Mary-Catherine LaBossiere

Registered Dietitian and CEO/Founder of Defy Nutrition, LLC

Service Member's Branch - Army

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 10 years

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

I unexpectedly became an entrepreneur shortly after becoming a military spouse. It was out of necessity, as I couldn't find an appropriate job position at our new (at that time) duty station. I had left a salaried position and was struggling with a change in identity, job security, and financial security. I'm so glad that I created a position for myself by becoming an entrepreneur. My business has PCSed once since then.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Mary-Catherine, and I am a registered dietitian. My husband and I are originally from Rhode Island but are currently stationed in Colorado. I love cooking and hiking with our 2 rescue pups.

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

As a solopreneur, each day is a combination of administrative tasks and seeing clients. On any given day, I am creating custom meal plans, providing individual nutrition sessions, and/or facilitating virtual nutrition workshops. On the administrative side, I'm responding to client messages, working on my social media, and staying on top of all the "back end" tasks.

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 greatest career struggle was adapting to the inability to find a job that I was qualified for at our new (then) duty station. My career trajectory totally changed, and that was incredibly hard for me to deal with. I overcame it by diving deep into entrepreneurship and leaning on the many resources available to me in starting my business.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

I credit several organizations for helping me start and grow my business. A few I would like to highlight are the ACP mentorship program and the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs. I went to school for nutritional sciences, not business. Without some of the programs in place that I have accessed, I don't know where my business would be today.

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

I imagined myself working in the clinical research setting and eventually pursuing a PhD. Now, I work primarily with service members, veterans, and their spouses in an entirely virtual setting. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Health Sciences, which is more practical than research based compared to a PhD. The clients I serve, the environment I work in, and the daily work structure are all completely different from what I imagined.

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

My first official PCS with my husband was what led to the creation of my business. I had been applying for jobs for 6 months before I moved with him, out of desperation that I could continue on my career trajectory and still maintain a salaried position. When that didn't happen, I took a leap of faith - as many spouses do - by quitting my job and moving with my husband, jobless and without any income. I knew that wouldn't work for me in the long run, so I adapted by starting my business. At this point, with the OPTEMPO and frequent moves we experience, I don't know that I want to go back to a 9-5 environment because of the flexibility that entrepreneurship has granted me. That may change with the perfect position, but that's where I am at right now.

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

N/A

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

ACP mentorship, AMSE, SECO career coach, SBDC

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

Never give up. One of the best pieces of advice I received early on was not to schedule around my spouse, but to create my own schedule and life. This can be a hard concept, but I truly believe it's helped me maintain my independence and identity and be a better, more supportive spouse to my husband. You are not your spouse's career, and it's more than okay - in fact, encouraged - to have your own career ambitions.

Listen to an interview with Mary-Catherine
to hear more about her story.

Tell Us YOUR Story