Episode 7

full
Published on:

26th Nov 2025

Discipline, Identity, and Visibility – with Colonel Marisol Chalas [S4, EP7]

In this episode of Start Being Visible, I’m joined by Colonel Marisol A. Chalas – a proud immigrant from the Dominican Republic, U.S. Army soldier, aviator, and the first Latina Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Army National Guard.

With more than 35 years of military service and 16 years in corporate leadership, Marisol’s path has taken her across continents and into some of the most demanding operational environments.

Today, she serves as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Planning at the Army Reserve Aviation Command, leading global strategy and large-scale organisational change. She’s been recognised by the White House, Forbes, and the Smithsonian – yet remains deeply connected to her roots, her family, and her commitment to helping others rise.

This conversation is an honest look at discipline, identity, leadership, and what it really takes to be seen when you come from a background where visibility is not guaranteed.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Growing up as an immigrant and how her early experiences shaped her identity, ambition and belief
  • Leadership lessons from leading large teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and operating in high-stakes environments across the world
  • The discipline behind the uniform and making history as the first Latina Black Hawk pilot
  • The unseen sacrifices of service and the importance of visibility
  • Using LinkedIn intentionally for visibility and mentorship

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🔗 Connect with Marisol on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisolchalas/

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About the Podcast

Start Being Visible
With Mildred Talabi
Welcome to the Start Being Visible podcast.

My name is Mildred Talabi. I’ve spent the past decade plus mastering the art of personal branding in my career, as a former journalist and communications professional, and in my business which has taken on various forms over the years.

I now spend most of my time championing and coaching women to increase their influence, income and impact through being visible on platforms like LinkedIn and beyond.

In this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you some of my insights into the journey to being visible, as well as bringing you amazing candid conversations from professional women who have chosen to step out of the shadows and into the limelight in their work lives.

We’ll discuss the highs, the lows and the in betweens of being visible so that you can find the courage, the knowledge and the resources you need to start being visible in your own life.

Hit the subscribe button to never miss out on our weekly episodes.

If you like what you hear, please leave a review and spread the word.

You can find me on all the main social media platforms as "Mildred Talabi".

About your host

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Mildred Talabi

Mildred Talabi has spent the last decade mastering the art of personal branding in both her career and business as a former Journalist and PR and Communications professional.

Today she specialises in helping female leaders build powerful and authentic personal brands through being visible on LinkedIn.

She is a recognised LinkedIn Influencer, with over 50,000 followers, a 4x published author and the founder of Visible Women Tribe - a global membership community for high-achieving women in business and leadership.

Find out more at mildredtalabi.com.