William Toti

Background

About William Toti

After over 26 years on active duty and 15 years in industry as a P&L leader and hiring manager, I realized that a structural problem exists with military veteran transition training that increases the veteran's probability of failure in their new industry job. I first attempted to fix this problem by engaging with DOD folks who owned transition training. Some of them didn't want to talk to me. Others were willing to talk but made it clear they had no interest in changing (improving) the quality of veteran transition training. I then took it upon myself to write a book to overcome the bad info veterans are fed when they leave active service. The title of this book is,"From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership." This book explores the hard lessons that I learned when I first transitioned into industry, along with the lessons I learned from watching the hundreds of veterans I hired into industry jobs when too many of those veterans failed. Although the book will benefit any veteran transitioning into industry, it's really targeted at those veterans who seek industry LEADERSHIP positions. As I say in the book, if you want to learn how to fly, it's a good idea to talk to an actual pilot. Similarly, if you want to succeed in an industry leadership position, it's a good idea to talk to someone who has done just that. My book is different in that it's not a feel-good book that conveys hand-waving, leadership pablum like so many other veteran transitions books do. Rather, it's a very detailed, practical, step-by-step book for use by veterans and the companies that hire veterans, to assist both in an effort to approve the success rate and retention rate of veteran employees. My focus these days is on helping companies build training and assimilation programs for their new hire veteran employees. Every company can tell you how many veterans they hire. Almost none can tell you how many of those veterans are still with them after five years. I help companies improve those veteran success rates. I welcome opportunities to speak to company executives, HR leaders, and recruiters on how to build a "Veteran Success Program," taking a common diversity & inclusion Employee Resources Group approach for veterans. If you are interested in hearing what I have to say, please reach out by LinkedIn message.