“My Transition” #36: Justine Evirs — Navy to Entrepreneur & Director at Bunker Labs SF
When a military career doesn’t go as planned, you’ve got only one option: Find your next mission and crush it.
I joined the Navy planning to serve 20 years. I didn’t have a plan B and that reality smacked me right in the face the day I found out I was being medically discharged… I felt cheated and was in complete denial… Now, I am dedicated to providing a space for current and future veteran entrepreneurs to connect and learn how to start and run a business.
San Francisco, CA — Many of us sign on the dotted line thinking we’ll complete 20 years of military service, only to realize that’s not in the cards for us. Justine has a powerful story of desire to serve, which didn’t end even after she was handed a medical discharge. Today, she continues to be a strong advocate for veteran entrepreneurs… fulfilling her desire to serve through other means.
DJS: Why did you join the military?
JE:
I joined the Navy at the age of 17 out of Landover, Maryland in 2001. I joined the Navy because I was craving structure and independence. I wanted to move away from my hometown and travel the world. Both of my grandfathers served in the Navy and I always remember seeing their pictures and listening to their stories about port calls ship life. I considered other branches but the Navy always felt right so I shipped out late August 2001.
10–12 days after arriving to Great Lakes, IL Recruit Training Command our country was under attack. Everything changed forever. When you are in bootcamp, the first 10–14 days are “Processing Days” and at the end of P days you become a real Navy Recruit. You switch uniforms and get a big speech about how things are real now. That day for me was September 11, 2001. We were one of the first divisions to go through bootcamp with a new mentality.
I wanted to move away from my hometown and travel the world. Both of my grandfathers served in the Navy and I always remember seeing their pictures and listening to their stories about port calls ship life.
DJS: What were the most important skills or lessons that you learned?
JE:
The Navy made me who I am today. It saved my life and provided me opportunities and perspective I would have not had otherwise. The Navy taught me that routines matter… something as simple as making your bed every morning or keeping your dresser drawers organized does make a difference. Your environment sets the tone for the day.
The Navy taught me that routines matter…
DJS: Did you know what you were going to do when you left the Navy?
JE:
I joined the Navy planning to serve 20 years. I didn’t have a plan B and that reality smacked me right in the face the day I found out I was being medically discharged. At that time I was dealing with multiple stress fractures in my feet, hips, and back and after being diagnosed with severe Osteoporosis (bones of an 80 year old woman) I was left with no choice but to end my time in the Navy.
I joined the Navy planning to serve 20 years. I didn’t have a plan B and that reality smacked me right in the face the day I found out I was being medically discharged.
DJS: Did you face any struggles?
JE:
Ha! A med board in the military is the most chaotic and slow process I have ever had to experience still to this day. Once I received my DD214, I had a hard time accepting the fact that my time was over. I felt cheated and was in complete denial. I didn’t want to return home so I decided to keep my apartment and start college where I was stationed, which was Norfolk, Virginia. As a 1st generation college student I had no idea what I was doing but knew that I had the GI Bill so financially I could afford it. I started college at Tidewater Community and majored in Business.
DJS: Tell me about your initial job search process? Was it what you imagined it would be?
JE:
At this time the Post 9/11 GI Bill was not available so my GI Bill did not provide me a housing allowance. I had to go back to waitressing to pay the bills. This decision did not help my acceptance of being medically discharged because I felt like I was right back where I started when I joined the Navy.
This definitely wasn’t a morale booster on my part and of course I fed right into all of the negative self talk and was unnecessarily hard on myself. College became my outlet. I went from being a barely passing High School student to a straight A college student. College became my ticket to the life I thought the Navy was going to provide to me.
DJS: You have an educational background in business and education… why are you passionate about this?
JE:
I’ve always had commitment issues with selecting a major or a field of work. I have never liked to be put into a box and limit myself to a small amount of options. I decided to major in business for my undergraduate degree because business is everywhere. No mater what industry you are in a business degree can and will be applicable.
After finishing my undergraduate degree, I realized that my college education changed my life so dramatically that I wanted to pay it forward and become a professor. That is when I decided to pursue graduate school and study education.
I decided to major in business for my undergraduate degree because business is everywhere. No mater what industry you are in a business degree can and will be applicable.
DJS: So, you’re the Executive Director of Bunker Labs, San Francisco. What’s your vision? Why did you pursue this?
JE:
I decided to take on the Executive Director of Bunker Labs, Bay Area because I believe in the mission and saw the need for a chapter to be established in Silicon Valley. I am dedicated to providing a space for current and future veteran entrepreneurs to connect and learn how to start and run a business. The thing that I love the most about Bunker Labs, is that we support all entrepreneurs no matter if you want to open your own bookstore, restaurant, or build the next Salesforce.
I am dedicated to providing a space for current and future veteran entrepreneurs to connect and learn how to start and run a business.
DJS: Tell me about what you do on a daily basis? What services do you provide and how do you help veterans?
JE:
I recently closed a 6 year career in military higher education and started my entrepreneur journey. Currently I am juggling 3 jobs… I know, I admit it. I’m crazy, haha! Honestly, I am loving every minute of it. I mean of course there are days when I want to cry but 90 % of the time I am smiling and looking
forward to the next task.
I am a Regional Manager at the Founder Institute. Founder Institute is the world’s largest idea stage accelerator program and I am in charge of running ops for North and South America. I am also then Founder & CEO of a new small non-profit call The Paradigm Switch. The Paradigm Switch provides
veterans and military spouses access and financial support to prestigious skills-based programs. Lastly, I am the Executive Director for the Bunker Labs, Bay Area. On a daily basis I am working in Palo Alto at the Founder Institute HQ full time while juggling TPS and the Bunker part time.
DJS: What skills from the military translated into entrepreneurship and made you successful in your current
role?
JE:
If I would have had the Bunker Labs back when I transitioned out of the Navy I would have become an entrepreneur 10 years ago. It took me moving to San Francisco to learn that I really did have what it takes to be a Founder & CEO. My ability to never give up and “find a way” is directly related to my time in the Navy. I also think humans naturally always want to cut corners and find excuses but I find that majority of people who participate in some sort of service tend to hold themselves to a higher standard.
If I would have had the Bunker Labs back when I transitioned out of the Navy I would have become an entrepreneur 10 years ago.
DJS: Are there other veterans in your workplace? If so, how is that dynamic?
JE:
I am currently 1 of 2 veterans at the Founder Institute. To be honest, it’s a nice break but always a great reminder of the unique skill sets a lot of veterans have. At The Paradigm Switch and Bunker Labs I am constantly surrounded by veterans and other military spouses. It’s so refreshing and my favorite part about those roles.
DJS: If you knew one thing before the transition process that would have made your experience easier, what would that be?
JE:
Relax. You have your whole world ahead of you and this is just a small part of your story.
DJS: What was the hardest piece of transition?
JE:
Today there are over 40,000 non-profits serving our veteran community. I think it’s overwhelming and hard for veterans to determine what is working and what is not working.
Today there are over 40,000 non-profits serving our veteran community… it’s overwhelming and hard for veterans to determine what is working and what is not working.
DJS: What one piece of advice do you have for anyone reading this?
JE:
Follow your passion and study what you want, not what makes sense. If you follow the things you love everything will make sense in the end.
Bio
Justine Evirs is a proud Navy veteran and Navy spouse dedicated to changing the narrative and breaking down stereotypes for veteran and military spouse communities across the globe.
Justine has been nationally recognized for her unique perspective on veterans transitioning into higher education onto campuses around the nation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Bunker Labs, Bay Area and is Global Regional Manager for Founder Institute in Palo Alto, California. She is focused on providing a space and access for all current and future entrepreneurs to network, learn, and develop their own venture ideas into top businesses around the world.
Justine is also the Founder & CEO of The Paradigm Switch which is a non-profit providing access and financial support to prestigious skills based and non-traditional education programs for veterans and military spouses. The vision of the Paradigm Switch is to transform our nation’s veterans and military spouses to become tomorrow’s leaders within different industries across the nation.
Resources
The Paradigm Switch — The Paradigm Switch is providing veterans and military spouses access and financial support to prestigious certifications & skills-based programs.
Veterati — Veterati is an innovative mentorship platform that makes being a mentor and finding mentors effortless. Connecting job-seekers to mentors at scale is phase 1 of Veterati’s greater mission: to transform job search from a painful experience into an inspiring journey.
Bunker Labs — Through local chapters across the U.S., Bunker Labs provides educational programming, access to resources, and a thriving local network to help military veterans and their spouses start and grow businesses.
Student Veterans or America —Through local chapters, SVA provides military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation.
Are you interested in sharing your story of transition? Or are you a military transition specialist who would like to share some tips? Send me an email at MilitaryTransitionStories@gmail.com
The goal of this series is to bridge the military-civilian divide in three ways: 1) Highlight the incredible skills and value that military veterans of all generations and backgrounds bring into the workplace. 2) Help transitioning veterans understand their true value and therefore aim as high as possible in their employment and educational goals. 3) Discuss the common struggles, pitfalls and indicators of success in veteran transition, in order to provide better transition assistance from both military and civilian sides.
