Meet Julie O., senior program manager

Helping others navigate the transition to a new job gives my work life a purpose. I’m familiar with navigating big life events without a playbook. That suits my role as a program manager at Principal^®. I want to help people figure out how to get in where they fit in and how to find their way.

Finding your grip

After I graduated from high school, I served in the United States Army. I was assigned to a military police company, but I didn’t know the desk sergeant codes, so I made this little cheat sheet to learn on the job. The military would throw you in and you had to find your way. That’s true in corporate America, too—sometimes you just have to figure it out.

And then my mom died unexpectedly. At 25, I quickly pivoted, and adopted my 14- and 16-year-old siblings. I became both their sister and mom while caring for two children of my own.

There wasn’t a playbook for my position in the military, nor was there a playbook for taking care of my sisters. But there was wisdom from my mom. She did a good job teaching me to be a leader. When you have obstacles like that, you can’t feel sorry for yourself. You have to pick yourself up and find your grip.

The needs and strengths of veterans

I served in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1995 during Desert Storm, with four years in active duty and four years in the reserves. I was discharged due to military trauma. I made progress at home and in my career, but veterans face unique challenges on the road to financial security. Research from the Federal Reserve, for example, shows veterans have higher rates of credit card debt than non veterans.

I started as a credit counselor, got my masters, and advocated for veterans both locally and nationally. Sometimes companies don’t think of military service as traditional work. I want to challenge businesses to think differently about both the unique needs and strengths of veterans as potential employees. I don’t want it to be the same way for other veterans as it was for me.

A home at Principal

A few key people convinced me that Principal was where I could put my skills to use. I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping ensure that Principal mirrors its customer base and society at large. I didn’t get a playbook for all those difficult life pivots, but I created one of my own and found my full stride here. When I came on board, the team made me feel like I was at home. They let me know I had made the right choice to join Principal. I truly feel for the first time that my voice really does count.