In this episode, Brett D'Alessandro (he/him) shares his journey from active military service as a Marine in Afghanistan to founding Backpacks for Life - a nonprofit dedicated to supporting homeless and at-risk veterans. Drawing from his own difficult reintegration into civilian life after a tough deployment, Brett’s work with veterans is rooted in establishing trust and making them feel human again. He shares about his struggles with alcohol addiction - and how a chance encounter with a homeless veteran helped him find his purpose and open the door to recovery. He emphasizes that seeking help when struggling is a sign of strength, and shares a wide range of available therapeutic approaches. He expresses gratitude for the clarity, strength and resilience he gained from overcoming hardships, and how - while he’s still human - it has made him a better person in every aspect of his life.

Brett D’Alessandro is the Founder of Backpacks for Life, a nonprofit that supports homeless and at-risk veterans. He also owns Golden Door Dispensary, where he focuses on innovation and exceptional service in the cannabis industry. His career is shaped by a commitment to giving back and creating meaningful solutions for underserved communities.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, helps underrepresented people confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 1:1 CAREER COACHING WITH SHANTI JOY GOLD, BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY DISCOVERY CALL HERE

Brett and I also discuss:

• Navigating the specific challenges he faced after returning home from war - “They train you how to go to Afghanistan and how to survive, but they don't tell you how to leave.”
• Discussing how words matter - and how communicating with kindness and empathy can change outcomes and create positive results
• Realizing that, at times, we can all become jaded in our work - and the importance of having the presence of mind to catch ourselves and reconnect to our purpose
• Connecting with other like-minded people is an important part of navigating through challenging times
• Understanding that success isn’t about perfection - it’s about the important lessons we can only learn when things don’t go as planned

Thank you for listening! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive insights about how to navigate your career as an outsider - and learn more about the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and find me below to share your key takeaways!

Learn more about Stories We Haven’t shared at https://storieswehaventshared.com

CONNECT WITH BRETT D’ALESSANDRO
Backpacks for Life (BFL) - learn more or donate!
BFL on LinkedIn
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BFL on Facebook
BFL on X (Twitter)
ROGER - a resource website for NJ veterans

CONNECT WITH SHANTI JOY GOLD
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