What happens when a former Marine officer and combat veteran trades his uniform for emotional honesty?

In this episode of Clocking Out, we sit down with Christopher Veal, who is on a mission to challenge what leadership and masculinity really look like—starting with himself.

After a chance encounter opened a new door, Christopher left college to pursue a career with the Marine Corps, setting him on a path that would shape his future. He served for nearly a decade, deploying to Iraq, leading troops, and achieving his goal of becoming a company commander. But when military life began to feel more political than purposeful, he made the bold decision to walk away.

What followed wasn’t instant clarity. He spent six years in construction, working on tower cranes and learning the ropes, but slowly realized that while the work fit his skills, it didn’t feed his soul. It wasn’t until he became a father and faced outdated backlash for taking parental leave that he began to question not just his career, but his identity. What did leadership mean? What did it mean to be a man? What was the connection between vulnerability and masculinity?

So, he pivoted again.

Christopher returned to school, earned a master’s in organizational leadership, and discovered his true calling in coaching, facilitation, and leadership development. He built a new career in organizational development and eventually founded Echelon Left, where he now helps senior leaders show up with more clarity, courage, and connection.

The inner work and curiosity about vulnerability and masculinity led him to launching: The Vulnerable Man podcast, where he hosts raw, real conversations about connection, identity, and healing.

In this episode, Christopher shares how he reshaped his life and work to center vulnerability, how to recognize when it’s time to leave, and why letting go of the wrong fit can lead you to the work you’re meant to do.

Connect with Christopher at:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherveal/ 
• Website: https://www.echelon-left.com/  
• Podcast: https://www.vulnerable-man.com/  
• Book: https://www.wholemanjourney.com/ 

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