True Patriot Love Presents
For Her Country
an Original Podcast
Episode 6 – Artillery Officer Anne Reiffenstein on the cost of being first
Episode 6
Artillery Officer Anne Reiffenstein on the cost of being first
Guest Speaker
LCol (ret’d) Anne Reiffenstein
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Anne Reiffenstein, CD, spent 28 years serving in the Canadian Armed Forces before retiring in 2018. As one of the first female Field Artillery Officers, she had to discover how to navigate and survive the early years of gender integration in the Army. In this episode we dive into what it is like to be one of the first and the challenges when change is introduced from the top down. We also learn how her experience shaped her leadership style in her career.
About Anne
Anne Reiffenstein is originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Anne Reiffenstein spent 28 years serving as a field artillery officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and retired in 2018. As one of the first female officers in the artillery, she had to discover a leadership style that worked and allowed her to survive the early years of gender integration in the Army. She worked in a variety of military posts throughout her career, while raising two girls with her husband, John, who is an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Anne was Nichola Goddard’s Battery Commander from 2003-2005 and formed a strong bond with the young officer – mentoring and coaching her professionally.
Anne holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Science and a Master of Defence Studies from RMCC. She also has a Master of Business Administration (International Business) from Sprott School of Business, Carleton University as well as a Bachelor of Education (Adult Education) from Brock University.
Anne currently lives in Belgium, while her husband serves with NATO, developing and producing podcasts related to leadership, the OUTCAN experience ( military families living outside Canada), instructing leadership courses as well as facilitating planning sessions for community service organization that support military families.
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