What’s the point of reading if it doesn’t improve your life and work?

In the second installment of the Pages to Projects summer series, BJ Kraemer explores why reading alone isn't enough; true leadership development requires learning. Drawing from personal experience, business coaching insights, and frameworks like the West Point leadership development model, BJ offers a practical breakdown of how to convert ideas from books into action, habit, and growth. If you’re ready to transform your reading habit into a leadership accelerator, this episode gives you the tools to make every page you read count. 

Tune in to learn how to build a learning culture for yourself and your team!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Why "leaders are learners" goes beyond passive reading or listening.

•   Insight into West Point’s leadership development model.

•   A 4-step learning method: absorb, apply, reflect, reinforce.

•   The power of teaching what you’ve learned to others.

•   Tactical, operational, and strategic ways to embed learning into your life and work.

Quotes:

“If we don't make the bridge between what we [read] and how we can apply it, we're actually not taking the action to learn or to improve ourselves.” — BJ Kraemer 

“When you're looking at the world through the lens of who you're trying to become and you're looking at all of the books that you're reading from that lens, the nuggets will start coming to you: – ‘I can change this. I can get better here.’” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

E214: Leaders are Readers

Who Not How

10x is Easier Than 2x

The Science of Scaling

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

All leaders are readers. That’s why we’re kicking off a three-part series on the books and stories that have influenced our leadership philosophy.

Whether you’re a reader or an audiobook listener, this series is packed with recommendations that contain essential wisdom you can apply to your life. To kick off our series, BJ shares his thoughts on why you should read, what you should read, and the books that have shaped his life. Tune in to learn why self-study is such a key part of personal development, how to begin with the end in mind, and how to take control of each day, starting with your morning routine. 

Our conversation covers plenty of books and principles you can take from them that will revolutionize your day-to-day. In closing, BJ provides you with three action steps you can take today. Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The importance of reading and stories in building a leadership philosophy.

•   How Pat Croce’s work impacted BJ’s life.

•   Why self-study is so important. 

•   How reading helped BJ to move beyond reactivity and build momentum. 

•   Taking reading from consumption to impact.

•   Why you should initiate an uncomfortable conversation today.  

Quotes:

“The ideal here is to consume wisdom and then be able to synthesize and apply it to your life. I think that’s why we read. It gives you a lot of perspective.” — BJ Kraemer

“Self-study is a very critical part of personal development.” — BJ Kraemer
 

“Both the morning routine at home and the morning routine at work are critical building blocks of your day.” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Obstacle Is The Way
Father Mike Schmitz on Instagram
The Miracle Morning
James Clear
Napoleon Hill on Amazon

Dale Carnegie on Amazon
Tim Ferris
Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead
Paradigm Shifting Books
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Pat Croce on Amazon
Slaying the Dragon

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to lead with authenticity, build a thriving business, and grow stronger through adversity, both professionally and personally? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kramer sits down with powerhouse duo Jim Carter of CBRE/Turner Townsend and Barbara Balongue, founder of Balongue Design, to explore the art of leadership through the lens of real-life experience, grit, and long-term vision. From Barbara’s leap into entrepreneurship during a recession to Jim’s three-decade blueprint for career growth focused on technical mastery, networking, and strategic leadership, this conversation offers a masterclass in leading with purpose.  

Along the way, they share insights on the importance of vulnerability, the power of intergenerational collaboration, and why running toward problems, not away from them, is the mark of a true leader. For a fresh perspective on resilience, relationship-building, and what it means to lead a life (and business) with integrity and intention, tune in today! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• A three-phase career strategy: competence, network, strategy. 
• Overcoming adversity to build true leadership strength. 
• Reasons to run toward the fire, not away from it. 
• The importance of listening and learning across generations. 
• Embracing risk, leading with vision, and other traits of successful leaders. 
• The likability factor: why charisma is a secret weapon in leadership. 

Quotes: 

“Looking back, all of the economic downturns that I've lived through since the start, all the difficult clients, all the challenges, all the project setbacks, those are the things that really informed me and taught me how to be a leader.” — Barbara Balongue  

“If you see a big fire, run into it. Don't run away from it. I use that language almost on a weekly basis with my team. If you see a problem, which we equate to a big fire, run right into it and put it out.” — Barbara Balongue

“Being vulnerable, and humble, and showing empathy is core to having a relationship, both in business and in [your personal life].” — Jim Carter

“I don't see a separation between personal and professional. You have to be an authentic person. People are attracted to what they see, not what they hear.” — Barbara Balongue

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Jim Carter on LinkedIn 

Turner & Townsend 

CBRE 

Barbara Balongue on LinkedIn 

Balongue Design 

The Likability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life's Dreams 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

In this inspiring episode, we are joined by the one and only Allen Kopelson, visionary architect and founding principal behind NK Architects. With decades of experience and a legacy of leadership, Allen shares his remarkable journey through the world of business. 

We explore why he made the decision to step down as a partner while continuing to contribute to the firm he helped build, the crucial role his support system plays in his personal growth and professional success, how he chose his successors, and so much more! He even talks about his impressive hobbies and passions outside of work and how they have helped him stay grounded in the chaos of running a business. 

Allen answers our rapid-fire questions before leaving us with wonderful words of wisdom about what it means to live a full life. 

Thanks for tuning in!  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• What made Allen step away from the firm as a partner even though he’s still working there. 
• The support system that guided him and how that contributed to his success.    
• How he selected his successors and a few of his greatest success stories.  
• Allen tells us about how his hobbies helped him find peace in the chaos of business. 
• Allen leaves us with his closing thoughts about having a full life.  

Quotes: 

“I knew what my limits were and what I was capable of, and I knew the kind of people I had around me, and I knew what their capabilities were.” — Allen Kopelson

“Forget about the money! Do what makes you happy – it’s the most important part and everything else will follow.” — Allen Kopelson

“I feel bad for people who just go to work and can’t wait to leave. I’m the other way around – I love working and I love all the other things I do.” — Allen Kopelson
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Allen Kopelson on LinkedIn 

NK Architects  

A Confederacy of Dunces 

How to Read a Book  

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

As a special thank you for tuning in, scroll down to enjoy 20% off your first order mizzenandmain.com.

What do football, combat deployments, and dress shirts have in common? For Ryan Kent, they’ve all played a role in shaping his evolution as a leader.

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kramer sits down with Ryan, a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and current CEO of menswear brand Mizzen+Main, to unpack the lessons he learned on his way from the locker room to the boardroom. 

From his journey as a small-town athlete to leading in Iraq and then navigating the apparel industry with no prior experience, Ryan reflects on the power of curiosity, adaptability, and showing up with presence. 

Whether you’re a veteran stepping into civilian leadership or guiding teams in construction, engineering, or development, Ryan’s story is a masterclass in leading through uncertainty, failure, and reinvention!

Key Points From This Episode:

• From option quarterback to linebacker and adapting to team needs.
• Asking better questions to become a more competent and connected leader.
• Ways that winning and losing both shape leadership.
• Leading through presence, not just position.
• Parting wisdom on the connection between sport and leadership.

Quotes:

“Sports have been the foundation of my leadership. My journey through sports has made me a much better leader because I've had very good highs and lows.” — Ryan Kent

“There are frequent times where I’m leading through success, leading through challenge, and leading through failure. The origin of my ability to do that has been through sports.” — Ryan Kent

“Change is inevitable. A capitalistic society allows people to innovate, to evolve. If you don’t do that in a business, in our country, you will fail.” — Ryan Kent 

“It’s very hard to be a good leader consistently. It requires a lot of attention and effort. – Give it that credit. If you don’t spend time on it, you’ll likely not be a great leader.” — Ryan Kent 

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www.mizzenandmain.com

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Kent on LinkedIn

Mizzen+Main

Good Profit

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Mastery

12 Rules for Life

Sapiens

Team of Teams

Shoe Dog

Air

Dune

Friendly Strife

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

In this 4th of July special edition of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer sits down with Marine Corps veteran, educator, and operations leader Fred Conner for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and renewal. This episode explores the transformation of the historic 75-acre Valley Forge campus- home to Founding Forward, a national civic education nonprofit founded by the Union League of Philadelphia and Freedom’s Foundation.

Fred shares his journey from military service to international project management to teaching at Temple University. Along the way, he reveals how landscapes, memory, and mission-based leadership shape how we build -and remember- our most important places. 

Whether you're a veteran transitioning into the A/E/C world, a project leader tackling deferred maintenance, or a parent wondering what civic education looks like today, this episode offers a reminder: leadership starts with service, and the built environment can inspire generations.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why project management is a natural fit for transitioning veterans.
• Lessons from building military camps in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
• The power of servant leadership- sometimes that means doing dishes and landscaping.
• Why trust and execution are foundational to any successful project.

Quotes:

 “Vision is a really good thing, but it’s only aspiration if you can’t execute.” - Fred Conner 
 “Operations occur at the speed of trust.” — Gen. Jim Mattis (quoted by Fred Conner) 
 “The things we remember most about a place are often how the built environment coexists with the landscape around it.” — Fred Conner

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Founding Forward
• Union League of Philadelphia
• Leadership Blueprints Podcast
• MCFA
• MCFA Careers
• BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if your next big leadership breakthrough started with booking a vacation?  

In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer dives into a powerful and often overlooked leadership lesson: the transformative value of R&R. With summer in full swing and the midpoint of the year approaching, BJ challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with rest, reframing time off as a strategic imperative for sustained impact, clarity, and growth.  

From redefining “busy” to modeling a culture that celebrates vacation time and drawing inspiration from military leadership models and Bill Gates’s Think Week, this episode offers practical insights for leaders ready to recharge and lead with renewed purpose.  

Tune in to find out why stepping away might be the most powerful move you make this year! 

Key Points From This Episode:  

• The importance of prioritizing time off and planning ahead. 
• Lessons from military models of reflection and leader development. 
• Investing in your career when you're young and then modeling rest as a leader. 
• Practical tips to help you “disconnect, re-energize, and redeploy.” 
• A leadership challenge: book time off and encourage your team to do the same! 

Quotes: 

“Don't confuse action with results. Don't confuse a full calendar with impact.” — BJ Kraemer

“The greatest leaders I know are always creating space for themselves.” — BJ Kraemer

“The way that we can – use R&R to grow is [to] disconnect, re-energize, and then redeploy that new energy towards something new.” — BJ Kraemer
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

What if the future of leadership in construction isn’t about command and control, but about trust and curiosity? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we’re joined by Andrea Janzen, founder of Ambition Theory, a professional development company that specializes in the research, education, and advancement of women in construction. 

Andrea shares her unexpected journey from corporate marketing to coaching executives in the construction industry. She unpacks the power of transformational leadership versus transactional leadership, a model based on collaboration, curiosity, and vision, and why it resonates more with women than traditional, top-down structures. Through real-world examples, including a $2 million sales turnaround, she shows how shifting leadership styles can unlock potential, fuel innovation, and drive measurable results.  

Tune in to learn how rethinking leadership can unlock hidden potential, build stronger teams, and drive results, whether you're in construction or any other fast-evolving industry! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Why traditional leadership doesn’t appeal to most women. 
• The value of transformational leadership in highly structured fields. 
• Why tech won’t change construction; leaders will. 
• Giving credit versus claiming ownership: a leadership nuance. 
• Opportunities unlocked by transformational leadership in construction. 

Quotes: 

“[Leadership coaching] is so much more than getting someone a job. It's about opening up their potential, helping them see opportunities, [leveraging] relationships, and [making] things happen.” — Andrea Janzen 

“We've done research in construction that shows us men are just naturally more transactional. Women are naturally more transformational. It's a thing. It's not one is better than the other. It just is.” — Andrea Janzen  

“A lot of times, people get stuck on the surface-level issue, but we don’t actually get to the root cause. – If you spend more time on the problem and define it properly, the path forward is a lot clearer.” — Andrea Janzen 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Andrea Janzen on LinkedIn 

Ambition Theory 

Ambition Theory Podcast 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others  

Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace 

What Got You Here Won't Get You There  

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back 

Adam Grant 

Marshall Goldsmith 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

Leadership is a never-ending journey with infinite checkpoints for growth and self-discovery. Today, we are joined by Greg Kelly, the CEO of STV, a national, infrastructure-focused professional services firm that exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places, and the present to the future. 

Greg begins by meticulously detailing his professional journey and how he found his feet in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) before explaining why learning never stops for anyone, specifically as a leader. We learn about his role as STV CEO, the work the company is currently engaged in, the best practices for leading with trust, and the leadership characteristics that are non-negotiable for effective leadership. This episode also unpacks plans for STV’s future, how it solves common and pressing industry pain points, how crisis begets great leaders, and the books that have influenced Greg Kelly’s leadership style.

To end, our guest shares the quotes that have carried him through difficult times, and he offers noteworthy advice for anyone with similar career aspirations.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why learning never ends as a leader. 
• How to spend time with your team while also giving them enough space to operate.
• The importance of self-discovery and humility in leadership. 
• How to identify leadership characteristics in others. 
• Why disasters (like COVID) are also great opportunities for breeding leaders.  

Quotes:

“What I learned at that point in my career, BJ, was the cultural appreciation that goes with working globally and knowing that there’s different cultural norms, and you have to be very respectful of that.” — Greg Kelly 

“Let’s meet the moment and solve the problem, not hold it to some standard. So, the leadership piece, there’s no playbook. It’s about self-discovery and humility.” — Greg Kelly

“I’m a big fan of betting on people. We grew up betting on ourselves, so let’s bet on others.” — Greg Kelly 

“Create your own comfort crisis – your greatest learning comes in the greatest periods of discomfort.” — Greg Kelly 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Greg Kelly on LinkedIn

STV 

ASCE Opal Awards Gala

Daily Stoic
Trust Matters More Than Ever

The Comfort Crisis 

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning 

Strength in Stillness 

Life After Power
ACECNY

National Academy of Construction

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

The lessons learned on the sports field teach us so much about leadership on the battlefield and in life. 

This episode marks the launch of a special segment highlighting the power of youth sports in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Joining us on this episode is Head Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach at Princeton University, Matt Crispino, a key player in shaping leadership and character development through sports at the Military Academy. 

Matt shares success tactics, core team values, and why he believes that there truly is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. We also explore how college sports may change, what this means for coaches and the Ivy League, and what it looks like to develop a culture of growth within your team. Finally, we discuss what it truly means to be a coach, why it is so challenging, and why it is so rewarding.

Don’t miss this episode with an inspiring coach and leader! 

Key Points from This Episode:

•   The power of youth sports in shaping leaders in the military.

•   Developing the character of your team while training to win.

•   Tactics for team and individual success. 

•   Principles that have led his leadership over the past year. 

•   The mental health epidemic is prevalent in athletes.

Quotes:

“If I am surrounded by the right people, I am displaying and modelling and promoting the right values, there’s going to be a lot of fast swimming in that pool.” - Matt Crispino
 

“I think the team has to always trump the individual.” - Matt Crispino

“I just think everyone’s got more in them than they ever truly believe.” - Matt Crispino
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Crispino on LinkedIn

Matt Crispino on Instagram

Matt Crispino on X

Men’s Swimming and Diving

The Friendly Strife Foundation
Concussion
Trust and Inspire

Daniel Coyle

Malcolm Gladwell

The Boys in the Boat

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn