Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder, and retired Army colonel interviewed Leanna Stroup, Navy Spouse and Talent Acquisition Associate at Salute.
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 the mountains of North Carolina as the baby of the family, with two brothers and two sisters. From childhood well into adulthood, I was passionate about theater—I loved being in the spotlight! Honestly, until my senior year of college, I was convinced I was destined for the Broadway stage. But life had other plans. Even so, I still find ways to flex my creative muscles, whether it’s writing music, playing guitar, or belting out tunes at karaoke whenever I get the chance.
I’ve always had an eclectic mix of interests, and with that, an equally eclectic skill set. I loved science and math growing up, joined every club I could (often holding an executive position), and played sports. That same theme carried into my career, where I’ve worn many hats—working in Human Resources, Product Development, Brand Management, Marketing Communications, College Recruiting, Sales, Analytics, and, most recently, Talent Acquisition!
And what are you doing today?
I joined the Salute Talent Acquisition team at the end of September, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of such an amazing group. I’ve always wanted to work in Talent Acquisition but never found the right opportunity—until now. My leader, Robyn Theriault, took a chance on me and the wide range of experience I bring to the table. Every day, I do my best to show my gratitude by stepping up to support our team in any way I can. In just a short time, I’ve had so many opportunities to learn, grow, and prove what I can do!
Outside of work hours, I love spending time with my husband and our four furbabies. My absolute favorite pastime is archery, a hobby I discovered just this past year! I also enjoy crafting, baking, and all things home décor and DIY. My husband and I share a love for the outdoors, whether we’re practicing archery, hunting, fishing, or contributing to wildlife conservation.
Can you tell us a bit more about your experience as a military spouse?
I officially became a Navy spouse in 2023 right before my husband deployed. Before he left, I had the opportunity to go through an invaluable program called COMPASS. It connected me with other new Navy spouses, taught us about the history, traditions, and customs of Navy life, and equipped us with the essential resources we would need as a military spouse; from Military OneSource to Fleet & Family Services, to MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation).
Fast forward to my first deployment experience—a planned six-month deployment that stretched to nearly nine months. On top of that, I somehow found myself serving as the co-Ombudsman for our command—me, a “baby spouse,” paired with a wonderful, more experienced spouse. An Ombudsman, essentially a key liaison between command leadership and families, plays a vital role in keeping communication open and supporting military families through the ups and downs of deployment.
As for countless other military spouses, I endured months of stress and sleepless nights. When my husband’s ship finally pulled back into port, I couldn’t have been more excited. We both showed up with a bouquet of flowers for each other—which made us laugh—and shared a huge, long-overdue hug. They say that after so much time apart, couples often go through an awkward re-learning phase, but for us, it felt like he had never left. We picked up right where we left off.
A few months after he returned home, he made Chief—a milestone that came with its own growth and learning experiences. It was incredibly touching to see how much support he received from those who recognized his contributions to the Navy and his potential for the future.
That period also taught us a lot about partnership and the shifting dynamics of spousal support. Ideally, marriage is 50/50, but the reality is that sometimes it’s 40/60, 80/20, or even 90/10. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned—not just as a military spouse, but as a spouse in general—is that real partnership means picking up the slack when the other person needs it.
Do you have a memorable story from being a military spouse that taught you valuable lessons?
You may have noticed a running theme—I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew or volunteering for more than I probably should. But the truth is, I’ve always loved being actively involved and helping others in any way I can. That’s exactly how I found myself serving as a co-Ombudsman during my very first deployment as a spouse—a responsibility I had no business taking on at the time. While I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world, and it brings me great comfort knowing I was able to support fellow spouses during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, it also taught me an invaluable lesson: the importance of prioritizing self-care.
As a co-Ombudsman, I was responsible for disseminating critical communication and supporting our command families—while simultaneously navigating the same stress and sleepless nights they were facing. On top of that, I was still so new to military life that many of the questions I was asked—ones a more experienced spouse might have answered effortlessly—were things I was just learning myself. That experience taught me that it’s okay to give yourself grace, to acknowledge when you’re in a season of learning, and to understand that you can’t pour into others if you’re running on empty.
Looking back, I know that the lessons I’ve gained since then—about resilience, balance, and the importance of self-care—would make me a far stronger and more effective Ombudsman today. But more importantly, I now understand that true leadership isn’t just about showing up for others; it’s about making sure you have the strength to do so in a meaningful and sustainable way.
Do you think your experience as a military spouse helped prepare you for business or leadership? Can you explain?
Without a doubt, my experience as a military spouse has been one of the greatest leadership training programs I never signed up for—but wouldn’t trade for anything. Military life demands resilience, adaptability, and the ability to lead through uncertainty, all of which are critical in business and leadership.
Serving as a co-Ombudsman for my husband’s command reinforced these skills in ways I never expected. In that role, I acted as a liaison between command leadership and military families, ensuring clear communication, advocating for the needs of others, and offering guidance during some of their most challenging times. Balancing this responsibility while managing my own emotions during a nearly nine-month deployment taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure, problem-solving in real time, and providing support to those who rely on you—whether it’s a team, an organization, or a community.
Beyond that, being a military spouse has given me firsthand experience in managing uncertainty and change, often with little notice. While I haven’t had to relocate frequently, I did leave my job as a career counselor to relocate to be with my husband—only to face unemployment due to the COVID-19 shutdown. That experience, combined with the unpredictability of military life, reinforced a valuable lesson: long-term planning is often a luxury, and flexibility is a necessity. When you don’t know what life will look like six months from now—let alone three to five years—you learn to embrace uncertainty, pivot when needed, and find ways to thrive despite the unknown. This mindset has shaped me into a leader who is resourceful, resilient, and calm under pressure. I’ve learned to tackle challenges head-on, find creative solutions, and remain steady in the face of change—skills that are just as essential in business and leadership as they are in military life.
Military spouses are natural leaders—not because we sought out the role, but because we’ve had to be. And I’m incredibly grateful for the ways this journey has prepared me to lead in business and beyond.
Is there someone you are particularly grateful to for helping you reach where you are today?
The person who stands out to me the most is Jillian Bird. She was the Salute Talent Acquisition Associate who discovered my resume through MSEP and reached out to phone screen me for my current position. Since then, she has been promoted to Project Coordinator, but she continues to be a role model, mentor, and now, a friend. Without her taking the initiative to reach out and advocate for me as a candidate, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Too often, we encounter gatekeepers where there should be advocates—but Jillian has always been the latter. I still remember our first conversation. When she called to phone screen me, my husband was on detachment, and I was outside detailing his truck as a surprise for when he returned home. I even told her that when she asked if it was a good time to talk! What started as a conversation about my experience quickly turned into a connection between two military spouses, sharing stories about our husbands’ careers and the unique challenges of military life.
That personal connection won Jillian’s vote of confidence, and she wasted no time advocating for me. She later told Robyn, “You’re going to absolutely love her!” Her ability to see my potential and recognize the value I could bring—just from a phone call—is something I will never forget.
Once I joined the team, Jillian continued to support me, learning about my skill set and presenting me with opportunities to shine. She has been the kind of person who advocates for me, even when I’m not in the room—just like Robyn and the entire TA team. But Jillian has played a huge role in shaping my training and development. She has recognized my strengths, even when I haven’t, and she always makes sure to remind me of them. Thanks to her, I have felt welcomed, valued, and confident in my worth as a Salute employee.
You are a part of Salute Veterans Community that shares a common passion of helping veterans get into this industry. This community is “Veterans helping veterans”. Why is this important to you?
I manage many of our military initiatives, including the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), Hiring Our Heroes, and SkillBridge. For military veterans, I believe it’s crucial for both employers and the veterans themselves to recognize the value of their skills. Too often, veterans underestimate their own abilities, not realizing how transferable their experiences are to the civilian workforce. My goal is to help bridge that gap, so they don’t feel limited or stuck in the next stage of their careers.
However, as a proud military spouse, I also know firsthand that military spouses are an underserved and often misunderstood community. When reviewing a resume, it’s easy to see multiple job changes and assume “job hopping,” or notice a long employment gap and view it as a “red flag” or lack of experience. But the reality is that military spouses frequently leave jobs to support their families and the demands of military life, moving from place to place with little control over their circumstances. Many are also the primary caregivers for children or family members, making traditional full-time employment challenging.
Yet, from these experiences comes an incredible, often-overlooked skill set—leadership, decision-making under pressure, financial management, adaptability, and resilience. Military spouses are some of the most dedicated, resourceful, and skilled individuals in the workforce. My passion lies in ensuring they receive the opportunities they deserve, and I truly believe that when given the chance, they will exceed expectations in any industry.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
If I could inspire a movement that would bring the best to the most people, it would be simple yet powerful: Be kind to one another.
It’s something Ellen DeGeneres used to say at the end of her show but imagine if it were more than just a phrase—if it became a global mindset. If kindness was the foundation of every interaction, every decision, and every system, the ripple effect would be immeasurable. Wars would diminish, communities would strengthen, and individuals would feel seen, valued, and supported.
Kindness isn’t just about being polite—it’s about actively choosing to uplift others. It means giving people the benefit of the doubt, seeing the good in them before assuming the worst. It means being an advocate rather than a gatekeeper—sharing knowledge, opening doors, and championing others even when they aren’t in the room. It means corporations prioritizing honesty over profit, ensuring that their marketing, products, and business practices are built on integrity rather than deception.
If we all made decisions based on the greater good rather than personal gain, the world would undoubtedly be a better place. It starts with a simple choice: to lead with kindness, to lift others up, and to recognize that compassion has the power to change everything.
How can our readers follow you online?
Obviously, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannatstroup/
But also, I’m more than happy to connect on Instagram: @got2b_msleelee