Her Story
About Caitlyn
Caitlyn Colbert is a purpose-driven business development leader whose career has been shaped by a passion for serving others and creating meaningful impact. As Director of Business Development at Patriot Angels, Caitlyn works at the intersection of veterans, senior living, healthcare, and business, helping organizations better understand and utilize the benefits veterans and their families have earned.
Caitlyn’s journey to leadership was anything but conventional. Her early career included youth ministry, camp program management, chaplaincy, family case management, and youth development. She also served as a Life Skills Coach at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, where she worked closely with young people as they developed the skills and confidence needed to navigate life independently. These experiences taught Caitlyn how to meet people where they are, listen to their needs, and help them navigate complicated circumstances with compassion and confidence.
Today, Caitlyn brings those same skills to the senior living industry. She educates senior living communities, care providers, and families about the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, helping communities recognize an often, overlooked resource that can make senior living more financially accessible for veterans and surviving spouses. Her work not only supports families but also helps senior living organizations strengthen their ability to serve those who have sacrificed for others.
Her passion for veterans is deeply personal. Caitlyn was raised with the stories and legacy of her two veteran grandfathers—her WWII and Korean-era grandfathers—and their service continues to influence the way she approaches her work. For Caitlyn, advocating for veterans is not simply a professional responsibility; it is a way of honoring the generation that taught her the value of service, sacrifice, and doing what is right
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Since joining Patriot Angels, Caitlyn has grown from an entry-level position -that was suppose to be place holder while she looked for a case management position- into a director-level role, demonstrating her ability to build relationships, identify opportunities, educate others, and create partnerships that produce meaningful results. She is actively involved in professional networks across the nation and within the senior living industry, continually looking for ways to connect people and organizations around a shared purpose.
Caitlyn believes influence is not measured solely by a title, but by the people you empower, the doors you open, and the difference you make when no one is watching. Whether she is educating a senior living executive, helping a family understand a benefit, supporting a colleague, or donating school supplies to local teachers, she looks for tangible ways to serve her community.
Her leadership is rooted in a simple belief: when we use our influence to help others succeed, everyone moves forward.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caitlyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of purpose, persistence, and the people who have invested in me along the way. I have never had a perfectly straight career path, but every experience, but it taught me something about people, leadership, and service.
I am also deeply motivated by purpose. I believe success comes from being willing to learn, take chances, build genuine relationships, and keep showing up, even when the path isn't clear. I don't believe leadership is about having all the answers. It is about being willing to listen, bring people together, create opportunities for others, and use whatever influence you have to make a meaningful difference.
I have been fortunate to have people who believed in me, but I have also learned to believe in myself, and to keep moving forward when an opportunity comes along that I never expected.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Think twice before you speak.
It’s easy to respond immediately, especially when you’re in a room full of knowledgeable people and feel the pressure to prove that you know the answer. I’ve learned that there is strength in pausing, listening, and being willing to say, “I don’t know.”
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, and you certainly don’t have to pretend to be. Some of the greatest opportunities to learn come from simply listening to the people around you.
That advice has taught me that leadership isn’t about always having the answer. It’s about knowing when to speak, when to listen, and being confident enough to learn from others. Sometimes the most influential thing you can do is pause, listen, and think before you speak.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t be afraid to take up space, but remember that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make an impact.
My advice to young women entering this industry is to stay curious, ask questions, and never stop learning. You will be in rooms with people who have more experience than you, and that is an opportunity, not something to be intimidated by. Listen to them, learn from them, and then have the confidence to bring your own perspective to the table. Build genuine relationships. Your reputation and the way you treat people will take you further than any title. Be willing to work hard, follow through on what you say you will do, and give credit to the people around you. Most importantly, don’t feel like you have to have your entire career figured out. My own path has taken turns I never expected. Sometimes the opportunity you weren’t looking for becomes the one that changes your life.
Be teachable, be courageous, and be willing to bet on yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The outcomes our company achieves can sometimes seem too good to be true, but the truth is, we are really good at what we do, and that is helping veterans and surviving spouses secure the VA Aid and Attendance benefit they have earned. In 2025, Patriot Angels submitted approximately 4.1% of the nation’s Aid and Attendance applications while securing 31.34% of the nation’s approvals. To me, those numbers represent more than company success. They represent families who gained access to a benefit that can make a meaningful difference in their ability to afford senior living and care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are being considerate, family, and not taking myself—or life—too seriously. I believe being considerate can make a bigger difference than we realize. You never know what someone else is carrying, and taking a moment to listen, be patient, or simply treat someone with kindness can change their entire day. Family is also incredibly important to me. My family and friends have shaped who I am, supported me throughout my path, and reminded me that this journey means very little if you don't have people to share it with. I want to be ambitious and work hard while still making time for the people who matter most.
I also believe in having a sense of humor and not taking everything so seriously. I care deeply about what I do, but I think you can be driven and hardworking while still having fun, laughing at yourself, and enjoying the people around you.
At the end of the day, I want people to remember me not just for what I accomplished, but for how I treated them along the way.
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