Kristen Ferullo
Kristen Ferullo is the Founder of Partners In Purpose, a Certified WHY Coach, accomplished educator, collaborator, and problem solver serving as a Military School Liaison for nearly 12 years dedicated to supporting military-connected students and families. With over two decades of experience in education, training, and leadership, Kristen has supported more than 70,000 military family engagements, helping navigate complex educational pathways including special education, homeschooling, and post-secondary planning. Her journey in education began in high school through a student leadership organization, where early lessons in leadership and collaboration shaped the professional she is today. These formative experiences instilled in her a lifelong commitment to service, teamwork, and solution-focused leadership. Starting as a special educator, Kristen transitioned to working with military families, where she gained a deep understanding of the challenges created by frequent relocations, deployments, and the emotional and logistical impacts these have on families and spouses. Recognizing that many high-quality resources were scattered and siloed, she founded Partners In Purpose to unify access to critical support information for military and veteran families. Its flagship initiative, the Joint Services Scholarship Database, consolidates over a thousand scholarships into a single, accessible platform, removing barriers to access and eligibility. Kristen’s work is driven by her belief that collaboration and information accessibility can significantly improve outcomes for military & veteran families. A single mother who has now raised three young adults, Kristen approaches her work with resilience, compassion, and dedication to service. She is currently pursuing certification as a coach to help individuals find their voice and strengthen team communication and productivity. Kristen is currently funding her initiatives because she believes deeply in their mission and impact. She measures success by the positive difference she makes in at least one military family’s life each day, living by the philosophy that meaningful impact comes from putting the heart work in front of the hard work and leading with purpose.
• Miami University
• Global Preservation Initiative (Educational Advisor)
• Supporter of Bring Back the Trades (New Hampshire)
• Global Preservation Initiative (Educational Advisor)
• Bring Back The Trades (BBTT) Volunteer
• Advisory Chair & Mentor, Seacoast School Of Technology, FFA Program
What do you attribute your success to?
Bold, unapologetic tenacity. Heart. The endless desire to ensure people feel seen, heard and understood while meeting them where they are.
Success to me is difference making, one person, one family at a time.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
In a post on LinkedIn, General CQ Brown, Jr., Former Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and inspiring leader, delivered the 5 stages of 'NO'.
"Hell no...no...we'll think about it...not a bad idea...we should be doing this already."
He said," I believe it's important when Service members across the Joint Force are trying to make a difference, they don't take the first 'hell no' as the final answer.
If there's something you really believe in...something that can truly make a difference, then be consistent and persistent in your approach."
That is when Partners In Purpose was born.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Collaboration over competition. Be Yourself. Do the work. Trust your voice. There is no such thing as failure - only learning.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities are everywhere in supporting the military and veteran communities. It is a matter of looking at the problem as a whole and a willingness to do the work. As far as challenges are concerned...there are many ways I can answer this. My first challenge is funding. As a singular person trying to do the job of many, my hope is to be able to hire a small but mighty team to execute the initial phases of resource development. I value accuracy and accountability over speed which ensures this will be built correctly and with the input of the very people it serves. At the moment I am fully self-funded which can only last so long. This was never about business for me; it is about serving those who serve and doing it with the intention they deserve.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My deep belief in collaboration comes from the traditional African philosophy of UBUNTU; "I Am Because We Are". According to Nelson Mandela Ubuntu is "the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others."
At the end of the day, none of this journey is about me; it's about the difference and impact I can make. I am focused on ensuring that people feel seen and heard for who they are and appreciated for the path they are on. At times, I think we get very narrow-focused on what we think the path should be, ignoring the many opportunities ahead. We see this frequently with our younger generation when they choose a non-traditional path in education or employment. I value individuality, growth and the joy that autonomy brings.
Locations
What's Your Why? LLC., dba: Partners in Purpose
609 Portsmouth Ave Unit 23, Greenland, NH 03840
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