Women Veterans Share Their Stories, Experience and Commitment to Community
Women veterans came together with fellow veterans, military families and members of the community for a candid and thoughtful conversation about military service, the transition to civilian life, careers, business, family and the many ways veterans continue to serve and make a difference in their communities.
Presented by SCVSC
The event was a strong success, creating an environment where women who served could share their personal perspectives, lived experiences and insights directly with the SCV community. Rather than focusing solely on military accomplishments, the discussion explored the broader journey that follows service: finding a new sense of direction, transitioning into civilian careers, navigating family responsibilities, building professional and business opportunities, overcoming challenges and discovering new ways to make a difference.
Guiding the Conversation
Kim Hudson
Executive Assistant, Secure Measures • Military Spouse
Kim Hudson moderated the program, gracefully guiding the conversation among the panelists while helping connect their individual experiences with issues veterans and military families commonly encounter during and after the transition to civilian life.
Women Veterans on the Panel
Hudson was joined by an accomplished group of women veterans whose military experiences and civilian journeys offered distinctly different, yet often interconnected, perspectives.
Dr. Denita Oyeka
Motivational Speaker • Retired Army Combat Veteran
Oyeka brought the perspective of a career service member and combat veteran, sharing lessons from her life about perseverance, personal growth, owning and operating a business, and finding a renewed sense of purpose beyond military service.
Her experiences illustrated how the determination developed in uniform can continue to shape a veteran’s personal and professional life long after leaving the military.
Gabriela Ramirez
Financial Service Specialist • Marine Veteran
Ramirez offered perspectives from her military service, financial-services career and duties at Cedars-Sinai, including the particular pride she takes in visiting and caring for fellow veterans while they are there.
Her experiences highlighted the importance of preparing for civilian life, developing new professional skills and careers, making informed financial decisions, and continuing to find meaningful ways to serve others after leaving the military.
Carolina Hernandez
CEO, Veteran Couture • Navy Veteran
As both a Navy veteran and business leader, Hernandez offered an entrepreneurial perspective on translating military experience into leadership and business ownership.
She discussed her work in unique fashion design using vintage military uniforms, turning her passion into entrepreneurship and navigating media recognition along the way.
She also shared the opportunities and challenges that come with building a business while continuing to serve, support and give back to others in the veteran community.
Staci Garcia
Chief Strategy Officer, Contact Discovery Services • Marine Veteran
Garcia shared lessons drawn from her Marine Corps experience and subsequent professional career, emphasizing discipline, leadership and, especially, adaptability.
She offered particularly inspirational advice for women navigating workplaces or trades traditionally dominated by men, including situations where they may not receive the respect or treatment they deserve.
Her message emphasized recognizing one’s own value, knowing when a situation is no longer the right fit and having the confidence to seek an environment where one’s abilities and contributions can thrive.
The Broader Journey After Military Service
One of the most thoughtful aspects of the program was the women’s willingness to speak about life experience as a whole. Their discussion recognized that transitioning out of uniform involves much more than finding another job.
Veterans may be redefining their careers and identities while simultaneously caring for families, developing relationships, pursuing education or entrepreneurship, establishing financial security and determining how they want to contribute to their communities.
Each woman followed a different path after military service, yet their stories shared common themes of resilience, adaptability, leadership and a desire to continue contributing to something larger than themselves.
A Conversation With the Community
Importantly, the program was not simply a presentation. The panelists took questions from the audience, giving everyone who attended an opportunity to participate directly in the conversation. Veterans — both women and men — along with military families and other community members were able to ask questions and receive thoughtful answers grounded in the panelists’ military service, professional careers and personal experiences. The Q&A helped make the afternoon personal, practical and relevant to the people SCVSC serves.
Service Beyond the Uniform
More than anything, “Engaging Women Who Served” celebrated continued service. Although the women on the panel have transitioned from their respective military roles, their commitment to leadership and helping others continues through their careers, businesses, families and involvement in the veteran community.
The turnout, thoughtful discussion and audience participation reinforced the value of creating spaces where veterans and their families can learn from one another, ask questions, build connections and recognize that the commitment to serve can continue long after military service, taking new forms through family, career, business and community involvement.
Through events such as this, SCVSC continues to bring veterans, families and the wider community together and hopes to build upon the success of this event by presenting it as a recurring forum for conversation, connection, shared experiences and community support.
