How This Veteran Created A COVID Testing Company That Saved The Entertainment Industry In 2020 San Diego Veterans Magazine had a chance to sit down with entrepreneur Alex Ostebo
When the pandemic hit, I pivoted to create a company that could offer a solution to the challenges Hollywood would face to produce content safely during a pandemic. I’m not going to sugar coat it, finding a balance was difficult, especially when I was serving as a company commander, which is a full time position itself. However, I did gather a few pieces of wisdom during this time that helped me succeed. In a world where you are being told from both ends that things need to happen “right now,” prioritization is a must. Additionally, it is critical to learn how to set boundaries and delegate as much as you can in both your civilian and military careers. Lastly, and most importantly, go easy on yourself–you are doing your best, so let the small things slide. SDV Magazine: What kind of difficulties did you experience transitioning to civilian life and how did you overcome those difficulties?
Alex Ostebo comes from a long line of veterans, having herself served as a Captain and Company Commander in the Army Reserves for eight and a half years. Simultaneously, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, building two successful businesses, Creative Picnic, a production and artist management company for photographers, and most recently, Kameo, which has since become the leading provider of COVID testing and management services for the entertainment production industry. SDV Magazine: Tell us about your career and how you were able to balance work with your military commitment? Alex Ostebo: When I was first commissioned in the Army Reserves, I was stationed at the 55th Sustainment Brigade at Fort Belvoir. Simultaneously, I started my civilian career in marketing, which is when I realized my love for entrepreneurship and decided to start my own company for artist marketing and production.
Alex Ostebo: I was very lucky because I had a civilian career during the course of my military service, and as I had two demanding businesses taking up my time, the transition was pretty seamless. I was surprised, however, that my insurance stopped before my last date of commission, which left me without insurance for a period of time and scrambling to find alternative coverage. SDV Magazine: What lessons or skills did you learn in the military that helped you start Kameo? Alex Ostebo: Many of the skills I learned in the Army, including how to be a good leader, translated perfectly to those needed to become an entrepreneur. The military instilled in me a resilience that continues to help me fight through the fear of the unknown, especially when creating a company during something as uncertain as a pandemic. When COVID hit, the entertainment industry grinded to a halt. My military experience gave me the confidence and discipline needed to think through complex logistics and be one of the firsts to establish an effective way to mitigate risk on Hollywood sets. SDV Magazine: What advice do you have for veterans who are looking to get into entrepreneurship and the production industry specifically? “The Caretaker”
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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / JANUARY 2022
