Beyond the Resume: Leadership, Life Lessons, and Starting Over
July 1, 2025
In this episode of Beyond Orders, host Michelle Penczak speaks with Rachel Hornbeck, the Director of Talent and Development at Squared Away, about her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to a leadership role within the company. They discuss the supportive culture at Squared Away, the challenges of imposter syndrome, the importance of community, and the personal stories of adoption that have shaped their lives. Rachel shares her insights on leadership, accountability, and the hiring process, culminating in a reflection on the theme of reinvention and personal growth.
- Real leadership starts when we stop waiting for permission to grow.
- The culture at Squared Away empowers individuals to thrive.
- Imposter syndrome is a common challenge for many leaders.
- Supportive communities can foster personal and professional growth.
- Heart and caring mentality are essential in leadership roles.
- Being open to feedback is crucial for success.
- Accountability is key to building trust within teams.
- The hiring process at Squared Away is thorough and thoughtful.
- Personal stories of adoption can create deep connections.
- Reinvention involves being brave enough to outgrow comfort zones.
The truth is: leadership doesn’t pause for heartbreak. Here are the things that helped me lead through one of the hardest seasons of my life.
Military spouse resumes can look unconventional, but they reflect resilience, adaptability, and real-world leadership employers shouldn’t overlook.
At Squared Away, we’ve spent years building and scaling a fully remote team that supports demanding, high-trust clients. Over time, one thing has become very clear: Professionalism isn’t about where you work. It’s about how you show up.
If you've been cycling through virtual assistants like they're seasonal employees, wondering why nothing sticks, or feeling like you're still drowning in administrative tasks despite having "help" – you're making at least three of these seven critical mistakes.
If you do not intentionally build support into your business and personal life, growth will punish you for it. More revenue means more decisions. More team means more communication. More visibility means more obligations. 2026 will demand more of you, not less. So let’s talk about how to prepare.
Founders are scaling faster with remote assistants in 2025—see why Squared Away’s vetted military spouse talent delivers unmatched reliability and results.
When the world seems out of control, leaders are required to make difficult decisions. I’ve seen it all - shutdowns, recessions, the pandemic, deployments - and I will say this with absolute confidence; There is no stability in cutting people. It comes from investing with more wisdom.
Source: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-djyii-1992d9a In this episode of Beyond Orders, Michelle sits down with Krista Knuffke, proud Army spouse, mom of two, and Director of Client Success at Squared Away. Krista’s journey from healthcare to operations leadership is one defined by adaptability, grit, and purpose. Together, they explore what reinvention really looks like for military spouses navigating constant change: balancing family, career, and identity while creating impact in every chapter. From managing moves and motherhood to leading sales and client onboarding, Krista shares how she’s built a life and career that thrives beyond the boundaries of traditional work. Tune in for an honest, uplifting conversation about growth, service, and the strength it takes to start over, again and again.
When the government shuts down, the headlines talk about politics. What they don’t talk about are the families sitting at kitchen tables across military housing neighborhoods, doing math that doesn’t add up.
In this episode of Beyond Orders, I sit down with Lauren Cecora - a 16-year Air Force spouse, devoted mom of two daughters, homeschool parent, and author of Past-Partum.