Celebrating a Decade of Service: Veterans’ Alliance 10th Anniversary

As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the William Blair Veterans' Alliance, we reflect on a decade of duty, honor, and service. Founded by a colleague in November 2014, the Veterans Affinity Network (now Veterans' Alliance) has been dedicated to supporting William Blair veterans and their families, engaging with the community, and collaborating across the organization to foster a culture of service.

This year's Veterans Day theme, "A Legacy of Service," resonates deeply with our mission to honor the contributions of our William Blair veterans who have served in various military branches, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, as well as International Service. Our veterans exemplify the leadership and resilience that help define our firm's values.

To celebrate this important milestone, the Veterans' Alliance hosted a hybrid event in our Chicago office. Keynote speaker Bill King, a retired military professional and now Human Capital Management expert, shared insights on leadership and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of balance, truth, and responsibility.

Pictured from left to right: Veterans' Alliance Co-Chair, Corwin Marbly; Guest speaker, Bill King; Veterans' Alliance Executive Sponsor, Cissie Citardi; Veterans' Alliance Co-Chairs Cameron Kasmar and Mike Justus

As leaders, we must strike a balance between confidence and humility, toughness and kindness, and truthfulness and straightforwardness. These principles can help guide our professional lives and shape our personal interactions and relationships. We should also consider that people learn differently, and what works for one person - or what works for you - might not work for someone else.

King noted the transferable skills and mindsets that veterans bring to any job, providing new perspectives and enriching the workforce, and asked the audience members to consider two questions. First, where are you going? And second, where have you been? By asking yourselves these questions repeatedly, you can ground yourself in your goals and remember what you have learned from prior experiences.

We were also reminded that people (and how we treat them) are such an important part of our life journey. As King said, "It's not just about what we did but who we did it with. It's about the people and the bonds we form along the way." This holds true not only in the military but also in our daily lives.

Pictured from left to right: Guest speaker, Bill King; Former Veterans' Alliance Co-Chair, Tye Clark; Veterans' Alliance Executive Sponsor, Cissie Citardi; Current Veterans' Alliance Co-Chair, Cameron Kasmar

As we look back on the past decade, we also look forward to continuing our mission of service and support. The Veterans' Alliance remains committed to honoring the legacy of our William Blair veterans - and all veterans - and ensuring their contributions are recognized and celebrated.