Episode 160 – Why Women Veterans Rock to Hire! with Michelle Gardner

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Women Veterans Rock to Hire! with Michelle Gardner is our latest episode of Business Growth Time

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About Michelle Gardner:

Ms. Gardner-Ince’s mission is to be “About the business of America’s Veterans – serving those who continue to serve America.” Ms. Gardner-Ince has a unique perspective in that she has never been without a military ID Card.

She is not only a veteran, a military spouse, but she grew up in an Army family, originally from Albany, Georgia, now living in the Metro Washington DC area and is married with two children.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

05:55 – Michelle in Department of Veteran Affairs

She served in the Air Force for 27 years and became Colonel.
Being called my mentor, my coach, a visionary, champion are the words that she loves to be identified by now.

09:58 – The difference of women vs men in the service

It depends on the career field.
The requirements to progress and be promoted are the same.

15:04 – One of the key things that make women great leaders?

Women are flexible, resourceful, they could take nothing and make something. They don’t need a tech order that says here’s how to do everything.

16:54 – What is the interview process or the promotion process?

There’s a competition within your specialty.
Being a great leader does not mean they are great at leading people.

21:14 – How women can get involved in the business?

She works in a small business office, they help veterans get certified.
Protecting the veteran business advantage.
Veterans Affairs is the only federal agency that by law you must be certified as a veteran-owned business to get contracts with the Veterans Affairs.

22:56 – Veterans Affairs gives about six billion dollars of its budget to Veteran-owned businesses every year

Women are the fastest-growing demographic for Veterans Affairs more women are joining the military.
The projection is that by the year 2024 women will be 18% of VA’s veteran population and growing.

26:12 – Prime contracts in Veteran-owned and other small businesses

Less than 1% of contracts are where the woman is the prime contractor, she’s not subbing, subcontracting to another company.

27:05 – How Michelle Gardner can help with businesses?

She assumed this position in December 2011 and is responsible for verification of Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to compete for Veterans Affairs contracting opportunities under the Veteran’s First set-aside acquisition program.

29:24 – Do they help women all over the United States?

We are only for women veterans and veterans, our office is for people who want to do business with the federal and commercial markets, not mom and pop shops, t-shirt shops, bakeries, to be clear it is for large federal contracts and commercial markets.
The mission is mandated by law and it’s all about the federal government and commercial markets.

31:36 – Michelle on helping women

One of the things is that her mission is not just to make organizations and federal agencies aware, but she brings awareness to the women. Because most of the time, women go get a job, where instead they can start a business, and she wants to help to share the knowledge.
You can start to create your own world by working on contracts.

35:54 – Where you can find Michelle Gardner

For her LinkedIn, check this out

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