Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder, and retired Army colonel interviewed Alison Marlow, military spouse, International Account Manager at Schneider Electric and U.S. Chair – Armed Forces at Infrastructure Masons.
Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
I grew up in Aspen, Colorado, where, as you can imagine, I developed a profound appreciation for nature and adventure. When I was young, my family frequently visited indigenous communities in North America – even residing briefly with the Lacondone Maya tribes in the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico. At the age of 18, I was fortunate to become one of the first Westerners to explore a remote region of China during an expedition that I helped organize and then lead.
And what are you doing today?
Today I work at Schneider Electric, helping data center customers expand their footprint globally while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
Can you tell us a bit about your experience as a military spouse?
I met my husband when he was nearing the end of his military career and was starting to transition to civilian life. I helped him navigate some aspects of this transition, which as we know is very different. These areas included things like healthcare, taxes, finding meaningful employment, and eventually starting his own business.
Do you have a memorable story from being a military spouse that taught you valuable lessons?
I don’t have a particular story but spending so much time with the military community has given me such a strong community of people who care deeply and will go above and beyond for each other. It reminds me daily how I want to be as a friend, a colleague, and the integrity that I want to show up with every day in both my personal and professional lives.
Do you think your experience as a military spouse helped prepare you for business or leadership? Can you explain?
The most valuable lesson that I have learned is to take the time to get to know people and listen to their backgrounds. While being a military spouse, I’ve encountered people from all over the world with different experiences and skillsets. It has helped me understand people in a more profound way and to value the paths that their military careers have taken them. Truly getting to know people and learning how to leverage their strengths and passions has really helped me with my business and leadership journey.
Is there someone you are particularly grateful to for helping you reach where you are today?
I have had some great leaders and managers in my career who have seen my potential and allowed me to run projects that I didn’t have much experience in. They have trusted me and helped me develop tremendously. My current manager, Claudia Massey, in particular, has really helped me grow and reach where I am today.
Why is helping the military community and veterans get into this industry so important to you?
I am passionate about helping veterans and other military spouses, as I have found that many of them have had similar struggles that I did when I was looking for a job after following a non-traditional career path. I want to help other people find their own path to a great career and I feel very fortunate that I can help them do that.
If you could inspire a movement, what would it be?
I would inspire a movement where people slowed down and were curious about each other, with the intent to develop an understanding of people different from them. I am a proponent of looking for the potential and looking beyond what is typical in someone and helping them realize their potential, and I would love to inspire a movement of curiosity in the people around us.