USMA – 1989 – An Entrepreneurial Life Built On An Army Foundation

SHOW NOTES:

This episode features Ann Holder, a 1989 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn how a comment that was made to Ann at a young age sent her on a mission to attend a federal service academy; what it was like to be a woman at West Point in the ‘80’s; how Ann navigated the many challenges she faced at the Academy, some of which made her question whether or not she wanted to continue on; and how ultimately – while she’s grateful to have graduated from West Point – her decision to leave the military allowed her to tap into her entrepreneurial spirit while also building a family. Enjoy the show!

KEY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

• Being a woman applying to the Academy in the 1980’s
• Not getting a nomination to her number one choice of Federal Service Academies 
• Having a challenging first year at the Academy
• Struggling with test anxiety
• Deciding to leave the military earlier than expected
• Embracing entrepreneurship

0:50 INTRODUCTION:

• Can you tell everyone where you’re from? What school you went to and when you graduated?
• Can you give everyone 1-2 lines about who you are?

2:03 PART I:

• What made you choose a Service Academy – and what made you specifically choose the U.S. Military Academy?
• What was it about the Academies and the military that hooked you?
• If you wanted to fly, what was the goal if you were going to attend West Point?
• Did you visit West Point before you went there?

15:00 PART II:

• Arriving on campus for the first time for R-Day.
• Struggling with her hair.
• Managing homesickness during her first summer.
• What was the transition like going into the academic year?
• Wanting to leave the Academy.

25:26 PART III:

• If you had to sum up your time at the Academy in one word, what would it be?
• What were some of the highlights of your time at the Academy?
• What were some of the challenges you faced at the Academy during your last year?

37:50 PART IV:

• As you approached graduation, what was the plan?
• Getting sent to Germany and her involvement in the Gulf War.
• Having a baby while her husband was deployed.

44:40 PART V:

• Did you decide to stay in the military or did you decide to get out?
• Making the decision to leave the military.
• Moving through different corporate jobs at General Mills, M&M-Mars, and Pepsi.

54:00 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

• How do you currently feel about your decision to attend an Academy?
• What’s next for you?
• Do you have any parting words for listeners? Perhaps a key message to your fellow Service Academy sisters?
• What’s one random fun fact about you?
• Where can people reach you?

Email: AnnHolder6@gmail.com

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