11| On Growth, Leadership, and Business: Warrior Rising Chief of Staff Ken Vennera

Ken Vennera is a man of many hats.

Wharton educated, corporate lawyer, and mentor, he is also involved with Warrior Rising as Chief of Staff — a veteran nonprofit that helps veteran entrepreneurs get off the ground and positioned for success.

Show Notes

For more:

LinkedIn | Warrior Rising | Operation Homefront | Vets2Industry

Theme music by: Ruel Morales

Audio Transcript

Brian Schoenborn  0:01  

Hello, hello. Hey everybody. Our guest today is a man of many hats. Wharton educated. He’s a lawyer, also involved with Warrior Rising as Chief of Staff, veteran nonprofit that helps veteran entrepreneurs get off the ground and get to where they need to be. Give it up for my friend, Ken Vennera.

Brian Schoenborn  0:25  

My name is Brian Schoenborn. I’m an explorer of people, places and culture. In my travels, spanning over 20 countries across four continents, I’ve had the pleasure of engaging in authentic conversations with amazingly interesting people. These are their stories, on location and unfiltered. Presented by 8B Media, this is Half the City.

Brian Schoenborn  0:52  

So what’s up, Ken, how’s it going? 

Ken Vennera  0:54  

Much Brian, thanks for having me on the show. 

Brian Schoenborn  0:56  

Yeah, no problem, man. So listeners where we’re sitting You’re on location in Philadelphia, beautiful Philadelphia

Ken Vennera  1:03  

City of Brotherly Love. 

Brian Schoenborn  1:04  

That’s right. And we are. We’re in the peak of the coronavirus madness, but we’re not going to talk about it. We’re going to give you guys something else to talk about.

Ken Vennera  1:14  

Thank you.

Brian Schoenborn  1:14  

Yes. So can tell me a little bit. Um, one of the things I like to do is kind of discuss origin stories a little bit. 

Ken Vennera  1:22  

Sure. 

Brian Schoenborn  1:22  

You know, how people that have been that have seen a lot of success and things like that, how they got to where they, where they got, so maybe you could maybe you could start with like, just a little, maybe a little bit more of an in depth intro than what I provided, what you’re up to. And then we can go back and like kind of dig in like how you got from point A to point B?

Ken Vennera  1:40  

Sure. Sounds good. So I as you mentioned, I have a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania, my undergrad, for that. I have a law degree, JD, from Widener University School of Law, which Used to be the Delaware School of Law, and also have a master’s degree in law in taxation from Villanova University. 

Brian Schoenborn  2:07  

Oh, wow, okay. Yeah, a lot, a lot of time in class.

Ken Vennera  2:10  

a lot of time in school for sure, for sure, much too much time as my grandmother would probably. I’ve been involved in a lot of veteran nonprofit space. You know, we could talk about that a little bit later, if you like, as well. But, you know, currently Chief of Staff with Warrior Rising. A super, super organization that, as you mentioned, you know, helps veterans who are looking to start businesses, you know, and accelerate them. You know, and earn, basically, you know, their future. And you know, a few others as well. I’m involved with Vets2Industry, sit on the foundatio