This segment is a Veteran Focused talk show that showcases individuals and companies in the community and is focused on Veteran leadership, service, stories and transition. Our Veteran host highlights other Veterans who serve, have served and who are doing great things in their business and in their community. Today our host, Captain Rick Hoffman spoke with Nadia Tepper.
Nadia Tepper
Owner of ReefPoint Solutions
Website Address: https://reefpointsolutions
Short company description:
ReefPoint Solutions is dedicated to helping leaders and organizations solve their most complex challenges. We bring cutting-edge research, real-world leadership experience, and practical tools to help organizations thrive in environments of constant change.
Transcript:
Rick Hoffman:
Hi. Welcome back to From the Sea to the C-Suite, where we highlight those people who’ve served in our active duty military, primarily Navy, because we are in Jacksonville. I’m your host, Captain Rick Hoffman, and this is the first time they’ve let me fly solo. So I’m very excited about that.
Hi. I’d like to welcome to the show today Nadia Tepper, the owner, CEO of Reef Pointe Solutions.
And, you and I first met when you were working at Southeast Regional Maintenance Command. And, in a very you were the second most powerful person in that organization. And so congratulations first to that and then to your transition now to your new place. Tell us a little bit about what you’re up to.
Nadia Tepper:
Sure. Yeah. Right now. So you know, just recently retired from government service 26 years actually. So I was active duty military, for ten and a half and then civil servant, for the remainder.
And so quite a transition. You know, I took an early retirement, actually, from government service and kind of found myself trying to figure out what is next for me.
And so what I found to be important and what I wanted to pursue in this next phase of life. And part of that, you know, my passion is really I always have this, this desire to serve. I feel like I was born to serve.
And servant leadership has always been something that I’ve embraced. And how can I now transition into the private sector and also give back and continue to serve in a way.
And so I found that I really want to continue to coach and mentor and teach. And I just recently completed my doctorate in business, specializing in leadership stress management.
My research is focused on workplace stress and how can I provide an avenue to give back. And so this has been an idea of mine to kind of start a new business and start on the consulting side and help others.
And, you know, both from a research perspective and also practical experience, you know, through my years in a leadership role.
Rick Hoffman:
Oh, wonderful. Now, let’s talk a little bit. If we could, by the time you joined the Navy, we’d had women in combat for a while.
With mixed success. And I’m certain that you were married and had children while you were still on active duty.
What? The challenges of juggling a career we’re going to see on ships, doing hard work, working with young men and women on destroyers and then, having to go home and look. That’s good to be a mom.
Nadia Tepper:
Yeah, no, it’s definitely a challenge and definitely did not have the answer.
And I think, yeah, when I came into the Navy 2003, I graduated from the Naval Academy. We didn’t have women on submarines. There were still ships that were male only. There were a lot of roles that were still close to women.
And so a very different environment entering the Navy then.
And, you know, 40 days of maternity leave, that’s what we had.
So when you think about it, I had two of my I’m sorry, all three of my children actually on active duty.
And so when you look at just how far the Navy has come in supporting women and mothers and making the ability really creating the ability to serve while also, you know, embracing that mother ship role.
And I think things have changed quite a bit since then.
And so it was a challenge.
So my first kid, I actually had when I was in grad school for the Navy, I was getting a naval engineer’s degree at MIT, and I was back in the classroom 14 days later.
So here I had this infant. I remember having to carry my stuff to try to pump in between classes. Nothing was arranged, you know, and, you know, you just kind of gut it out.
And it was a challenge.
And I think that’s been part of my goal. Just as I’ve come up through the ranks and you’re getting, you know, as you become and, more leadership positions that you can make it an easier transition for women trying to juggle it all.
And yeah, having kids and serving it is not easy. And a family life. And so there’s a lot of balance and a lot of give and take.
But I think the hardest thing, especially for women, is often the guilt that comes with that.
Right? It’s like, okay, I’m supposed to be in this specific role and I’m not there for my children.
You know, you think about the infant you put in daycare for 40 days, and it’s just this little thing.
So I think that is one of the challenges especially, back then when the time was so short for women.
Juggling motherhood and a family life is just the guilt that often creeps up on all of us.
Rick Hoffman:
And Nadia, I just want to highlight that after you left active duty, you continued to serve.
And your role as the director at the Southeast Regional Maintenance Command was so critical and making sure that when we send these young men and women to see that the ships were reliable, well-maintained, preserved, and ready to carry the fight forward.
So congratulations. How did you decide that that’s the path you wanted to take?
Nadia Tepper:
Yeah, well, ironically, I kind of fell into it, so I started there.
I was in active duty, at Southeast Regional Maintenance Center and really spoke to my values and how we are going to support the Navy and the just critical defense.
And sometimes in being out on the ships, you realize how often you rely on sleep tech assist and making sure that your ships are repaired when they come into port.
And so I really had kind of a calling.
So I started there as project manager, class team lead, and working my way up to executive director.
And what I really wanted to instill in the organization was really a culture to a culture of excellence, right?
Knowing that those were sending these sailors, these sons and daughters out into harm’s way, and they need to make sure that they have equipment that is reliable, that we make sure the repairs are sound, in terms of quality oversight and making sure that they get out on time.
They’ve got a mission to do.
So really at the heart of it is supporting the sailors, you know, that are out there serving our country day in and day out and making sure when they need it.
The equipment works, right, and it works how it’s supposed to be.
And that was really the critical mission for our southeast region in the center, making sure that they were ready to fight when they were needed.
And so I really had a calling there.
And, hopefully last, you know, left a lasting legacy in terms of the culture that we generated there at Southeast Regional Maine and Center and really service to our country and to making sure those ships are ready to fight.
Rick Hoffman:
Well, of course, the Southeast Regional Maintenance Center and the maintenance of these ships is such an important part of what’s going on in Jacksonville.
And we’ll have some folks here later that are in the industry on the other side.
So it’s a three party system.
You had to have the ship to participate.
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center had to be a leadership role.
And then the industry had to understand what the requirements were and be able to get to work and take care of, of, of the work that has been chartered and, and is critical.
So, so your leadership I, I was in the office shortly after you retired and was kind of startled and very, very sad, to be honest.
So, so, so glad to reconnect with you now and wish you the very, very best in the future.
Nadia Tepper:
Thanks, Rick, I appreciate it.
Yeah. And it’s always, you know, how we get to.
Yes. It’s not a no because it’s a yes if and how do we get there?
And always supporting the ships is our goal.
Rick Hoffman:
Yeah. Well, thank you so much. Thank you. Nadia Tepper and former warrior now continuing to serve in our community. Thank you so much.
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