Episode 60 - Todd Connor: Entrepreneur, Nonprofit Founder, and U.S. Navy Veteran
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, In this episode of “Tipping Spears,” I sit down with Todd Connor, U.S. Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized leader at the intersection of veteran engagement, entrepreneurship, and election reform. Todd is the founder of Bunker Labs, a pioneering nonprofit that has supported thousands of veteran entrepreneurs across more than 40 chapters nationwide, and co-founder of Veterans for All Voters, an organization focused on reducing political polarization through election innovation. His career spans military service, management consulting, academia, and multiple ventures, all grounded in a commitment to building mission-driven communities.
Todd shares the origin story behind Bunker Labs and what it takes to scale a purpose-driven organization from a single idea into a national platform. Drawing from his book “Third Shift Entrepreneur,” he breaks down the realities many veteran founders face, balancing ambition with family, financial pressure, and the transition to civilian life. He also offers a candid look at the patterns he has observed across thousands of veteran entrepreneurs, including the traits that separate those who successfully build companies from those who struggle to gain traction.
The conversation also explores Todd’s work in civic engagement and election reform through Veterans for All Voters, and why the military-connected community is uniquely positioned to help bridge political divides in the United States. From leadership blind spots among emerging professionals to staying grounded in an increasingly complex and uncertain world, Todd provides practical insights for leaders operating across business, government, and society. This episode is a deep dive into service beyond the uniform and what it means to lead with purpose in today’s complex environment.
Guest Bio
Todd Connor is currently Co-Founder of Veterans for All Voters, an organization he co-founded to give a voice and a platform for the military connected community to address political polarization through election reforms and innovations. Todd is also the founder of Bunker Labs, a national entrepreneurship organization dedicated to helping the military-connected community start and grow businesses. Founded in Chicago in 2014, Bunker Labs grew to over 40 chapters across the United States before being acquired into the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University in 2024.
Todd is a former management consultant, U.S. Navy veteran, and has held many leadership roles in the public and private sector. In addition to Bunker Labs and Veterans for All Voters, he is also the founder of The Collective Academy, a leadership development consulting firm, as well as Emerson House, a luxe retreat venue in La Porte, Indiana. Todd holds a BA from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Chicago and is the author of Third Shift Entrepreneur (Wiley, 2021).
Todd serves as the lead faculty for the President George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Program in Dallas, Texas and is an Executive in Residence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Strategy teaching the Social Impact Lab. He has been recognized as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a Presidio Fellow, and is a thought leader on entrepreneurship, military veterans, and election reform.
Todd serves on the boards of the National Civic League, National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers, First Women’s Bank, Bunker Labs and is a venture partner with the Academy Investor Network. Todd, his husband Andrew, and their son Jasper live between Hyde Park, Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
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