Maria Gonzales

Consultant

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Veteran - 6 years

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

I met my husband in 2010 after he had already served, and I had already established my career path. Over time, I obtained a master's degree and continued to advance up the corporate ladder. However, in January 2025, my role was eliminated due to a change in government contracts. I applied for many, many jobs but was never hired. That's when my husband persuaded me to start my own business, and I did! I'm six months into my entrepreneur journey and it has been wild. There has been so much to learn and I'm still learning every day. I'm so thankful that I had mentors/advisors/coaches in my life who helped guide and encourage me.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Maria and I'm in San Antonio, Texas. I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, and attending my kids' sporting events. I have six children and have been a military spouse for 12 years.

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

I work from home, so my typical day begins after all the kids are dropped off at school and daycare. I tidy up after them, so my "workspace" is neat and organized. It also improves my mental health to not be surrounded by clutter and chaos! I respond to emails in the morning and then make a to-do list for my day to keep me on track. Half my workday is devoted to building curriculum and identifying potential customers to pursue, and the other half is devoted to schoolwork.

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

It's been hard to navigate the military space as a veteran spouse. I never really fit in with the (active-duty) military spouses because I was never one, and doing business with veterans was/is also difficult because I'm not a veteran myself. It's taken time and a lot of relationship building across business sectors to secure my place in this space, but I feel confident in the brand that I've built for myself and validated because I didn't give up.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

Mentors have played a HUGE role in helping me network and connect with people who were willing to guide and support me.

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

I certainly never imagined myself as an entrepreneur and I also never imagined that I would find so much satisfaction and purpose in serving military families.

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

My role as a veteran spouse and caregiver have helped me to identify gaps in systems and resources. This lived experience has helped shape the direction of my business and advocacy.

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

ChatGPT, mentors, and coaches.

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

Research programs available to military and veteran spouses, because there are so many! Also, leverage your spouse's educational benefits if they're available to you. Lean on your network and/or connect with people in your industry that you follow or admire. Don't be afraid to BE BOLD. And most importantly, be patient with yourself and the process. Great things take time.

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