![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Morgan-Stanley-NY-HQ-1024x988.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI Was Always Curious About Corporate America\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cage began her Army career as a cryptologist at the National Security Agency (NSA) in 1992. She joined the military to \u201cpush\u201d herself, be challenged, and make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a perpetual optimist who thrives on a good challenge and new problems to solve,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a focus on information technology and cybersecurity, Cage worked for various demanding, high-profile organizations throughout her 30-year career. Her last military position was serving as the Army Cyber Command\u2019s Chief Information Officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her lifelong desire to be challenged led Cage to the Fellows Program with Hiring Our Heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was always curious about corporate America and wondered if I could be successful outside the military and outside the DoD,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our corporate fellowships provide 12 weeks of hands-on experience in the civilian workforce for transitioning service members during their last 180 days of active duty. Fellowship candidates are carefully matched with participating companies based on the specific skills of the candidate and the preferences of both parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cage was matched with Morgan Stanley for a strategic advisory role on the Data, Innovation, and Analytics team in New York City. She said her fellowship was an awesome experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was able to not only learn, meet a great deal of people, and join organizations within Morgan Stanley; I was able to put my technical and leadership skills to use advising and planning for the team,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During her fellowship, Cage realized her skills and experience from her time in the Army are quite valuable in corporate America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThrough this program I learned there are great companies with similar values to the U.S. Army. I had to push myself outside my comfort zone, but by doing so discovered many similarities which helped my confidence,\u201d Cage said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Through the program I learned there are great companies with similar values to the U.S. Army.”<\/p>\nKathy Cage, Chief Operating Officer for Operational Risk in the Cyber and Information Security team at Morgan Stanley<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Cage is one of nearly 1.9 million women veterans in the United States. While 84% of post-9\/11 women veterans have a college degree or higher, this population faces many challenges during their transition to the civilian sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A survey of more than 5,000 current or former service members conducted in collaboration with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the D\u2019Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) found the need to address the specific needs of women veterans. Survey results showed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hiring Our Heroes’ Fellows Program is working to offer additional employment opportunities for women veterans interested in corporate America. In 2023, women made up 19% of corporate fellows at Hiring Our Heroes. These veterans, both enlisted and officers, had an 80% job offer rate. The average starting salary was $104,904.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Cage\u2019s experience, the fellowship provided the guidance and support for her successful transition. Today, she recommends the program to transitioning service members who are willing to try something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI recommend they try a corporate fellowship to see what it\u2019s like before jumping in,\u201d Cage said. \u201cKeep an open mind \u2013 you never know what industry or company you may enjoy working in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her openness paid off. Cage is in a leadership role with a company she enjoys and a corporate culture that appreciates veterans and values their experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring the beginning of the program, I never imagined myself in the financial sector \u2013 but I kept an open mind when Morgan Stanley called me. They turned out to be a great company,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with extensive planning prior to separating from the military, Cage recommended women veterans find a mentor for guidance during their fellowship. She is grateful to the individuals \u201cwho took the time to mentor and advise me\u201d at Morgan Stanley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Cage is grateful to her program managers at Hiring Our Heroes. Their knowledge gave her the courage to smoothly sail into her new career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis program helped me test the waters without taking more risks,\u201d she said. \u201cI had the chance to discover and decide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Women\u2019s History Month, Hiring Our Heroes checked in with U.S. Army veteran Kathy Cage for her advice on women transitioning into corporate America. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,53],"tags":[75,55],"service_role":[16,17],"class_list":["post-5531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-stories-of-success","tag-fellowships","tag-veterans","service_role-service-member","service_role-veteran"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"head](\"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Former-Hiring-Our-Heroes-CFP-fellow-Kathy-Cage-284x300.jpg\")
Related: Helping Veterans Navigate the Corporate World<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Women Veterans Face Employment Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Kathy-Cage-family-photo-at-Fort-Gordon.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCorporate Fellowships Help Women Veterans Land Meaningful Employment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Kathy-Cage-in-Kuwait-2017-1024x843.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAdvice for Women Veterans Interested in Corporate America<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Corporate fellowships help transitioning service members launch civilian careers. Prospective fellowship applicants are strongly encouraged to watch<\/a> the recorded HOH Corporate Fellowship Overview video prior to submitting their application. If you have questions after viewing the webinar, join Hiring Our Heroes for a live Q&A session held on second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Visit the HOH Events calendar<\/a> to attend an upcoming Q&A session. \u00a0<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"