Tony’s Story

In today’s world, many people will tell you that when it comes to securing a new role, utilizing your network is a non-negotiable. Having the qualifications and skills to complete the responsibilities of a job is, of course, vital, but to be able to pitch yourself and your capabilities during an interview, you first have to secure a seat at the table.

Tony Ntri, US Navy Veteran and current Program Analyst for a Veteran-owned small business, served in the military for 23 years. As he was in the midst of his transition after over two decades of service, he knew all of his gained experience and knowledge could help him secure a new role. The question at hand: How?

Working with his American Corporate Partners Mentor, Teodora Vassileva, was the perfect answer. Vassileva, a Career Development Leader at a major manufacturing company, was more than happy to help give back. Before joining ACP as a Mentor, she went through the program as an Active Duty Military Spouse Protégé. When discussing her experience in her own mentorship, she added,

“I still connect with her and think about the things she told me, so I knew I wanted to do the same for somebody else, and hopefully be as impactful to them.”

“My Mentor was amazing and helped me grow so much,”

Speaking with Ntri, she did just that. Thinking back on how Vassileva has helped support him throughout the mentorship, Ntri mentioned, “Her ability to get me out of my comfort zone and get out there and network with people with such a wide range”, and continued, “I actually got my job through that same push from her too.” Ntri repeatedly expressed his gratitude for being introduced to Vassileva through the program. One of the many things that stood out to him was how she helped change his perspective on the perfectionist thinking he held. When transitioning into his new role, she helped him realize that “I don’t have to be perfect from day one,” and that “I can continue to build, as long as I am actively learning and improving gradually; that’s also okay.”

When thinking about her favorite part of the mentorship, Vassileva replied,

“Getting the job was the big win, but I think for me, the best part was just doing work with him, and focusing, and seeing him do the little steps that, of course, led to a role.”

“Seeing Tony’s wins.”

For someone who is considering beginning a new mentorship, Ntri imparted, “Go for it 100%. Help guide the mentorship to the way you are expecting it to go.” Vassileva also added for Mentors who are considering beginning their first mentorship, “Even if you don’t know about the military, helping people who have really no idea about the civilian workforce can actually be great because you can say, ‘Okay, this is how I can help you translate this, because this is what we know from the civilian workforce’,” and continued, “just consider it because it’s such a great experience, and really is a great way to give back.”

Are you ready to give back to the military community as a Mentor, or receive support for your next chapter as a Protégé? Join ACP’s thriving community of 43,000+ Veteran and Military Spouse Alumni and apply to be a part of a free year- long one-on-one mentorship today.