Turning Transitions into Triumph: A Navy Reserve Spouse Pivots to a Portable Career
Like many military spouses, Navy Reserve spouse Karen Uhlhorn had to rebuild her career when the military moved her family. One such move was the catalyst for a major shift, toward a sector that was sustainable, scalable, and remote. Utilizing resources from Hiring Our Heroes, Karen has a career she loves—one that will travel with her.
From Nonprofit Leadership to New Horizons
For many years, Karen led a nonprofit she co-founded, gaining invaluable experience in leadership, project management, and systems building. While deeply rewarding, the role lacked professional mentorship and upward mobility, and it paid less than market value. She felt that she was stagnating. So, when her family relocated for her husband’s Navy Reserve commitment, Karen realized it was time to pivot.
“Remote work was an absolute must. My husband could be assigned anywhere at any time, and I needed a role as mobile as I am.”
Karen Uhlhorn
Confident in her abilities but uncertain how her nonprofit experience would translate, Karen knew she had the grit and skills to succeed. She just needed an open door.
Leveraging the Right Tools
Karen tapped into multiple resources designed to support military spouses in their career journeys. Through Onward to Opportunity (O2O), she earned her PMP certification, strengthening her project management credentials. She turned to Hiring Our Heroes for networking and job search guidance and attended Amplify, where she gained practical skills like salary negotiation and the confidence to pursue a new path. Karen also became a fellow through the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot (MSCAP).
During her fellowship experience, Karen discovered the power of community. The support of her program manager, the camaraderie of other military spouses navigating similar transitions, and the insights shared during professional development sessions proved to be invaluable.
“The community and mentorship were unique and irreplaceable,” she said.
When Plans Change for the Better
Karen’s journey underscores that the path envisioned as ideal may not always be the one that proves right.
“I imagined myself joining a large, well-established team,” Karen said. “Honestly, I thought I was done with startups.”
Instead, her fellowship took a surprising turn when she interviewed with Thrive Clinics, a rapidly growing functional health practice. She was captivated by their mission, which resonated deeply with her values. She embraced the opportunity to help build a better lead intake and management system.
Drawing on her background and experience, Karen recommended a cost-effective, efficient solution that improved client tracking and streamlined operations. Her outstanding contributions during the fellowship earned her a permanent job offer. Today, she serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive Clinics, a role she calls the “best job I’ve ever had, hands down.”
Reclaiming Identity and Building a Future
Karen credits Hiring Our Heroes, the fellowship program, Amplify, and O2O for guiding her through a pivotal career transition.
“These programs didn’t just help me pivot careers. They helped me reclaim a sense of professional identity, stability, and purpose in a season that could have felt uncertain, ” she said. “I now have meaningful work that travels with me, and a professional network that understands exactly what that means.”
“These programs helped me reclaim a sense of professional identity, stability, and purpose in a season that could have felt uncertain.”
Karen Uhlhorn
Karen’s story proves that with the right resources, some relationship building, and a little resilience, every transition can lead to triumph.
