Julie Friedman

My veteran got the WWP newsletter and saw the Dog Tag Fellowship program and told me this is the opportunity to carry out the goal that Covid stymied. I applied as soon as I read the program – rediscover my purpose, find community and do the Capstone project with the tools I need to start and run a business. The learning labs with entrepreneurs who are successful today post-Covid is priceless. Prior to Covid I was in technology channel sales. I managed sales partners from the East Coast and Texas. I realized after years of sales success that it doesn’t translate to knowledge of running a business or move to management. I was attending Bay State College to finish my degree in Business, with the goal of opening my own Technology Agency. The lockdowns severely affected my ability to serve my partners. Travel rules and restrictions made it impossible to schedule meetings and close business. Connections I worked years to cultivate suffered and many customers and partners closed. Soon I was unemployed, the company sold. When Covid hit school went remote, then my financial aid fell through, and I couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket from unemployment. I was 12 credits from graduation and about to start my Capstone project. Needing some connection to people, I took a part time job at the Home Depot Pro desk – a far cry from my previous position financially, but it provided me the opportunity to work with our Pros and consult on their projects and gives me a sense of community while I figure out what is next. I am eager to learn the operations side of business and create the community that Covid decimated. I believe the Dog Tag Fellowship is the best next step toward my future.