What Companies Get Wrong About Hiring and Retaining Veteran Talent

In this episode of the EVOLVE Talent and HR Show, Rhona Pierce sits down with Lee Cage, technology strategist, Army National Guard veteran, and Director of Technology & Transformation at BDO USA, live from EVOLVE 2026 in Atlanta. Organizations often celebrate hiring veterans—but hiring is only the first step. What happens after the offer letter matters just as much. From onboarding and retention to everyday team support, Lee shares what companies and leaders need to understand about supporting veteran employees who may be balancing both civilian and military responsibilities. Drawing from nearly 18 years of service in the Army National Guard, Lee explains the mindset shifts veterans navigate daily, why strong team support matters, and how organizations can create environments where veteran talent truly thrives. This conversation offers practical insight for HR leaders, managers, and teammates who want to build stronger, more supportive workplaces for those who serve. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why hiring veterans is only the first step toward real inclusion - The unique challenges of balancing civilian careers and military service - What organizations often misunderstand about veteran commitments - How managers and teams can better support veteran employees - Why veterans bring strong project management and execution skills to organizations - The mindset shifts required for dual military and civilian service - Practical ways coworkers can step up to support veteran colleagues - One simple action leaders can take to better support veterans at work Key Moments / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the EVOLVE Talent & HR Show 02:43 – Lee Cage’s journey serving in the Army National Guard 03:19 – Why having the right “flight crew” matters in organizations 04:15 – What companies get wrong after hiring veterans 05:34 – What organizations that support veterans well actually do 06:51 – Why veterans bring strong execution and leadership skills 07:58 – The realities managers often misunderstand about military service 08:52 – The mindset shift between military and civilian roles 10:16 – How coworkers can support veteran teammates 12:38 – Simple ways to better support veterans at work 14:37 – Where to connect with Lee Cage Lee Cage is a technology strategist, Army National Guard veteran, and Director of Technology and Transformation at BDO USA. With nearly two decades of military service and extensive experience in enterprise transformation and collaborative work management, Lee is passionate about helping organizations position talent for success while advocating for better support of veteran professionals in the workplace. | Follow Us | Follow Lee Cage Website | https://linktr.ee/LeeCageJr LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecage/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/leecagejr/ Follow Rhona Pierce Website | https://www.rhonapierce.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonapierce Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rhonabpierce/ Follow Anna Morgan Website | https://yourcareerbff.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-conference-careerbff/posts/?feedView=all Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/annamorgancareerbff/ Facebook | https://web.facebook.com/anna.morgan.351104 Join the EVOLVE Shine 2027 waitlist: https://yourcareerbff.com/evolve-2027 Interested in collaborating or sponsoring EVOLVE experiences? Book an EVOLVE partnership call: https://calendly.com/annamorgan/evolve-partnership If this episode resonated, subscribe, share it with a fellow HR or Talent leader, and leave a review to help more people-first leaders discover the show.