In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Ethan Taranta, a former U.S. Marine Corps Infantry and Reconnaissance Officer and Managing Director of Portfolio Operations at Nexus Capital Management, to discuss his journey from the Naval Academy and multiple combat deployments in Iraq to senior roles in finance, operations, and private equity.

Ethan shares the leadership lessons he learned in the Marine Corps, including being “brilliant in the basics,” taking ownership, adapting quickly, and understanding the mission, and how those principles translated into the business world.

The conversation explores his transition from military service, building finance and business skills (including an MBA from Columbia Business School), and how he drives value creation and operational improvements across portfolio companies.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Transitioning from the military into business
• Translating military leadership into the private sector
• Building finance, sales, and business skills
• Breaking into private equity
• The power of networking and mentorship
• Finding the right career fit
• Taking ownership and betting on yourself

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #MarineVeteran #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #PrivateEquity #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CareerTransition #Recon

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Logan Leslie, CEO of Main Street Auto and US Army Special Forces Veteran, to discuss his journey from Cavalry Scout and Green Beret to Harvard graduate and business owner.

Logan shares how September 11th inspired him to serve, the leadership and entrepreneurial lessons he learned in Special Operations, and his transition from active duty to Harvard, where he earned both an MBA and JD.

The conversation explores Logan’s entrepreneurial journey, including his early attempts to build a holding company and the lessons he learned from failure before finding his path in the automotive repair industry. He discusses why focus, execution, resilience, and operating experience matter, and why veterans need to be willing to bet on themselves.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship
• Leadership lessons from Special Operations
• Pursuing elite higher education as a veteran
• The entrepreneurial mindset veterans bring to business
• Learning from failure and adapting along the way
• Building and scaling an operating business
• Finding the right business and career fit
• Taking risks and betting on yourself

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #ArmyVeteran #SpecialForces #GreenBerets #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #PrivateEquity #BusinessOwnership #Harvard #CareerTransition

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Andrew Dimitruk, CEO and Co-Founder of Ironflow AI and US Marine Corps veteran, to discuss his journey from Marine Corps Cobra pilot to McKinsey consultant, defense technology executive at Shield AI, and AI entrepreneur.

Andrew shares how September 11th inspired him to serve, the leadership lessons he learned in the Marine Corps, and how his military experience shaped his approach to building teams, solving problems, and leading through uncertainty.

The conversation explores Andrew's transition from the Marine Corps to business school and McKinsey, his decision to join Shield AI during the early days of defense tech, and his progression into the company's COO role. He also explains the operational challenges he encountered while scaling a defense technology company, particularly the limitations of traditional ERP systems and how those experiences led him to co-found Ironflow AI.

Andrew discusses Ironflow's mission to build an AI-native ERP for discrete manufacturing, with an initial focus on strengthening the defense industrial base. He also shares advice for veterans considering startups, AI, and entrepreneurship, including why veterans should get comfortable with risk, embrace chaos, build great teams, and look for opportunities that create greater optionality.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Andrew's journey from the Marine Corps to AI entrepreneurship
• Leadership lessons from military service
• His experience as a Marine Corps Cobra pilot
• Transitioning from military service to McKinsey and the private sector
• Building and scaling Shield AI
• The evolution of AI and defense technology
• Why traditional ERP systems are a major challenge for manufacturers
• The founding and mission of Ironflow AI
• AI's potential to transform manufacturing and the defense industrial base
• Why veterans can thrive in startup environments
• Taking calculated risks and betting on yourself
• Building world-class teams and leading through uncertainty

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #MarineCorps #MarineVeteran #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DefenseTech #DefenseIndustry #NationalSecurity #Manufacturing #ERP #IronflowAI #ShieldAI #Startup #Founder #VeteranCareers #CareerTransition #Innovation #Technology

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet