• Stephany Kirkpatrick said no to a job offer from Goldman Sachs so she could explore new territory.
• She decided to work at SoulCycle; an opportunity that equipped her to become an entrepreneur.
• Had she accepted the Goldman offer, she likely would not have become a founder, she said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Stephany Kirkpatrick, a 43-year-old from New York, about turning down an offer from Goldman Sachs to work at SoulCycle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When I got a job offer from Goldman Sachs, many people counseled me to take it. They likened it to Harvard. If you get in, you go.

By 2018, I'd spent 15 years working in the financial advice industry. I started my career as a financial planner in the retirement planning ecosystem. In 2011, I joined a New York-based startup called LearnVest. We were acquired in 2015, and I spent another three years working there.

In 2018, I received a job offer from Goldman Sachs to lead a software and business team. The role was similar to what I was already doing, and the obvious next step to continue my career in financial services.

Counter to every piece of advice I received from friends and family members, I thought about what would make me happy instead.

Choosing SoulCycle over Goldman allowed me to do something new

I could've accepted the Goldman job and been the subject matter expert, but in my heart of hearts, I wanted to test my boundaries.

In the spring of 2018, I turned down the offer from Goldman Sachs and accepted a job at the fitness company SoulCycle. The skills I gained at SoulCyle helped me start my own business, and I have no regrets about taking that risk.

The Goldman Sachs offer came after someone I had worked with at LearnVest reached out to me. They wanted me to meet someone building a new project at Goldman.

As you get further into your career, you do less formal applications, and it more likely your network is helping you connect with the right people at the right time.

I spoke with the connection at Goldman and realized the work would be very similar to what I'd done before.

Saying yes to this opportunity would mean I'd probably spend another 10 years doing the same work because I don't like to change jobs often. It became clear to me that this wasn't what I wanted.

I questioned whether I wanted to be a middle-aged financial expert or explore new territory.

Around that time, a person in my network who worked at SoulCycle reached out to me because of my digital and operating experience at LearnVest. I connected with the then-CEO, Melanie Whelan, and we had an informal conversation.

Working with Whelan checked all my boxes: I wanted to work for a female CEO since I'd worked for a female founder at LearnVest, and I wanted to work somewhere based in New York in an industry I could get excited about.

The job paid wildly less money than what I'd earned before. It would be a huge departure from what I'd been able to save. My husband and I had to sit down and discuss what it would mean for our lifestyle, and he supported my choice to take the job.

I also spoke with the chief commercial officer; we immediately clicked and shook hands. Shortly after, I became the GM of digital strategy.

At the time, SoulCycle was considering entering the at-home market. I learned about brick-and-mortar and supply chains and applied what I was good at: being a digital entrepreneur.

It pushed me to figure things out, like how to build bikes that go nowhere, what it would take to make content, and how to learn about the market. I had to build my network in the company and tap into the expertise of others. It was scary to walk into a place where I didn't know all the answers, but it unlocked incredible career growth for me.

After SoulCycle I founded my own business

I loved working at SoulCycle, but I couldn't stop thinking about an idea I'd had at my last job: how people have reduced access to money in a brokerage or high-yield savings account on nights, holidays, or weekends. This is a fundamental flaw in the infrastructure that powers financial services.

One day, I was catching up with an investor friend and brought it up to her. She told me I had a fundable idea and she wanted to write me an inspiration check.

I left SoulCycle in September 2019 and started my own business, Orum. We aim to improve payment speed and orchestration for businesses using API solutions. I've been working on Orum for the past five years. The team has grown to about 40 people, and we've raised $82M to date.

I don't think I'd be a founder if I hadn't turned down the Goldman offer

Looking back, I remember feeling excited about taking the SoulCycle job, but because I'm a people pleaser, I also felt a little bit of shame that I wasn't doing the thing people expected of me.

No one told me not to work at SoulCycle, but taking less money to do something I didn't know I was going to be good at was a little unsettling.

However, the opportunity has made me a better founder today. At both SoulCycle and LearnVest, I basically had to look at a blank piece of paper and pursue a strategy to test our hypothesis. I had to ask and answer how quickly we could learn whether to do this or that, and that's what startups are all about.

Had I stayed in financial services instead of moving to SoulCycle, I truly think I would've stayed there for the next 10 years. I don't think I'd be any less happy, but it's very unlikely that I would have had the courage or reason to take the leap of faith to become a founder.

I'm excited about where Orum is right now and have zero regrets.

Do you have a story about turning down a prestigious job offer or leaving a prestigious company? Email [email protected]

• Qventus just raised $105 million in Series D funding led by KKR.
• Its new AI assistant that gets patients ready for surgery is leading the startup's growth surge.
• Qventus aims to hit breakeven this year by adding more health system customers.

Healthcare startup Qventus just scored a mega-round of funding for its AI that gets patients ready for the operating room.

Qventus has raised $105 million in Series D funding led by private equity giant KKR, the startup announced Monday. Three of Qventus's health system customers, Northwestern Medicine, HonorHealth, and Allina Health, joined the round, along with previous Qventus investor Bessemer Venture Partners.

The funding comes as Qventus ramps up its new AI-powered assistant tech, built in partnership with Northwestern Medicine and other health systems. The startup's software, launched in August, aims to automate a range of non-clinical tasks before and after surgery, including messaging with patients, making phone calls to other healthcare organizations to retrieve a patient's medical records, and sending and receiving faxes.

Qventus has spent more than a decade building technology to automate hospital operations such as surgical scheduling. Founded in 2012, it's raised $200 million to date from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, and Mayfield Fund.

The new AI assistant tech is supercharging Qventus's growth, CEO Mudit Garg told Business Insider.

"They've had the fastest uptake of anything we've built in the past 10 years and very high resonance with customers," Garg said of the operational assistants. "That's accelerating the whole process and the speed at which we bring new solutions to market."

The $105 million Series D round included $20 million of venture debt and $85 million of equity financing. Garg declined to share what firm provided the debt financing.

Qventus's Series D funding is one of multiple mega-rounds announced already this year, joining January raises including Hippocratic AI's $141 million Series B round and Innovaccer's $275 million Series F round. The deals are a clear signal of healthcare VC's priorities in 2025 — Qventus, Hippocratic, and Innovaccer all center AI in their pitches.

Over a decade after Qventus's launch, more startups are cropping up to use AI to tackle healthcare's administrative burdens. General Catalyst-backed Fabric has been racking up acquisitions to help manage emergency room patients. In mental health, Jimini Health raised a $8 million pre-seed round in November for its AI that automates patient intake and offers around-the-clock messaging between therapy sessions.

Garg said Qventus hopes to hit cash flow breakeven by the end of 2025. The startup has never made an acquisition, but its team is considering M&A opportunities as the company continues to grow. Still, Garg noted, "It's always a tradeoff."

"We definitely will be looking, but it's not part of our core thesis," he said.

Despite Qventus's late-stage funding round, Garg isn't thinking about an exit just yet. "There's plenty of cash in the business," he said.

This year, Qventus is focused on building out new use cases for its tech, including automation tailored to complex surgical specialties like oncology and cardiology, Garg said.

The startup is also ramping up its hiring, especially in its engineering department, as it signs on more customers and brings new capabilities to existing contracts.

Here's the 17-slide pitch deck Qventus used to raise $105 million from KKR.

• Abbie Stockard was crowned the new Miss America on January 5.
• The 22-year-old Auburn University student told BI how she prepared for the competition.
• Stockard studied a binder with 150 political and current event topics daily for months.

Before competing at Miss America 2025, Abbie Stockard wanted to make sure she was prepared for the interview round.

So, the 22-year-old Auburn University student prepared a binder with 150 political and current event topics, which she studied every day for months.

The hard work paid off on January 5, when Stockard became the fourth Miss Alabama to win Miss America in the organization's 104-year history.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Stockard revealed how she prepared for the competition and why she thinks it's important that Miss America can speak on global issues.

The Miss America pageant features rounds in evening wear, fitness, talent, and interviews. The latter includes an eight-minute private interview with judges during the preliminary competition and an onstage question during the finals.

"They can ask you literally anything, so you have to be prepared for it," Stockard said.

In addition to doing two to three mock interviews a week, Stockard said she went through her binder of 150 topics every day.

"I would be like, 'OK, I'm going to cover topics one through 20 today, and I'm going to look at statistics and formulate some talking points,'" Stockard recalled. "I looked at it like I was studying for a test. That's the nursing student in me."

"That's what took up the most of my time," she added. "Making sure I was prepared but also keeping up with current news stories and making sure I could formulate an opinion if asked about them."

During her private interview, Stockard said she was asked what age she thought it was appropriate for a child to have a cellphone or social media, as well as how she would define diversity. During the onstage final on January 5, contestants also discussed censorship, national debt, housing, and immigration.

While questions regarding hot-button issues and current events remain a staple of Miss America, they have disappeared from the Miss USA pageant. Their absence is no accident.

When Laylah Rose took over as owner and CEO of the troubled organization in September 2023, she decided that interview questions involving politics, religion, or sex were off-limits. She told BI at the time that she wanted to highlight the contestants "as individuals, and I really want them to shine within themselves and who they are."

Amid a July 2024 investigation into the Miss USA Organization, multiple past contestants told BI they were shocked by the change and said it diminished the purpose of the pageant.

"Most women get into pageantry because they feel like there's a voice that's missing," said Miss Utah 2020 Rachel Slawson, the first bisexual woman to compete at Miss USA. "Taking that away from women is just really watering them down, and very disappointing when you spend so many years working to have a platform and have your voice heard."

"It removes any individuality to the titleholder so they can be used for anyone and anything," Miss Montana 2020 Merissa Underwood told BI. "It feels akin to the beginning, when Miss USA was literally just about selling swimsuits."

As the new Miss America, Stockard said she believes it's important that she can "speak out on the timely issues of my generation today."

"It doesn't necessarily mean speaking out about my political opinions, but simply using my platform to encourage civic engagement and encourage people to vote, volunteer, and stay informed because I think that is necessary for the future of our democracy," Stockard told BI.

"We have a lot of political and social issues ruling the news today," she added. "I want the world to know that Miss America is a light, she's a role model, she's an inspiration, and she can engage with people regardless of their age, their background, or their political beliefs."

• Ryanair has urged authorities to restrict the sale of alcohol in airports to two drinks per passenger.
• The call comes after Ryanair said a recent diversion due to a drunk passenger cost it over $15,000.
• The airline says some passengers are drinking too much when flights are delayed and causing trouble.

Ryanair, the world's third-largest airline by passengers, has called on authorities to introduce a limit on the sale of alcoholic beverages at airports.

The Ireland-headquartered airline has called on airports to restrict the sale of alcohol to two drinks per passenger while in the departure lounge as it seeks to limit the number of incidents involving rowdy, intoxicated passengers.

Ryanair said in a statement that when flights are delayed, some people are consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in airport bars while they wait for their flights.

"We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to 2 alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe," Ryanair said.

The calls come days after widespread reports of an incident where a disruptive Ryanair passenger incurred a €15,000 ($15,400) diversion cost.

According to a press release by the airline, in early April 2024, a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands was forced to divert to Porto, Portugal, because of an unidentified passenger, who was offloaded and arrested upon landing.

Ryanair said as a result of the disruption and regulations on staff working hours, six crew members and 160 passengers were forced to spend the night at Porto Airport, where the airline funded accommodation and meals. It then provided an additional aircraft and crew to operate the return flight from Lanzarote to Dublin, which was also delayed.

This month, Ryanair announced it was taking a civil proceeding against the individual in the Irish courts to recover the costs. It previously tried to pursue the case in Portugal, but the Portuguese prosecution ruled that as the aircraft and passenger were both Irish, it should be transferred to Ireland.

The airline has claimed overall costs came to €15,350 ($15,746), including €7,000 ($7,180) on passenger and crew overnight accommodation, €2,500 ($2,564) on landing and handling fees at Porto Airport, and €2,500 ($2,564) on Portuguese legal fees to date.

"None of these costs would have been incurred if this disruptive passenger had not forced a diversion to Porto in order to protect the safety of the aircraft, 160 passengers and 6 crew members on board," a spokesperson from the European budget airlines said.

• While my daughter was dating her first boyfriend, I made friends with his mother.
• I wanted to go on a cruise and invited her, her mother, and her daughter. We had so much fun.
• We recently took another cruise together even though my daughter and her ex have broken up.

While my 14-year-old daughter was with her first boyfriend, I became close friends with his mom. My teens aren't fans of cruise vacations, so when Disney Cruise Line opened its new private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and my family didn't want to go, I asked my newest mom friend to come along with me to check it out. We decided to go on a multigenerational cruise — a stateroom made up of myself, my friend, her mother, and her 18-year-old daughter — and it was the most fun cruise I've been on in my entire life, thanks to the company.

My daughter's foray into dating ended with a breakup, like most first relationships do. Thankfully, she and her ex have remained friends, and a few months after their relationship ended, when I wanted to sail on Disney's newest cruise ship, the Disney Treasure, and needed a few good travel buddies, I reached back out to my travel buddies. Again, we traveled as a multi-generational foursome and again, it was incredibly fun and relaxing.

Here's what I love so much about multigenerational travel with girlfriends, and why I'm hoping we cruise many, many more times together in the future.

The best way to get to know others is through travel — and shared interests

On our first cruise together, I'd never traveled with my friend, her daughter, or her mom and had no idea how the trip would go. Thankfully, we got along great, and I fit right into their family dynamic. We instantly bonded and spent the entirety of the cruise talking, laughing, and getting to know each other better. We left our first cruise with so many great memories that I felt instantly bonded to each of them.

Not only did we travel well together, we had shared interests. I'm someone who's fine with being labeled a "Disney adult," and I appreciate other grown-ups who share my love of Disney magic. As with anything you're passionate about, traveling with a group of people who also value a specific type of experience is pure joy.

From sipping lattes with Disney art aboard the ship to dancing to a Junkanoo show on Lookout Cay with Mickey and his pals, there's something extra enjoyable about experiencing time on a vacation with people who appreciate it instead of teenagers who complain. Disney cruises can be pricey, and enjoying one with a group of people who were genuinely thrilled to be there made everything feel worth it.

I don't have a relationship with my own mother, so borrowing my friend's mom was special

I haven't had a relationship with my own mom for many years, and long ago a therapist told me the best way to deal with the sadness an estrangement sometimes brings is to spend time with other moms you look up to. My friend's mom is one-in-a-million, and getting to take a vacation with her felt really special since I rarely spend time with adult women who are the age of someone who could be my mom. I've learned it's OK to borrow other people's moms as people who I look up to, and traveling twice with this special woman has been a delight.

I laughed so much my stomach hurt

One of my favorite parts of traveling with this group of women was meal time, when we'd sit at a restaurant and talk, sharing stories, giving each other advice, and discussing where we each were at this time in our lives.

In addition to some amazing conversations, we had so many things to laugh about, from silly photos captured by the ship's photographers to inside jokes we'd come up with during our days on the ship. Laughter really is the best medicine, and I left both trips feeling so much joy after cracking up with my friends for several days on end.

We both acted like kids and enjoyed the adults-only areas

While we definitely took advantage of spaces like adults-only pools or restaurants where no kids were allowed while on our Disney cruises, we also made sure to experience the more childlike aspects as well. From watching Disney's Broadway-quality shows each night to seeing fireworks on the ship's upper decks to standing in line to meet characters like Captain Minnie Mouse, my travel party wasn't afraid to embrace their inner children, which made the trip all the more fun. Something I tell my teenage daughter often is that she should find friends who aren't afraid to be silly and who don't take themselves too seriously, so being able to model that for her with my own friendships is important to me.

These women remain some of my closest friends

With two cruises under our belts, I feel more connected than ever to these amazing women, something that's a dream come true for someone like me, who set out recently to make friends who would add more meaning to my life and challenge me to become the best version of myself.

Sailing the seas with three generations of women has taught me a lot about myself, showed me how far I've come in life, and given me things to strive for as I continue to age. In my friend's 18-year-old daughter, I see so much drive and determination, qualities that remind me to keep setting goals for myself and dreaming big, even at age 44.

My friend's mom teaches me bits of wisdom about everything from her secrets to a nearly 50-year marriage to stories about what she learned during her career years. And my friend who's my age? Traveling together has made us even closer and bonded us in a pretty unique way.

What's more, all breakups aside, our families remain close, and the three of them remain some of my dearest friends, so much so that we spend holidays together and are planning more trips as a quartet.

• My daughter is in her senior year of high school and in the middle of the college search phase.
• As her mom, I'm trying to be helpful while letting her lead the way to finding the ideal school.
• I'm only suggesting schools to visit and reminding her that I'm always here to help.

My daughter is currently in the midst of the college search phase, and with so many college and university options, you might imagine that this journey is both complex and exciting.

As a parent, I want to help make my child's senior year as stress-free as possible by assisting her during the process, but I also want to step back a bit as she begins the transition to adulthood. With this in mind, finding a way to be just the right amount of helpful is so important.

As my second child who's heading to college — her older brother is in his junior year — this isn't my first experience in the college search phase. However, as parents know, each kid in the family is different and has their own distinct style as to how they proceed with tasks and achieve their goals.

During her brother's college search, it was a new experience for all of us — including the path to finding the ideal university plus all of the other important parts of the process, including the application procedures, financial aid steps, and the final step of him narrowing down the options to his chosen school. This time, we have the experience and can pursue the college search phase with a bit more confidence. With that said, it's so important for me to take a step back and let my daughter find a school that works best for her.

I'm letting her apply to schools without setting too many restrictions

The first way I've taken a step back during this college search phase is by letting her apply to a wide array of schools without setting too many restrictions.

Of course, this doesn't mean that every school will be a top choice for her or that we'll be able to afford it. It just gives her more freedom to explore potential schools that may meet her personal requirements for a good fit and gives her peace of mind knowing she's considered different options.

From that point onward, we can discuss the finer details of each school, including the pros and cons and feasibility factors.

I'm suggesting on-campus visits, but enabling her to choose the must-see options

College visits have expanded in options compared to years ago when I went to school. In the past, you could visit the school in person or take a chance that it may be a good fit simply by reading the brochures.

Fast-forward to today, where prospective students have many exploration options, from virtual college visitation sessions to social media.

These are all excellent research options; however, I feel that it's always good to visit the school in person when able to do so. Therefore, I tell my daughter that we should visit as many schools in person as possible, especially if she's really interested in a few specific universities.

That said, she can pick the ones that really interest her, and then we'll go explore those colleges.

I'm still providing feedback with negotiable viewpoints

Although I'll stand back and let my daughter form her own opinions as to the individual schools, I'll always provide feedback.

This doesn't mean my view is the right one or that my feedback contains non-negotiable terms. I just think it's important to provide her with details she may not have thought of and also let her know my thoughts due to my experience and having gone through the college search process on my own — albeit many years ago.

The feedback will also revolve around cost and location. For example, even with access to scholarships and grants, attending certain schools may not be possible due to financial reasons.

I may also want to provide insight into the pros and cons of schools within driving distance versus colleges that require airline travel. In addition, safety factors may also be discussed when comparing different schools. However, I don't want this feedback to be a definitive response but instead talking points to discuss when deciding which universities and colleges may be right for her.

I'm reminding my daughter I'm always here for her

Most importantly, I make it a point to let her know that although she will take the lead in finding her ideal university, I'm always here for her when she needs advice, information, or simply a parent's loving guidance.

As a mom, I'm going into this college search process, hoping to provide the best possible guidance for my daughter as she takes the initial steps toward adulthood while giving her the space to find her way and make her own decisions.

Ultimately, I know that she will choose the college or university that is right for her as she embarks on this new and exciting journey.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's controversial pick for secretary of Defense, will have his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Why it matters: The former Fox News host and Army combat veteran likely faces a tough hearing due to allegations against him ranging from sexual assault to excessive drinking. Axios has obtained a prepared text of his opening statement.

Read the statement in full:

Thank you Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and all members of this Committee for the opportunity today. I am grateful for, and learned a great deal from, this "advise and consent" process. Should I be confirmed, I look forward to working with this Committee — Senators from both parties — to secure our nation.

I want to thank the former Senator from Minnesota, Norm Coleman, for his mentorship and friendship in this process. And the incoming National Security Advisor, Congressman — and more importantly—Colonel Mike Waltz, for his powerful words. I am grateful for you both.

Thank you to my incredible wife Jennifer, who has changed my life and been with me throughout this entire process. I love you, sweetheart, and I thank God for you. And as Jenny and I pray together each morning, all glory — regardless of the outcome — belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His grace and mercy abound each day. May His will be done.

Thank you to my father, Brian, and mother, Penny, as well as my entire family — including our seven wonderful kids: Gunner, Jackson, Peter Boone, Kenzie, Luke, Rex & Gwendolyn. Their future safety and security is in all our hands.

And to all the troops and veterans watching, and in this room — Navy SEALs, Green Berets, Pilots, Sailors, Marines, Gold Stars and more. Too many friends to name. Officers and Enlisted. Black and White. Young and Old. Men and Women. All Americans. All warriors. This hearing is for you. Thank you for figuratively, and literally, having my back. I pledge to do the same for you. All of you.

It is an honor to come before this Committee as President Donald Trump's nominee for the office of Secretary of Defense. Two months ago, 77 million Americans gave President Trump a powerful mandate for change. To put America First — at home and abroad.

I want to thank President Trump for his faith in me, and his selfless leadership of our great Republic. The troops could have no better Commander-in-Chief than Donald Trump.

As I've said to many of you in our private meetings, when President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was — to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense. He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That's it. That is my job.

To that end, if confirmed, I'm going to work with President Trump — and this committee — to:

1. Restore the Warrior Ethos to the Pentagon and throughout our fighting force; in doing so, we will reestablish trust in our military — and address the recruiting, retention and readiness crisis in our ranks. The strength of our military is our unity — our shared purpose — not our differences.
2. Rebuild our Military, always matching threats to capabilities; this includes reviving our defense industrial base, reforming the acquisition process (no more "Valley of Death" for new defense companies), modernizing our nuclear triad, ensuring the Pentagon can pass an audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies.
3. Reestablish Deterrence. First and foremost, we will defend our homeland — our borders and our skies. Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the communist Chinese. Finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure we can prioritize our resources — and reorient to larger threats. We can no longer count on "reputational deterrence" — we need real deterrence.

The Defense Department under Donald Trump will achieve Peace Through Strength. And in pursuing these America First national security goals, we will remain patriotically a-political and stridently Constitutional. Unlike the current administration, politics should play no part in military matters. We are not Republicans or Democrats — we are American warriors. Our standards will be high, and they will be equal (not equitable, that is a very different word).

We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their assigned weapon system, every pilot is fully qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying, and every general or flag officer is selected for leadership based purely on performance, readiness, and merit.

Leaders — at all levels — will be held accountable. And warfighting and lethality — and the readiness of the troops and their families — will be our only focus.

That has been my focus ever since I first put on the uniform as a young Army ROTC cadet at Princeton University in 2001. I joined the military because I love my country and felt an obligation to defend it. I served with incredible Americans in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the streets of Washington, D.C. — many of which are here today. This includes enlisted soldiers I helped become American citizens, and Muslim allies I helped immigrate from Iraq and Afghanistan. And when I took off the uniform, my mission never stopped.

It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years. But, as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly "the right credentials" — whether they are retired generals, academics, or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us? He believes, and I humbly agree, that it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.

My only special interest is — the warfighter. Deterring wars, and if called upon, winning wars — by ensuring our warriors never enter a fair fight. We let them win and then bring them home. Like many of my generation, I've been there. I've led troops in combat…been on patrol for days … pulled a trigger downrange … heard bullets whiz by … flex-cuffed insurgents … called in close air support … led medevacs … dodged IEDs … pulled out dead bodies … and knelt before a battlefield cross. This is not academic for me; this is my life. I led then, and I will lead now.

Ask anyone who has ever worked with me — or for me. I know what I don't know. My success as a leader … and I very much look forward to discussing our many successes at my previous organizations, Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. I'm incredibly proud of the work we did. My success as a leader … has always been setting a clear vision, hiring people smarter and more capable than me, empowering them to succeed, holding everyone accountable, and driving toward clear metrics. Build the plan. Work the plan. And then work harder than everyone around you.

The President has given me a clear vision, and I will execute. I've sworn an oath to the Constitution before, and — if confirmed — will proudly do it again. This time, for the most important deployment of my life.

I pledge to be a faithful partner to this committee. Taking input and respecting oversight. We share the same goals: a ready, lethal military; the health and well-being of our troops; and a strong and secure America.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your questions.

Pete Hegseth admits he's an unorthodox pick to lead the Pentagon — but says it's "time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm," according to his opening statement, obtained by Axios, for his confirmation hearing Tuesday.

• Hegseth, one of President-elect Trump's most controversial Cabinet choices, plans to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that he'll "[r]estore the warrior ethos to the Pentagon," give "new defense companies" a better chance to win contracts, and rapidly deploy emerging technologies.

Why it matters: Hegseth, 44 — a former Fox News host (where he made $2.3 million a year) who's a decorated Army combat veteran — has faced a barrage of allegations since Trump announced the surprise selection. They include an accusation of sexual assault and allegations of excessive drinking. A seven-year-old email from his mom, which she quickly recanted, said he routinely mistreated women.

So Hegseth, who calls his selection for Defense secretary "the most important deployment of my life," can expect a grueling hearing: Republicans tell us they expect Democratic senators will try to embarrass him and Trump.

• But GOP senators, some initially skeptical, indicate Hegseth is on track for confirmation.
• The hearing room will be jammed with supporters from all phases of Hegseth's life.

The big picture: The opening statement doesn't directly address the allegations. Hegseth says in his testimony: "It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years."

• "But, as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly 'the right credentials' — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us?"
• "He believes, and I humbly agree, that it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives."
• Hegseth says his "only special interest is — the warfighter."

The backstory: Hegseth is "not pretending to be a standard issue SECDEF and wears that as a badge of honor," a source familiar with his thinking tells Axios.

• "The standard-issue SECDEFs have degraded our readiness, our lethality and our ability to win wars. There's never been a singular focus on the warfighter, and that's why we're losing wars and deterrence capabilities."

Zoom in: Hegseth, a fierce DEI opponent, bluntly opposed women serving in combat roles in the military. But he softened that view during meetings with senators, saying he supports "all women serving in our military today."

• Hegseth also has suggested that Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should be fired over the Pentagon's efforts to diversify its ranks.
• Brown and outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a decorated four-star general who also is Black, have rebuked the notion that the Pentagon has undermined its combat readiness with its focus on diversity.

"[W]e are American warriors," Hegseth says in his opening statement. "Our standards will be high, and they will be equal (not equitable, that is a very different word)," he continues.

• "We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their assigned weapon system, every pilot is fully qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying, and every general or flag officer is selected for leadership based purely on performance, readiness and merit."

Zoom out: Hegseth strikes an uncharacteristically humble, bipartisan tone in his opener, saying he looks "forward to working with this committee — senators from both parties — to secure our nation."

• Hegseth — who became famous among conservatives as a "Fox & Friends Weekend" host, and is a bestselling author — is an Army veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, and earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Between the lines: Hegseth, who's been married three times, portrays himself as a family man and devout Christian. He acknowledged in an interview with Megyn Kelly that he was a "serial cheater" before he found Christ.

• "Thank you to my incredible wife Jennifer, who has changed my life and been with me throughout this entire process," his testimony says. "I love you, sweetheart, and I thank God for you. And as Jenny and I pray together each morning, all glory — regardless of the outcome — belongs to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. His grace and mercy abound each day. May His will be done."
• Naming his "seven wonderful kids, Hegseth adds: "Their future safety and security is in all our hands."

Hegseth emphasizes his popularity with many in uniform, saluting "all the troops and veterans watching, and in this room — Navy SEALs, Green Berets, pilots, sailors, Marines, Gold Stars and more. Too many friends to name. Officers and enlisted. Black and white. Young and old. Men and women. All Americans. All warriors."

• "This hearing is for you," he says. "Thank you for figuratively, and literally, having my back. I pledge to do the same for you. All of you."

Zoom in: Hegseth lists his three top missions as head of America's largest government agency.

1. "Restore the warrior ethos to the Pentagon and throughout our fighting force; in doing so, we will reestablish trust in our military — and address the recruiting, retention and readiness crisis in our ranks. The strength of our military is our unity — our shared purpose — not our differences."
2. "Rebuild our military, always matching threats to capabilities; this includes reviving our defense industrial base, reforming the acquisition process (no more 'Valley of Death' for new defense companies), modernizing our nuclear triad ... and rapidly fielding emerging technologies."
3. "Reestablish deterrence. First and foremost, we will defend our homeland ... Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the communist Chinese. Finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure we can prioritize our resources — and reorient to larger threats. We can no longer count on 'reputational deterrence' — we need real deterrence."

In a dig at the Biden administration, Hegseth vows that the Defense Department under Trump "will achieve peace through strength" and "will remain patriotically apolitical and stridently constitutional. Unlike the current administration."

• "Leaders — at all levels — will be held accountable. And warfighting and lethality — and the readiness of the troops and their families — will be our only focus."

"That has been my focus ever since I first put on the uniform as a young Army ROTC cadet at Princeton University in 2001," Hegseth adds. "I served with incredible Americans in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the streets of Washington, D.C."

• "This includes enlisted soldiers I helped become American citizens, and Muslim allies I helped immigrate from Iraq and Afghanistan. And when I took off the uniform, my mission never stopped."

Axios' Zachary Basu contributed reporting.

Donald Trump is about to become the oldest person ever sworn in as president — but he hopes to have the youngest group of top Cabinet officials and advisers of any president in more than three decades.

Why it matters: Even as he's sought to regain his grip on power, the once and future president has tried to build the next generation of his MAGA movement, as seen in his choice of JD Vance, 40, as his vice president.

Driving the news: The average age of Trump's picks for VP, chief of staff, attorney general and secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense is 54.1 — the youngest since the start of George H.W. Bush's presidency in 1989, an Axios analysis found.

• The elder Bush — who was 64 when he took the oath of office — had a top staff with an average age of 51.5, the youngest in nearly half a century.
• Like Trump, Bush also picked a considerably younger VP: Dan Quayle, then 41.

Between the lines: The Cabinet Trump envisions is an average of five years younger than his Cabinet at the start of his first term in 2017.

• Vance will be the third-youngest VP in U.S. history.
• If confirmed, Pete Hegseth, 44, would be the youngest Defense secretary since Donald Rumsfeld during the Ford administration. Rumsfeld served at 43.
• Outside of the core Cabinet positions, Trump chose Elise Stefanik, 40, and Tulsi Gabbard, 43, for top government roles.
• Vivek Ramaswamy, 39, will also have a strong voice within the next administration as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency along with Elon Musk, 53.

Zoom in: Trump's chief of staff, Florida politics veteran Susie Wiles, is slightly older than most recent chiefs of staff at 67.

• But Trump has filled other key White House positions with a crop of young advisers.
• Stephen Miller, 39, will be deputy chief of staff for policy.
• Karoline Leavitt, 27, is poised to be the youngest White House press secretary in history.

Zoom out: Age was a central theme of the 2024 campaign, with voters having deep concerns about President Biden's ability to start a four-year term at 82.

• Biden's disastrous debate performance in June led to Vice President Harris, 60, replacing him at the top of the Democratic ticket.
• In the campaign's aftermath, the Democratic Party has grappled with calls for generational change within its top ranks.

The bottom line: Trump has broken the mold with many of his top Cabinet picks, often elevating loyalists who don't have significant relevant experience for their new roles.

• Many of his selections are part of his bid to disrupt the status quo within the agencies and organizations they've been tasked to lead, Axios' Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei have reported.

Go deeper: Trump's Cabinet disruptors soften key views as hearings loom