EP59: Using Emotional Intelligence to Support Your Veteran Workforce w/ Guest Inez Barberio

This month on the show, we are honoring our military, as May 16th is Armed Services Day, by providing you with information and some amazing guests on how you can support your veteran workforce, active duty spouses, and much more. This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and the ability to support your efforts in optimizing your veteran workforce talents and skills that they bring to the table.

In this episode we have the opportunity to speak to Matt Stevens, CEO of The Honor Foundation. Matt was a graduate in the first cohort when the Virginia Beach campus opened in the spring of 2016, where I was one of the original five coaches. Matt is a retired 26 year Navy SEAL Captain who is now leading the The Honor Foundation which provides Special Forces Operators and support staff structured career transition support.

Our veterans have given so much of themselves – deploying away from family and loved ones for extended periods of time, dealing with loss of life, dealing with the process of returning to a non-war zone post deployment, as well as operating in the most highly autocratic environment in the US. With that come challenges and opportunities that is not stereotypical of all veterans. I have seen and had to manage firsthand conflicts between varying beliefs, culture, religion, and behaviors of which are not representative of all veterans…but it can happen, and it has…and you will be forced to deal with it, just as you would a non-veteran employee. If you are a listener who is committed to supporting a veteran workforce, this episode will provide you with helpful information to navigate how to meet their needs as well as dealing with some sensitive subject matter.

Inez Barberio is a powerhouse when it comes to emotional intelligence, as well as diversity and inclusion. We talk about some hard-hitting subjects and examples of how employers need to apply emotional intelligence when working with our veteran workforce and build them up as they enter or progress through their second career.

If you would like to learn how to become a sponsor for The Honor Foundation, visit their website at www.honor.org and donate today.

Now, be sure to head to our Next Gen Women in HR Facebook Group to ask your #brendathehrlady questions! I can’t wait to hear them.

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