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If you serve, you understand more than most how life can be taken from you in an instant, so I chose to appreciate living and what lies ahead. This is the last segment in the series but there are still many chapters to write. To recap the first five parts, I joined the Army at 19-the day the Gulf War started-as a military policeman stationed in Germany and New Jersey. Decided to finish college and won a scholarship where I was a cadet learning to be an officer. I graduated number one in my class and was assigned to aviation where I became the first group of women to become aero scout mission flying technically advanced, armed helicopters. It was not easy to integrate into a very male organization but with time, I had earned respect and learned to hone in my leadership style. After 11 years decided to leave the service after multiple tours at home and abroad. Mostly because I felt my mortality as I was now a mother of two young boys and deployments were not slowing. I went through a transition period which was like going into a completely different culture. It took me a long time to navigate the military-civilian cultural divide but managed to earn an MBA, work as a corporate executive and own two small businesses that placed me in the top 10% of veteran earning firms. Throughout this period, I began advocating for veterans and women through policy, programs and individual connections. So, after 11 major moves and years of personal and professional growth, it leads me here.
Life of a Female Veteran: U.S. Army Combat Pilot Veteran Erica Courtney (part 6 of 6)
03
Feb
Yet, with all the struggle of women for equality, in recent years women—specifically Millennial women—have surged ahead of many of their male counterparts. Nearly 60 percent of all college students are women, demonstrating a growing gender gap (in favor of the female) in higher education—often times considered the “ticket” to a high-paying job.
As I look back on my twenty-five-year career in corporate America, I am struck by and struggle with the Diversity & Inclusion (“D&I”) and employee engagement mantra to “bring your whole self to work.” That might surprise you if you know me: I started my career working on D&I, and have worked on D&I inside and outside the workplace ever since. Some may even consider me a champion of D&I. But it is my passion for D&I that brings me to the conclusion that it is time to break the “bring your whole self to work” myth.