Former Navy Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Schibell found success in the military but struggled to find work in the civilian sector. She shares how she rebounded to become an executive and nonprofit founder in this week’s episode of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Natalie Schibell has held an array of important and interesting titles, as she does in her current role as vice president of Market Strategy at Aetion, a health-care technology company advancing real-world evidence in drug development and regulatory science.
She is the special guest in this week’s episode of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast, where she discusses her time in the military, transition issues and more.
As a lieutenant commander in the Navy’s Medical Service Corps, Schibell led preventive medicine, industrial hygiene, and occupational health programs, ensuring medical and deployment readiness for the Navy and Marine Corps. While at Navy Recruiting Command, she directed a team of 400 in the selection of over 1,000 officer candidates.
“To see them get promoted, it was the most rewarding thing ever,” she says.
Even though Schibell had a successful career in the military, she struggled to find work in the civilian sector.
“You question yourself. You question your decisions,” she says. “Did I make the right career choices? Did I do something wrong? In time you realize the transition doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey of self-discovery. It’s a journey of strength, resilience and pivoting.”
That in part drove her to create Mission to Commission, a nonprofit dedicated to helping military veterans navigate career transitions with clarity, purpose and leadership.
What does she recommend for those who may be facing uphill battles to employment or other areas of transition?
“Stay positive. Don’t give up. You can do anything you want in life if you put your mind to it,” she advises.
Also, co-hosts Adam Marr, Joe Worley and Stacy Pearsall chat about:
• A historic Revolutionary War battle on its anniversary.
• Some of the dumbest moments during service that veterans have recalled.
• A flashy new curriculum-based therapeutic tool that’s taking the Air Force by storm.
• The awarding of the Distinguished Flying Crosses to 15 Army aviators, who kicked off Operation Desert Storm.
You can also check out the more than 300 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.
- Tango Alpha Lima