From the Frontline to the Tech Front: Honoring Our Coupa Veterans

Meet Ben Coffman: Leading Success for #AllOfUs       

US Army, Captain (Transportation Officer) | Customer Success (5+ years at Coupa)

"As a leader in the Army, my success was fully dependent on the success of my entire team. I was my brother's keeper, so to say. That inculcated in me a deep sense of responsibility that is incredibly relevant in the private sector."

— Ben Coffman, RVP, Customer Value Management

Lessons on Time and Discipline: Reflecting on his military foundation, Ben emphasizes how his early experiences shaped his approach to work: "My time at West Point and Fort Bragg taught me that time and efficiency are your most critical assets. In high-stakes environments, discipline isn't just about following rules—it's about respecting everyone's time, eliminating waste, and executing with absolute clarity." Check out his video below.

The Transition to Tech: After transitioning out of the Army, Ben took a few stops in other industries before entering tech. "The military conditioned me to thrive in change," Ben notes. That adaptability proved vital when he joined LLamasoft, which was eventually acquired by Coupa.

Sourcing Support in the Village: When Ben first integrated into the team, he found an immediate connection. "Our founder and then-CEO was a fellow Service Academy graduate and former Army officer. Having that connection early in my tech career provided a unique level of visibility, mentorship, and support."

Handling High-Pressure Demands: In Customer Success, Ben frequently navigates complex customer escalations impacting renewals. "By applying effective communication, taking personal ownership of the problem, and maintaining a solution-oriented mindset, we are able to guide challenging situations to successful resolutions."

Ben’s Advice for Transitioning Service Members: "Keeping your word, follow-through, and teamwork are absolutely critical for success in the military. They are equally important in tech and at Coupa. Lean in on those core strengths, and you will do great."

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Meet Quentin "Q" Farrell: Symbiotic Service and Keeping Perspective 

US Army, Major (PSYOP Officer) | Enterprise Sales (4.5 years at Coupa)

"My transition is a continuous, daily journey as I still actively serve in the US Army Reserves, approaching 22 years of service. Blending these two worlds has been highly rewarding, and I am grateful for the balance and growth that both the military and Coupa offer me."

— Quentin "Q" Farrell, Enterprise Sales

Navigating the Path: After five years of active duty, Q used the Green to Gold program to transition to the Reserves and become an officer. In corporate tech, he progressed from an implementation consultant to a solution engineer, and ultimately an enterprise sales executive.

"The military built my confidence and gave me perspective," Q explains. "Serving in the Army can be demanding, which helps me appreciate my role at Coupa and keep daily corporate pressures in perspective."

Solution-First Mindset: When handling complex technical escalations, Q relies on tactical military discipline: "I handle high-pressure situations by ensuring proper prioritization, focusing energy entirely on what can be controlled, engaging the right stakeholders, and executing methodically."

Finding a Home at Coupa: A primary driver for Q joining Coupa was the active Veteran community. "This community reinforced the value of authenticity, integrity, and transparent character, allowing me to leverage my military-honed organization directly in a high-impact role."

Q’s Advice for Transitioning Service Members: "My absolute best advice is to just be you. It is entirely natural to carry your military identity and terminology—like 'copy that' or 'Roger'—into the workspace. Embrace who you are, be human, and use the unique discipline, leadership, and perspective the military gave you to add value. Also, consider the Reserves as a 'best-kept secret' to continuously hone your leadership skills in a symbiotic way."

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Meet Jeremy Linkletter: Precision, Ownership, and Adaptability 

US Marine Corps, Corporal E4 (Communications Electronics & Maintenance) | Sales (8+ years at Coupa) 

"In the Marines, attention to detail and accountability were essential to the mission. Carrying that level of discipline and adaptability into technology and sales at Coupa has allowed me to build trust, solve complex problems, and deliver consistent results for our customers."

— Jeremy Linkletter, Sales ("Once a Marine, always a Marine!")

Jeremy’s Advice for Transitioning Service Members: "Building strong cross-functional partnerships and strategic alliances is essential. Lean into your military foundation of trust and teamwork to collaborate effectively across teams and achieve shared goals."

Accountability in the USMC & Transition to Tech: Serving as a Corporal in the USMC specializing in Communications Electronics Maintenance instilled in Jeremy a foundation of absolute accountability and mission execution. Leveraging the GI Bill, he completed his degree and joined a major defense contractor in Orlando, quickly developing deep expertise in contingent workforce management. Over the next six years, Jeremy worked directly with clients - leading implementations, delivering hands-on training, and driving adoption to optimize complex services spend. In 2018, he joined Coupa via acquisition and transitioned into Pre-Sales, where he supported sales opportunities and enabled field teams to master the services spend category. He now manages the Mid-Market East presales team.

Navigating High-Stakes Deals: During critical negotiations for a large EMEA customer in Málaga—securing the largest deal in Services Procurement history—Jeremy drew upon his Marine Corps training to stay calm under pressure, align the global team, and secure a successful partnership.

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Meet Marcio Uzan: Principles of Leadership, Resilience, and Trust

Brazilian Army, R2 Officer (1st Lieutenant) | Sr Manager, Deal Desk (Nearly 5 Years at Coupa) 

"As my career evolved from the military into the corporate world, including leadership roles in Finance, I realised that many of the principles guiding my decisions today were established during those years of service."

— Marcio Uzan, Sr Manager, Deal Desk (Based in Dublin, Ireland)

Lessons on Leadership and Discipline: Reflecting on nearly nine years of service in the Brazilian Army, Marcio highlights how military service shaped his core values:

• Leadership — Leading by example, taking responsibility, making difficult decisions, and understanding that true leadership is about people, not titles.
• Resilience — Learning to adapt, overcome challenges, remain composed under pressure, and find solutions in demanding circumstances.
• Teamwork and Trust — Recognizing that success is never an individual achievement, but the result of commitment, collaboration, and mutual respect.
• Discipline and Accountability — Developing a strong sense of ownership, integrity, consistency, and commitment to delivering results.
• Adaptability and Continuous Improvement — Embracing change, challenging oneself, and always looking for better ways to achieve goals.

The Transition to Corporate Leadership: Moving from military service into corporate finance, Marcio found that the discipline, strategic mindset, and adaptability forged in the Brazilian Army provided a strong foundation for driving success and guiding complex business decisions.

Help Us Build Tomorrow

At Coupa, we believe that the best teams are built on diverse perspectives. Our commitment to the military community is about actively welcoming the discipline, leadership, and values that veterans bring to our global Village.

Are you ready to bring your unique skills and leadership to tech? Explore our open roles and discover how your skills in the military could help transition into Coupa. And, join our Talent Community today to help us Shape What's Next.