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November marks a special time to honor and thank those who have served our country. This Veterans Month, we're dedicating our newsletter to spotlight the incredible stories of veterans, their sacrifices, and their enduring impact on our communities.
From Marine Sergeant to Software Sales to Aspiring Watchmaker: Guided by Purpose and Resilience, Meet Carson Lipe
Carson Lipe is a former Marine Sergeant who was a crew chief on the MV-22B aircraft for 5 years. He immediately started college after service and graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor's degree in International Studies, and from the University of Denver with a Master's degree in business management. He worked in Software Sales as a Sales Development Representative for the New York-based Datadog. Carson served 1 year in the role before being promoted to Account Executive in commercial sales. After his tenure in sales, Carson left his job to explore opportunities in healthcare, policing, the trades, and now watchmaking, where he will hopefully be attending watchmaker school in the near future.
What is your personal story?
I enlisted in the Marines at 17 for many different reasons. I wanted to serve the community, learn discipline and toughness, travel the world, and do my part to protect the American people. My reasons for serving changed drastically by the end of my contract. I was mostly there for my friends and unit members. I wanted to pick up the slack so that they didn't have to, to make sure I was in a state of readiness that would mean I could protect and save my friends if needed.
From this experience, I learned an incredible amount about myself and other people. To this day, it is still the hardest job I've ever held. Though the grueling 13-hour days and 7-day workweeks were demanding, they pushed me to my limits and revealed unexpected strengths. The military taught me a lot about myself, others, and how experiences can turn out to be drastically different than expected.
My professional story is a mix of experiences because I enjoy constant change. As I get older, I’m pushing myself to pursue opportunities that align with my true interests. I've tried the military, corporate sales, and non-profit work, enjoying aspects of each but often feeling drained by their structures. I've seen people create their own professional paths, balancing various enjoyable activities for a healthy living, which resonates with me.
Where are you today?
Currently, I'm pursuing watchmaking, driven by my passion for watches and jewelry. I discovered the Veteran's Watchmaker Initiative, which trains veterans in watch repair at no cost. I want to learn to restore old watches, ideally working with a company like Vortic in Colorado that specializes in military pocket watches. This role would allow me the flexibility I crave.
I spent 2.5 years in software sales, which was a valuable experience, but the high-pressure environment didn’t suit my strengths. After dealing with health issues and facing a layoff, I quit rather than compromise my values. This uncertainty has ultimately led me to pursue my passion, teaching me that better opportunities often arise from failure. The biggest successes in my life have come from overcoming setbacks.
I've had my path decided for me more than I'd like throughout my life in the form of layoffs, breakups, and rejection letters. More often than not, my response to those experiences has dictated what comes next. My biggest moments in life have been the failures that have turned into big learning lessons.
How can GlobalMindEd help you?
I think I was born with a desire to help and protect people. Often the careers that seem most interesting to me are the ones that utilize the gifts I was given from birth. My passion for serving comes from the heart, and I believe GlobalMindED's mission of creating a diverse talent pipeline aligns perfectly with my aspirations. I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to a more equitable future and make a positive impact on the world.
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