was really through his thoughtful feedback and insight perspective that I was able to get clarity on how to start and position the company for success.

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

I always thought that I would pursue politics and become the first female President (but I guess there's still time for that:). Seriously though, I really envisioned myself climbing the corporate ladder and being an executive at a large company. I quickly came to understand that in order to achieve this type of role, I would have to be open to the roles that presented themselves which in most organizations would include moving for the available role.

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

I turned down several career-enhancing positions because I was not able to move for them. The hardest offer I ever turned down was a great opportunity to work for an old mentor of mine. He called me several weeks before my husband was scheduled to deploy and I had just found out I was pregnant with our third child. I turned it down because I was sure I would not be able to dedicate the time required to be successful while taking care of our 2-year-old and our 4-year-old, while pregnant and having my husband gone. I stayed in the position that I was in because starting something new always requires a higher level of focus and more of a time commitment which just wasn't an option then. That one was really hard.

When we know we are moving to a new state, I research the area and talk to the Dept of Ed. I learn how hard DOE will be to work with, the best places to work, apply etc...

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

We have not had to geo-bach. We chose to move and for me to leave my career to keep the family together. For us with such young children (now 2, 4, and 6) to be separated for 2-3 years is a literal lifetime for them. So we decided to stay together and move together. Which has given me the opportunity to start my own company and pursue my passion of software development and Artificial Intelligence.

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

SCORE has a ton of great free resources and they are nationwide and Women in Electronics has provided a great community of professional women and men full of training and mentorship.

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

Create the support network that your life requires. It will be different for everyone so don't assume that what works for someone else will work for you. Develop strong connections with your neighbors (because they are the only ones there at 2 am when your partner is not home). Having friends who understand your unique situation and are supportive. Family is a luxury that most of us don't have close but if you do, engage them in your life. During our last deployment I hired a college kid to be my personal assistant and for the cost of a dinner out each week, I had her doing laundry, sending packages, assembling nursery furniture, and being at the house for the AC repairman. All the things that I needed a spouse for, I used her for and it was life-changing. The other aspect to this is being able to articulate exactly what you need help with and finding the right people to help you. This is a superpower that needs to be developed and fine-tuned.

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