Work/life balance. Your kids are only kids once, and they need you to be a healthy, well-rounded parent. I learned very quickly that a good work/life balance is EVERYTHING.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Brown.
U.S. Army veteran Sean Brown served for seven years, but injuries cut his time overseas short.
In 2013, Sean made the difficult transition to civilian life. He avoided crowds and other situations that triggered his anxiety and other post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
After four years, Sean knew something had to change, so he applied for a service dog from Dogs Inc, a nonprofit whose extraordinary dogs transform the lives of people with vision loss, struggling veterans, and children needing a loyal friend.
In 2018, Sean was matched with Pella, who became his “battle buddy,” easing the anxiety, hyper-vigilance, anger, isolation, and depression that had haunted him. Sean started to get his life back.
The following year, Sean joined Dogs Inc’s Philanthropy team, raising funds and giving support to over 20 classes of service dog recipients, all of whom were veterans.
Today, Sean is the Associate Director of Mission Awareness at Dogs Inc. He travels nationwide with his current service dog Nick, speaking to veterans, their families, and military affiliated groups to raise awareness of Dogs Inc’s valuable work. Sean’s new “mission” in life is to change and save veterans’ lives through the love, light, and hope of incredible dogs like Pella and Nick.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet even after receiving my first service dog Pella. I was finding success, reconnecting with my family, and getting healthier day by day, all the while sharing my progress with the service dog team back at Dogs Inc.
I was asked to share my journey at two fundraising events and after the second event I was told that the CEO of Dogs Inc, Titus Herman, wanted to speak with me. I obliged and he offered me my first full-time job since I departed military service. So many told me “no” for full-time employment, but Dogs Inc gave me the opportunity, and now, over five and a half years later, it’s been the biggest blessing not just for me but for my family.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I’ve had the pleasure of representing Dogs Inc and speaking about my journey with my service dogs with people across the country. On one trip in 2022, while grabbing dinner at the hotel restaurant, I met a military leader there to see the family of one of his soldiers. With tear-filled eyes, he shared how this soldier was one of 14 troops on suicide watch under his command. He was at a loss as to how they had gotten to this point and how to help them and their families.
We talked for hours, and he left with the confidence that he could provide options for his troops through our service dog program.
In 2023, at the same hotel and in the exact same spot, I met the parents of a Delta Force Operator who were worried about their son; he was shutting down and becoming extremely distant after his latest mission. I introduced them to my service dog, Nick, and they left with my card, our story, and most importantly, an opportunity to find hope for their son.
In March 2024, once again in that same hotel, I met a veteran who had served in the same military position I’d held in the Army. He desperately wanted a service dog but didn’t know what to do, where to go, or how to make it happen. Now, he has been approved for our service dog program and is waiting to be matched with one of our remarkable dogs.
All of these chance encounters created what I like to call “mission moments.”
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My funniest mistake was bringing my wife for a tour of the Dogs Inc campus when I first joined on staff. One of my colleagues went above and beyond to give her the best VIP tour ever, and when they returned, my supervisor smiled at my wife and said, “So, what do you think?”
My wife shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know. He has to work here, not me!” I was SO embarrassed and terrified that she had made a bad impression.
However, that tour planted a seed, and now my wife is a volunteer puppy raiser for Dogs Inc. To this day, we all still laugh about her response, but it taught us something as a team. Although we might think someone is disinterested or unmoved, who knows what can happen if we plant a seed in their mind? It might grow into something impactful and inspiring that will help change someone else’s life.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Our service dog program is leading the fight to end veteran suicide. Of all the canine-veteran matches we have made across the country, we have not lost a single person to the war against veteran suicide. That’s the biggest impact we could ask for.
But we don’t stop there. We also provide Gold Star families — those who have lost a family member serving in the military — with skilled companion dogs to deliver comfort and unconditional love.
In addition, we raise and train guide dogs for people with vision loss as young as 15.
In this way, Dogs Inc is saving lives, affecting change in families, and positively impacting our communities. And although we receive no government funding, we can offer our clients their loyal furry friends, expert instruction, and lifetime support free of charge — thanks to generous donors and volunteers.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I’ve been privileged to see our dogs create impactful change in many people’s lives, but one person in particular stands out. A veteran came to our campus, asking for help. He said that it took him two hours to get there, even though he lived in the neighborhood across the street. Our team called me to meet this gentleman, and I gave him a tour, walking him through our mission and programs. Throughout the tour, he was visibly struggling with some PTSD symptoms and the anxiety that often comes with the disorder. For most of the tour he walked sideways, hugging the wall so no one could get behind him or come in contact with him. He applied to our service dog program that day and subsequently received one of our dogs. He now travels across the country without hugging a wall; he has regained his freedom and reconnected with his family and life itself. It now takes him two minutes to get to our facility, and as a Vietnam veteran, he has come home. And this all happened at no cost to him.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Spread our mission: Everyone who tells others about Dogs Inc might reach least one person or veteran who needs our help.
- Lend a hand: We’re able to transform lives and provide extraordinary dogs at no cost to recipients due to the generosity of big-hearted donors and dedicated volunteers. The more funds we raise, the more people we can help.
- Respect the purpose of service dogs: A guide or service dog present reveals the fact that their guardian needs assistance. Regardless of whether the person has vision loss, mobility issues, or experiences symptoms of PTSD, their dog has a job to do and are needed to help their guardian succeed. Feel free to ask the person about their dog, but please do not pet or talk to the dog. They are there to keep their guardian safe, so it’s important not to distract a dog while it’s working.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
True leadership shines when a person sets an example through their own actions and ways of working. Leaders inspire through sharing their vision, and they mentor the people following in their footsteps. A great leader does everything they ask their team to do while also shaping future leaders and encouraging them to pursue greatness. A team is great only if their leader is well-rounded.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1 . Pain is heavy. As a speaker, I often encounter people who pour their hearts out and share their struggles. I see tears from families that, after hearing about my own experience with my service dogs, find hope for the veteran they are desperate to help. In turn, I help shoulder the weight of their struggle on top of my own.
2 . A recent “No” could lead to the next “Yes”. No matter how amazing an organization’s purpose or mission is, nonprofit fundraisers will undoubtedly receive rejection or a “no.” The first one is the hardest, and it makes you question if you did something wrong. The key is to not take it personally. Remind yourself of the value of your mission and keep going — because the next person you speak to could be your big “yes.”
3 . The value of your “why”. Why are you doing what you’re doing? Remembering your “why” gets you through the tough days. When the work is hard and I’m exhausted, I always remind myself that my efforts can change and save lives.
4 . It’s okay to work outside the box. When I first started at Dogs Inc, I feared that deviating from the norm would cause trouble and cost me my position. But once I grasped our values and core beliefs, I found success in carrying over to Dogs Inc a mantra I’d learned as a DJ and broadcaster for the Savannah Bananas: “Whatever is normal, do the opposite!” (Within reason, of course.) But that mantra has gotten me to where I am now.
5 . Work/life balance. Your kids are only kids once, and they need you to be a healthy, well-rounded parent. I learned very quickly that a good work/life balance is EVERYTHING.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Society would benefit massively if we all adopted a “basic training mentality.”
In basic training, you and your unit are one team. It doesn’t matter what your name is or where you call home. The only things that matter are the words “U.S. Army” inscribed on your uniform and the flag you’re serving under.
As Americans, we’re so fractured by our differences and the past. Our past shaped us, but it doesn’t have to define us. Unconditional respect and consideration for the human being next to us is the movement we are missing. Basic training mentality is best for all people, and guess what? It’s free!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My grandmother sat me down at a very young age and told me two things from her wooden rocking chair: “No matter what you do in life, give it your absolute best,” and “Remember that someone always has it worse.”
I pour my heart and soul into the mission of Dogs Inc, desperate to create the same change and inspire the hope that I experienced for free, for other veterans. As a disabled veteran, I also live with daily pain, but I always remember there is someone out there who would happily trade their level of pain for mine.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Tough question, but easy answer: Shaquille O’Neal! Shaq has moved the needle and created a legacy through his work ethic, professionalism, and talent. What amazes me about Shaq isn’t his status as the greatest center in NBA history. It’s his compassion for his fellow human beings and the effort he makes, often without media recognition, to create memories for everyone he meets.
We also share multiple interests and experiences in entertainment and sports, at different levels, of course. We’ve both done basketball commentary and have been involved in professional wrestling.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
www.dogsinc.org and on IG @iamdjstepchild and @dogsincofficial
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Sean Brown of Dogs Inc Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.