Lyndsey Akers

10/06/2026

Only 1.9% of women-owned businesses ever cross the $1M annual revenue mark.

But what struck me most about the women on this stage wasn’t the revenue.

It was how wildly committed they are to sending the ladder back down, kicking the door open and pulling up another chair to the table.

Collectively, these women represent more than $40 million in lifetime revenue, but they also represent decades of lessons learned, risks taken, teams built, pivots made and a very real desire to make the path a little easier for the women coming behind them.

I had the privilege of moderating this panel of 7-figure female business leaders at the Military Influencer conference alongside Isabel Schmitt, Wendy Way, Joanna Serra and Valerie Lavin, and I walked away thinking about something I see often in my work with seven- and eight-figure founders:

The strongest brands aren’t built solely on what you accomplish. They’re built on what you become known for along the way.

How you lead.
Who you bring with you.
What you advocate for.
Where you choose to use your influence once you have it.

And Isabel, in particular, is one of the most heart-centered entrepreneurs I’ve had the opportunity to know through our Military Spouse of the Year connection. Watching her create space for a conversation like this (and continually use her own success to create opportunity for others) is exactly what this panel represented.

There was plenty of conversation about scaling, leadership, money and the realities behind building seven-figure companies.

But the message I’ll remember most is this:

Get through the door. Then hold it open.

09/03/2026

Milspouses, don’t miss this!
 
The United Forces & Families presence at the Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space & Cyber Conference has continued to grow and this year, we’re bringing even more opportunities to connect, learn and be part of conversations that directly impact the Family Force.

Here’s the rundown at :
MONDAY | Unlocking Military Spouse Talent Panel

TUESDAY | Relationships that Strengthen
The Voices of the Family Force Panel, followed by a keynote from Bree Carroll focused on marriage and military family life.

WEDNESDAY | Senior Leader Perspectives
A candid conversation about military family readiness and leadership featuring General and Mrs. Wilsbach, General and Mrs. Schiess, CMSgt and Dr. Wolfe, and CMSgt and Mrs. Bentivegna.

📍Military spouses receive complimentary registration for ASC.

Whether you join us for one conversation, one day or all three, come be part of it.

Register today and join us at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, September 14–16 at National Harbor, Maryland.

We’ll see you at ASC! ✈️

FamilyReadiness AirForce SpaceForce

09/02/2026

Ten years ago, I was a The George Washington University graduate student standing at the opening bell of Nasdaq in New York City, trying to imagine where a career in public relations might take me.

I could never have imagined this.

2026 marks 10 years since I graduated from GSPM, and somehow, a decade later, I’m holding an award recognizing me as a Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Woman of Impact.

That feels wildly surreal.

I still remember attending my first PRSA event as a grad student solely because the incomparable Lawrence J Parnell was always finding ways to get his students out of the classroom and into the industry.

But perhaps the part I could have predicted least is how I would get here.
I didn’t build my career from a corner office in New York or Washington.
I built much of it from within the walls of my home office, through military moves, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and all the unpredictability that comes with building a career alongside military life.

And somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing those circumstances as limitations and started building a practice around the people and causes I care about most: Military spouses. Veterans. Military families. Purpose-driven leaders and organizations doing work that matters.

That decision has brought me more professional gratification, meaningful relationships, unexpected opportunities, and impact than the 2016 version of me could have imagined.

There is something especially meaningful about being recognized for impact because, at this stage of my career, that’s the metric I care about most.

Not simply: What did you build?
But: Who is better because you built it?

The gal standing at Nasdaq in 2016 had a lot of ambition. She just had no idea how good (and how unexpected) the story would become.

I’m truly grateful.

08/04/2026

Milspouses - join me at AFA’s conference in September! This panel is one of many and I’m excited to share what we’re building alongside this panel. Registration is free 🤝

A ready force starts with strong military families. Join us at for United Forces & Families: Unlocking Military Spouse Talent for a Ready Force, featuring leaders from government, industry, and the military spouse community. Register today: https://www.afa.org/air-space-cyber-conference/

08/04/2026

When military spouses are pulled into the conversation, especially related to the quality of life for the entire force, readiness is strengthened.

Morale improves.
Retention becomes more probable.

When leaders thoughtfully engage military spouses AND implement their recommendations: trust expands.

For the better part of my military life journey as an enlisted USAF spouse, I've been grateful for the thoughtful conversations with senior spouses. But they simply would not have happened if I hadn't been active, willing to participate, and stretched myself by entering once intimidating rooms.

This represents a critical moment for all milspouses, particularly junior enlisted spouses, to have constructive, solutions-focused conversations about your current realities. The makeup and experiences of our forces today, while similar, are unique to the modern-day military family.

Yesterday's announcement of the President's Military Spouse Commission is welcomed news.

Led by senior spouses representing both commissioned and enlisted communities, this commission will focus on employment, childcare, and a variety of quality-of-life challenges.

If you had the chance to offer your insight to this commission, what would you share?

PS - I just returned from spending time with my fellow AFI Military Spouses of the Year at the AFI HQ. Believe me when I say, if you want to get something done, put a military spouse in charge.

05/17/2026

New friends. Cherished reunions. Missions accomplished. Celebrations had.

What an absolute honor it was to be celebrated by and to celebrate with the entire community with

05/14/2026

Success is rarely what it looks like from the outside.

Behind every moment like this one is years of quiet work. Hard seasons that shaped character. Connections built with genuine intention. Courage to lead when the path wasn’t certain. Integrity and core values held firm when compromise would have been easier.

Nobody arrives here alone and nobody should.

The real measure of leadership isn’t the recognition. It’s the impact you leave on the people around you. The community you build. The standard you set that makes others believe it’s possible for them too.

So if you’re in a season of building right now, stay rooted. Be strategic. Lead with your values even when it costs you. Pour into your community. Show up with courage even when you’re unsure. Do the right thing especially when no one is watching.

And build something worth remembering. I’ll be here to carry your message forward. 💜

05/14/2026

Lil moments in time from the past couple of months 🫶

Photoshoot # 84229 of 2026 (this one with for )

05/11/2026

Even as a professional communicator, I don’t have the words that scratch the surface of what last week meant to me.

In March, I was named the 2026 AFI Air Force Spouse of the Year. Last week I traveled to DC to meet the fellow branch winners and incredible base winners from around the world. Being part of the 2026 cohort is truly a gift.

What I can tell you is that I feel so honored to be part of this community, surrounded by lifelong friends and advocates, and so wildly reassured that our military community is better because of the military spouse change makers.

There’s so much more to share but for now, gratitude.