In this powerful keynote, Lydia Owiti-Otienoh shares a deeply personal and insightful perspective on transition as an internal journey, not just external change. Drawing from her experiences as a military spouse, immigrant, and leader, she unpacks the difference between change and transition and why so many people feel lost during life shifts. Through her Grounded Transition Framework (Ground, Name, Integrate, Move), Lydia offers practical guidance for navigating career changes, relocation, identity shifts, and more with clarity and intention. She also highlights the importance of community, alignment, and self-awareness in building a meaningful and fulfilling path forward. If you’ve ever felt uncertain, stuck, or in-between seasons in life then this message is for you. ✨ You are not broken. You are becoming.

If you earned your degree abroad, understanding how your qualifications are recognized here can make all the difference in your career, your next role, or your path to licensure. Watch this free webinar with WES (World Education Services), where WES broke down exactly how credential evaluations work and how to make your education work for you in the U.S. job market. ✔️How the credential evaluation process works ✔️How credentials are recognized by employers, licensing bodies, and higher education institutions ✔️Practical resources to help you navigate your career and align with U.S. opportunities. Gain valuable insights, ask questions, and leave with a clearer understanding of how to move forward with your education and career goals.

Info session with Candorful—discover practical strategies to strengthen your interview skills and confidently tell your professional story. Looking for ways to strengthen your interview preparation and confidently communicate your professional story to employers? Join us for an engaging session with Pat Hubbell, Founder and Executive Director of Candorful, to learn practical strategies that can help job seekers approach interviews with confidence and clarity. During this session, Pat will share insights on how candidates can strengthen their interview mindset, effectively present their experience, and prepare for meaningful conversations with employers. Participants will also learn why practice and feedback are essential steps in becoming truly interview-ready. In this session, Pat covers: The Job Interview Mindset Telling Your Story Preparing for the Interview Advanced Interview Skills Networking – Step Into It Finishing Strong This session will provide helpful insights for job seekers who want to improve their interview approach and better prepare for career opportunities. #foreignbornmilitaryspousesnetwork #militaryspouse #interview

At the George Bush Institute’s Stand-To-Veterans Leadership Program, our Founder Lydiah Owiti courageously shared her story, and the reason 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻-𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗙𝗠𝗦𝗡) exists. Her message is clear: This is not just a family issue. It’s a 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲. FMSN is the first and only organization built at this intersection, weaving immigrant and military systems so no spouse has to walk this journey alone. In just months, this movement has grown into a 𝟲,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, supporting spouses across 100+ countries, and this is only the beginning.

Explore entrepreneurship with global executive-turned-coach Simona Pappalardo and learn how to lead and grow with confidence. Entrepreneurship can be a powerful path for foreign-born military spouses seeking flexibility, purpose, and financial independence in the middle of frequent moves and changing careers. This session is designed to help you understand what it really means to build a business, use your international background as a strength, and take confident first steps as an entrepreneur.​ Our speaker, Simona Pappalardo, is a global executive turned leadership coach, speaker, and international best-selling author who helps professionals and leaders navigate change with courage and cultural intelligence. Originally from Milan, she has lived and worked on three continents and built a career in the electronics and manufacturing industry before founding her own coaching practice, Coaching With Simona. She has spoken at TEDWomen and other global stages, and her book Authentically Yours focuses on authentic, cross-cultural leadership and growth.​ In this session, we will explore: What entrepreneurship can look like for foreign-born military spouses How to turn your skills, story, and cultural background into business strengths Mindset shifts needed to start and sustain a business through military life transitions Practical first steps and resources to move from idea to action This event is for you whether you already have a business idea, are running a small venture, or are simply curious about entrepreneurship and want to learn from an experienced, globally minded leader.​ Connect with Simona: Website: www.CoachingWithSimona.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonapappalardo/​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CoachingwithSimo

Navigating the U.S. immigration system as a foreign-born military spouse can feel overwhelming, especially when your family’s stability and future are on the line. This session, hosted by the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN), is designed to give you clear, practical information about immigration law and visa options specific to military families.​ Our guest speaker, Nadezda Roife, is an immigration attorney with over 18 years of experience and founder of Roife Law Group. Born in Russia and raised in Israel, with studies in Canada and the United States, she brings both deep legal expertise and a personal understanding of the immigrant experience. Her firm leads a multilingual team and handles family-based immigration, deportation defense, asylum, business visas, citizenship, and more.​ Link to the company: https://www.roifelawgroup.com/ In this session, we will cover: -Key immigration pathways and visa options for foreign-born military spouses. -How policies and government practices can affect real-life cases. -Common challenges, mistakes to avoid, and when to seek legal help. -Time for Q&A so you can ask general questions about your situation. This event is for foreign-born military spouses at any stage of their immigration journey—whether you are just starting, in the middle of a process, or trying to understand your long-term options. And lastly, we'd love your feedback! It helps us grow and serve you better. Please take a moment to fill out the short feedback form we shared below: https://forms.gle/94jE9fRsrSNY9XXW7

Military life can be isolating, especially for foreign-born spouses. In this webinar, Abisola Adepegba shared culturally informed strategies, resources, and support networks to help spouses cope, connect, and maintain emotional well-being. This webinar is dedicated to the mental health of 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. While military life challenges every spouse, being foreign-born often means facing 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬: not knowing how or where to seek help, fearing stigma, navigating language differences, or struggling to explain cultural expressions of stress or sadness. For many, the result is silent suffering. This event webinar will shine a light on these barriers, share practical ways to recognize early signs of mental strain, and offer culturally informed strategies for coping — so no spouse has to face these struggles alone. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬: How stigma, language, and cultural expectations can prevent foreign-born spouses from seeking help — and how to break through them. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬: Guidance on what to look for in yourself and others — from emotional withdrawal to physical symptoms often linked to stress. 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: Simple, culturally adaptable tools for managing stress, loneliness, and uncertainty. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭: Access to mental health services, hotlines, and culturally aware support networks (both military and civilian). 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠: A safe space to share experiences with other foreign-born spouses and realize you’re not alone in this journey. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #militaryspouse #militarylife #military

We left our roots behind, but we found strength and each other. 💙#FMSN #militarylife #militaryspouse #militaryfamily #usa

Life as a foreign-born military spouse comes with unique challenges. From navigating cultural adjustments to handling frequent relocations and building new support networks, resilience is key to thriving in military life. Join Dr. Dinelia Rosa, Ph.D., Director of the Dean-Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services at Teachers College, Columbia University, for an empowering session on building resilience. We will discuss: -Understanding resilience and why it matters -Practical strategies to manage stress and maintain emotional well-being -How to foster a positive mindset during transitions -Resources available for mental health and community support Whether you are new to the military community or have been part of it for years, you will walk away with actionable tools to strengthen your resilience and well-being. We'd love to hear your feedback! It helps us grow and serve you better. Please take a moment to fill out this short FEEDBACK FORM: https://forms.gle/94jE9fRsrSNY9XXW7