Episode 33: Lt Col (R) Mike Hudson: Strategic Account Manager, Schneider Electric Federal
Welcome to Tactical Transition! Hosts Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po chat with returning guest Mike Hudson, Strategic Account Manager for Schneider Electric Federal, about his successful military transition.
Mike, who retired from the Army in September 2024 after serving predominantly in special operations and intelligence, now works for Schneider Electric Federal, a global Fortune 500 company in power and distributed energy. He stumbled into this role through a friend, initially aiming for a career in financial services. Mike found profound purpose, stating, "Is this a place that I can be where I can contribute back to the mission and do it in a way that makes the world a little bit better, like yes, oh, and the people are awesome, like it's a no-brainer". He emphasizes that his work allows him to impact "entire installations or entire like combatant commands".
Mike offers vital insights for those in transition:
- Networking is paramount: "The resume gets you the interview, but the interview and the context are more about whether this is the right fit for me versus whether I am the right fit for them? And that was so, I mean, and you only found that through your network, too. I think that's right 100%."
- Remember basic principles: "Be on time, right place, right time, right uniform," "identify opportunities to help out to improve, leave it better than you found it," and "if you need help, ask for it."
- Embrace potential: Just like in special operations, focus on "potential to be coachable and learn, and then you know be consistent". He admits, "I don't know anything about electricity."
- "Don't Overthink It": Mike urges veterans not to complicate the transition. Focus on daily well-being: "Am I okay today? And can I do this job for another day, or another week, or another month? Are these people I'm working with good people? Like just keep it as simple as possible".
Despite a low veteran ratio on his immediate team, Mike feels highly respected and connected to Schneider's mission. The company has an "incredible veterans employee resource network" (VERG) led by Peter Schul, offering unique benefits like additional leave for military families affected by PCS or activation. Schneider boasts exceptionally low turnover and values a "best athlete mentality".
Michele and Cyndi highlight Mike's resilience and confidence gained. His "testimony" provides invaluable mentorship for others navigating transition.