Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Meet IVMF’s Student of the Week, Becky Watson, a 25-year Navy veteran.
Watson is the founder of Music for Wellness, a company that energizes, engages and empowers older adults living with dementia and care partners through music therapy programs.
One of the rare females to achieve the rank of Captain in the Navy, Watson mentored hundreds of sailors, civilians and contractors while managing millions of dollars providing operational logistics to the war fighter.
After Watson retired from the Navy, she completed her Music Therapy degree, including a music therapy internship, Board Certification and now provides music therapy programs that enriches the quality of life for persons living with dementia, care partners and the health professionals in the Geriatric Industry.
Watson has attended several IVMF programs including the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) National Convention and is a graduate of the program. She is also a graduate of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) and Boots 2 Business (B2B) programs.
“IVMF has allowed me to develop clarity and purpose in my passion to continue serving through music,” said Watson. “It also has allowed me to meet and build a strong support network and relationships, mentors and other veteran entrepreneurs.”
Watson is the recipient of the “Social Venture Award” from IVMF and Citi’s “Realizing Your Dream” Competition in 2014 and a Semi-Finalist for the InnovateHER Business Plan Competition in Virginia in 2015. She is also a guest lecturer at Eastern Virginia Medical School of Gerontology, Old Dominion University and local Health Care facilities on the benefits of music for the mind, body and spirit.
Watson holds a MBA from Troy University, a Bachelor degree in Music Therapy from Loyola University and a BA in Business Economics from Bethany College. She lives in Virginia with her husband, a retired Navy Officer and their two children.
