May 2025: ACP congratulates Denise Winston and Katherine Barnett of Hearst!
When I joined ACP, I was navigating one of the hardest seasons of my life—grieving the loss of my mother, leaving a corporate role, and facing the uncertainty of transitioning from the military to civilian life. Then I met Denise.
With her background in business and marketing, Denise immediately understood the challenges I faced as a woman in a male-dominated corporate world. She reminded me that it was not only okay to be myself—but that my authenticity was a strength. She encouraged me to embrace success without apology and gave me the tools to move forward with confidence.
From monthly check-ins to mock interviews, to shared strategic advice, Denise consistently showed up. She gifted me the book Worthy, which helped me face the imposter syndrome that often followed me. Her mentorship didn’t just guide my career path—it helped me heal, rebuild my faith, and grow through grief, depression, and uncertainty.
Recently, I’ve accepted a role as a General Manager, with a government contracting firm, allowing me to continue serving fellow veterans, and I’ve also launched my own consulting business. Denise pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me become someone I’m truly proud of.
What started as mentorship has become a lasting friendship. I’m deeply grateful to ACP for connecting us, and incredibly thankful for Denise’s unwavering support. Because of her, I’m stepping into my future with clarity, purpose, and hope.
– Tiffany B., U.S. Air Force, Texas
It is with great pleasure that I nominate Katherine as ACP’s Mentor of the Month! As a separating service member with very little exposure to the private sector, I have been very fortunate to spend one-on-one time with an executive like Katherine. Not only is she an expert in corporate human resources and among the leadership of a world-renowned media conglomerate, Katherine’s straight talk and sincerity have made her an invaluable mentor. Katherine’s input and insight have helped to solidify my next professional move and without her assistance, I might have gone rudderless down a path that was likely a poor fit for my family and me. Katherine went far above and even introduced me to other potential mentors within her circle of contacts. Of course, with a portfolio like Katherine’s, it is astounding that she would be willing to dedicate time to these mentorship sessions, but it’s clear she does so because she cares about me as a veteran and my transition out of uniform. Thank you Katherine!!
– John C., U.S. Army, Washington D.C.
