How can today’s leaders best empower the new generation? 

Melissa Smith is a Leadership and Innovation Consultant for a boutique firm in Michigan called Innovatrium, and she joins us today to share her career journey, and key insights she has learned along the way. Join us as Melissa unpacks the four personality categories that guide her as she builds international teams. 

We discuss the five things that an idea needs to succeed, which include a birthday, and Melissa shares what she loves most about the new generation and how we can best support them to harness their enthusiasm most effectively. Melissa gives us a glimpse into her interior world with the quotes she lives by, why she would like to be remembered as a try-hard, and more. 

Tune in today to hear all this and more. 

Key Points From This Episode:. 

•   The four personality categories that she builds her teams around. 

•   How her work is structured through the framework, experimentation, and a final step forward.

•   The five things that an idea needs to succeed. 

•   What Melissa believes the next generation needs from us as leaders. 

Quotes:

“We create teams around these four different personalities to bring about innovation and new ideas.” — Melissa Smith 

“You have to overcome the inertia that is the status quo, and that’s the hardest part.” — Melissa Smith 

“What we can give [the next generation] is our ears, to listen to the challenges they have [through] a lens of wisdom and lived experiences, but to have them keep [their] enthusiasm.” — Melissa Smith 

“To go at all things with enthusiasm and to put your whole self behind them I think is where I’m at.” — Melissa Smith 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Melissa Smith on LinkedIn

Innovatrium

The 6 Types of Working Genius

Moonshots

Range
Simon Sinek
The Infinite Game

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers 

In the final episode of Leadership Blueprints for 2024, BJ Kraemer focuses on Christmas gratitude, reflecting on the year, and planning for a successful 2025. The episode emphasizes the importance of annual reflection as a tool for growth, acknowledging wins and losses, and setting clear, actionable goals for the coming year.

Key Points From This Episode:

·       The significance of the movie It's a Wonderful Life as a lens to understand gratitude and perspective.

·       Kraemer’s personal annual reflection process, which includes reviewing his calendar and photos, identifying wins, losses, and  lessons learned.

·       Planning and prioritizing goals for 2025 with a focus on professional, family, and personal objectives.

·       The power of habits and systems in achieving success, with advice on creating an "ideal week" and building consistency.

·       A closing message on reframing challenges as lessons and expressing gratitude to those who made an impact.

Quotes:

• “No year is a failure if we learn from it.” — BJ Kraemer
• “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward
• “The person we want to become is a direct result of the goals we set and achieve, the people we meet, and the books we read.” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• It's a Wonderful Life
• BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
• Leadership Blueprints Podcast

What does it take to excel in architecture and engineering leadership? 

Andrew Lewis, principal architect at NK Architects and manager of their Philadelphia office, shares his journey from an ambitious architecture student to leading in one of the industry’s most respected firms. Reflecting on his formative years, Andrew highlights how serendipity and initiative shaped his career, from pivotal moments like building connections at unexpected places to spearheading large-scale projects early in his tenure. 

Andrew also discusses the importance of curiosity, a willingness to step outside comfort zones, and fostering a workplace culture that embraces trust and autonomy. He provides insights into NK Architects’ entrepreneurial spirit, the feedback loops that propelled his rapid growth, and the firm’s adoption of the EOS system to guide their next phase of development. 

Tune in for valuable lessons on balancing ambition with humility, creating environments for leadership to thrive, and staying curious in a fast-evolving industry!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Andrew’s journey to becoming an architect and joining NK Architects.

•   Reflections on how the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is evolving.

•   The importance of having a willingness to grow, especially as you start your career.

•   Andrew’s insights on nurturing leadership within your organizations.

Quotes:

“Graduating into the bottom of a recession isn't really so bad, because you don't really have anything to lose. It's not like when you start working for a couple years and you get comfortable and then all of a sudden the industry just completely shuts down.” — Andrew Lewis

“The feedback loop opportunity that I was getting was so tight and so condensed that I was like, ‘I'm advancing at a really fast rate here, and if I just keep at this, who knows where it's going to go’. And 14 years later, I feel like that feedback loop is still active – I'm still really learning and growing daily.” — Andrew Lewis
 

“It was really rapid growth for where I [was] in my career. And I can't say that was because of me. That was really because of the environment that I was placed in.” — Andrew Lewis

“This knowledge of when to speak up and when to say something and when to take action – I can't say that anyone taught me that. I think that's that's just a thing [where] maybe there's a bit of it inside of you, and then there's a bit of nurture as well.” — Andrew Lewis

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Andrew Lewis on LinkedIn

NK Architects

AIA

NCARB

Fitwel

Traction

Phish

Trey Anastasio

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Cherelle Parker

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

 While military strategy often looks to the past, the future demands adaptability and innovation. 

At West Point, the Cyber Engineering & Academic Center (CEAC) is designed to prepare cadets for the technological and military challenges of tomorrow. In this episode, Dr. Led Klosky, Professor of Civil Engineering and the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction, takes us behind the scenes of the $200 million CEAC project. 

He reveals how its design balances tradition with modern needs, creating flexible, future-proof spaces that are ready for anything (even the potential for giant fighting robots! Dr. Klosky also reflects on fostering collaboration among stakeholders, managing friction with empathy, and the importance of mental resilience in high-pressure environments like construction and the military. 

Tune in to uncover leadership lessons that apply to any field and discover how adaptability, vision, and clear communication can drive success in even the most complex projects.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Dr. Klosky’s journey from Virginia Tech to West Point via the oil fields and academia.

•   His evolving role as the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction at West Point.

•   Why collaboration and flexibility are essential for building a dynamic, future-ready US Army.

•   Reasons that communication is key for resolving issues and keeping stakeholders aligned.

•   Addressing mental health and resilience in military, academic, and construction settings.

•   Unpacking some of the parallels between Army and construction industry cultures.

Quotes:

“We teach leadership [at West Point]. We grow leaders. It’s possible to make an excursion from where you are to where you want to be – as a leader or a human being. It’s not innate or somehow written in the stars at the time of your birth.” — Dr. Led Klosky

“Communication often suffers in times of crisis when, in fact, communication should go up. You should have more communication the bigger the crisis.” — Dr. Led Klosky 

“Luck is a combination of preparation, recognition, and action.” — Dr. Led Klosky 

“How do we involve [all stakeholders] in a way that acknowledges the expertise they bring, harvests their great ideas, and moves to resolution quickly when there's a conflict? That was largely my role [to facilitate] during [the CEAC design process].” — Dr. Led Klosky

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Led Klosky

Dr. Led Klosky on LinkedIn

US Military Academy at West Point

Cyber & Engineering Academic Center (CEAC)

USMA 2035 Modernization Plan

1776

Into Thin Air

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Long-time listeners of the show may have noticed that we have a new name! Welcome to another episode of Leadership Blueprints – formerly Inspiring People and Places. Today, BJ is discussing the podcast’s recent rebrand and the exciting changes we can expect. 

Tuning in, you’ll hear about why we decided to rebrand the show, why the intention and mission haven’t changed, an overview of what will be different, and why we will have a sharper focus on leadership. In closing, BJ tells listeners what he hopes this podcast will give to them and shares his desire for this change to be a breath of fresh air. 

To hear all this and even be reminded of the gift that leadership responsibilities bring, press play now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Why we rebranded the podcast. 

•   The purpose and intention of Inspiring People and Places. 

•   BJ’s definition of what leadership is. 

•   What is staying the same in the podcast and what is changing. 

•   Why BJ believes that everyone has leadership responsibilities. 

Quotes:

“I’m very excited about the logo and the brand. I just think it’s more on target.” — BJ Kraemer

“I hope that we’re delivering a lot of value. That is and remains our goal.” — BJ Kraemer

“[The] name [of the podcast] has changed, the mission remains the same.” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

If you want to be a leader, you have to own your career and do it with humility. 

Today’s guest is self-proclaimed practitioner-scholar, Tedd Wheeler. With a background in the military and a career in AEC, Tedd uses his incredible skills to mentor and coach the next generation. 

Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Tedd’s career, his time in the military, his passion for teaching, and the importance of Individual Development Planning. Tedd goes on to share how he balances his mentees’ expectations before discussing how military principles like MDMP can be used in the civilian sector. 

Our guest tells us about some of his favorite books, discusses why he would love to have dinner with his late mom and brother one more time, and shares how he would like to be remembered when he passes away. Finally, he reminds us to have a passion, purpose, and plan in everything we do! 

Thanks for listening in! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   A breakdown of our guest’s career and passion for teaching. 

•   What a great Individual Development Plan process looks like. 

•   Examples of what makes for great mentor-mentee relationships. 

•   The importance of breaking down the steps towards your goals. 

•   Making use of military principles in the civilian sector. 

Quotes:

“If you are not your own best personnel manager, no one will take care of you.” — Tedd Wheeler 

“Education is about meeting the students where they are.” — Tedd Wheeler 

“You can’t have a learning organization if you don’t have individuals [who] are taking charge of themselves.” — Tedd Wheeler 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Tedd Wheeler on LinkedIn

Tedd Wheeler on Research Gate 

Tedd’s Individual Development Plan

MDMP

Troop Leading Procedures 

The Fifth Discipline

Mao Tse-Tung on Revolution

On Fire

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

There is a destructive yet persistent American culture that sees people elevated to leadership positions without the required training or coaching. Today’s guest aims to ease this particular pain point by bringing military-style leadership to the civilian world. 

John Gronski is a former Major General who's pivoted to being a motivational speaker and life coach. He begins our conversation by describing everything that happens at the coaching and consulting company he founded: Leader Grove. We learn about John’s journey from rural Pennsylvania to coaching and via the Army before honing in on the challenges he faced while deployed with the Army in Ramadi, Iraq. 

John also shares what he learned about being a leader from his time in active service, the ins and outs of his three leadership-centered books, the undeniable value of mentorship, and the best practices for building resilience and a never-say-die mindset. 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Unpacking the American culture of raising leaders without adequate leadership training.

•   From rural Pennsylvania to the Army to coaching: How it happened for John. 

•   Understanding the value of mentorship and practical advice for seeking the right mentors.

Quotes:

“My personal purpose is to help leaders who want to improve and become better leaders. That’s why I started Leader Grove.” — Major General John Gronski

“We need people in our life who make us stronger and we have to look for people that we could make stronger. That’s what leadership, in my mind, is all about.” — Major General John Gronski

“Mentorship is 360 degrees. Which means, I not only get mentored from people who are senior than me; I could get mentored from someone who is much junior that I am. You can learn from everybody, no matter what their level of life experience is.” — Major General John Gronski

“I believe leaders are grown and not born.” — Major General John Gronski

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Major General John Gronski

Major General John Gronski on LinkedIn

Major General John Gronski on Instagram

Major General John Gronski on YouTube

Major General John Gronski on Facebook 

Books by Major General John Gronski

Leader Grove 

U.S. Air Force ROTC

National Guard 

U.S. Army 

United States Army Europe and Africa  

Proverbs 27:17 

The Leadership Challenge

The Leadership Moment

We Were Soldiers Once...and Young

The Miracle Morning

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to redefine leadership beyond the battlefield? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, former CH-53E helicopter pilot, Marine Corps veteran, and MCFA Project Leader Steve Kempa sheds light on his transformative journey from Marine to mentor. 

Steve shares how his time in the military helped shape his understanding of leadership and how transitioning to the civilian world pushed him to embrace empathy, emotional intelligence, and the power of collaboration. He also offers insight into the “mission first, people always” mantra that he learned during his career as a Marine, reflecting on the importance of balancing goals with compassion. 

From earning his MBA while on active duty to championing veterans' mental health through November, Steve opens up about overcoming personal challenges, staying grounded through martial arts, and finding purpose in mentoring the next generation. 

This conversation is essential listening for veterans, mentors, and anyone seeking to reimagine leadership beyond titles and rank!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   How he found new challenges and professional growth after 10 years in the Marines.

•   How he earned an MBA while on active duty, focusing on marketing, innovation, and design.

•   The challenges of adapting military leadership skills to civilian environments.

•   Why inclusion, emotional intelligence, and coaching rather than leading are key.

•   Shifting from hierarchical, rank-based leadership to collaborative, empathy-driven leadership.

•   The value of building trust and motivating teams by connecting their tasks to larger goals.

•   The power of leveraging the veteran network for guidance and opportunities.

•   Reasons to stay active, seek fulfilling endeavors, and focus on personal growth.

Quotes:

“Having empathy [and] understanding that you never know what someone else might be going through – is so crucial because as much as we need to get the mission done, something that I learned – during my time in the military is ‘mission first people always’.” — Steve Kempa 

“As flawed as I may be, I still find purpose and value in mentoring young men and helping other people out.” — Steve Kempa 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Steve Kempa

Steve Kempa on LinkedIn

The Challenge Center

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Movember

The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E. B. Sledge

Sons Youth

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if your personal challenges could inspire a business that changes lives? 

In this episode, we delve into the power of transformative leadership and impact-driven entrepreneurship. We uncovered the inspiring journey of Brett and Mary Elaine Baker as they built VAUSA, a remarkable virtual assistant company dedicated to empowering military families while supporting faith- and mission-driven businesses. 

Join us as Brett and Mary Elaine share their journey from military life to entrepreneurship, detailing the growth of their business, their integration of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and the unique dynamics of their leadership roles as Visionary and Integrator. From insights on balancing work, family, and mental health to practical tips for using your gifts to serve others, this conversation offers actionable strategies for anyone looking to align their work with their values. 

To discover how redefining success as impact, not just profit, can transform your life, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode

•   An introduction to Brett, Mary Elaine, VAUSA, and who they serve.

•   The transition from military life to entrepreneurship and leadership roles.

•   Reasons that vision-casting is so important in both life and business.

•   Advice for overcoming the fear that often accompanies “starting something.”

Quotes:

“We have this calling – from God, saying, ‘Now that you’ve been blessed, it’s time for you to go share this blessing with other people.’ That’s where it started.” — Mary Elaine Baker

“Once we started – seeing the fruits of [our] labor and seeing the impact we could make, we just wanted to do more – It kept motivating us to push further, not to build a business that makes a huge profit but to build a business that makes a huge impact on people.” — Brett Baker

“Each one of us is born with God-given gifts. We’re meant to discover what they are and use them not for personal gain but in order to serve and help others.” — Mary Elaine Baker

“At some point, [you] have to sit down and say, ‘What do I want out of this life? What is the impact that I want to make?’ Then, go out there and try to create that for yourself.” — Brett Baker

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

VAUSA

Brett Baker on LinkedIn

Mary Elaine Baker on LinkedIn

Mary Elaine Baker on Instagram

Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Rocket Fuel

How to Be a Great Boss

Traction

Wild at Heart

Warrior Kid

John Maxwell

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if your personal challenges could inspire a business that changes lives? 

In this episode, we delve into the power of transformative leadership and impact-driven entrepreneurship. We uncovered the inspiring journey of Brett and Mary Elaine Baker as they built VAUSA, a remarkable virtual assistant company dedicated to empowering military families while supporting faith- and mission-driven businesses. 

Join us as Brett and Mary Elaine share their journey from military life to entrepreneurship, detailing the growth of their business, their integration of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and the unique dynamics of their leadership roles as Visionary and Integrator. From insights on balancing work, family, and mental health to practical tips for using your gifts to serve others, this conversation offers actionable strategies for anyone looking to align their work with their values. 

To discover how redefining success as impact, not just profit, can transform your life, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode

•   An introduction to Brett, Mary Elaine, VAUSA, and who they serve.

•   The transition from military life to entrepreneurship and leadership roles.

•   Reasons that vision-casting is so important in both life and business.

•   Advice for overcoming the fear that often accompanies “starting something.”

Quotes:

“We have this calling – from God, saying, ‘Now that you’ve been blessed, it’s time for you to go share this blessing with other people.’ That’s where it started.” — Mary Elaine Baker 

“Once we started – seeing the fruits of [our] labor and seeing the impact we could make, we just wanted to do more – It kept motivating us to push further, not to build a business that makes a huge profit but to build a business that makes a huge impact on people.” — Brett Baker

“Each one of us is born with God-given gifts. We’re meant to discover what they are and use them not for personal gain but in order to serve and help others.” — Mary Elaine Baker 

“At some point, [you] have to sit down and say, ‘What do I want out of this life? What is the impact that I want to make?’ Then, go out there and try to create that for yourself.” — Brett Baker 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

VAUSA

Brett Baker on LinkedIn

Mary Elaine Baker on LinkedIn

Mary Elaine Baker on Instagram

Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Rocket Fuel

How to Be a Great Boss

Traction

Wild at Heart

Warrior Kid

John Maxwell

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn