Consider your funeral – what is being said in your eulogy, and what do they thank you for? Are they praising your achievements and accomplishments or memorializing your character and the relationships you nourished? 

In this solo episode, BJ challenges listeners to define the leader you are trying to become, not just at work, but at home, too! You’ll hear all about the inspirational books (and soldier) that inspired this episode, the danger of being too focused on achievement, the importance of building character, and so much more! BJ even dives into the power of approaching the world from a place of joy. 

To hear all this and be inspired to challenge the way you’re forming your character, be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The danger of getting too focused on achievement. 
• Why character is far more important than strategy. 
• The importance of being a good leader at work and at home. 
• Why achievement is really about learning and becoming. 
• Bringing a posture of joy to how you approach the world. 

Quotes:

“It’s easy to get focused on achievement.” — BJ Kraemer 

“When I talk about joy, sustainability, and – leadership effectiveness, none of them start with strategy; they all start with character.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Your character is what lasts.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Unshakeable

Black Hawk Down

Steve Young Interview with Tim Ferriss

Gary Gordon

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if the true measure of leadership is not what happens on your watch, but what happens long after you are gone? 

In this episode, we speak with John Teichert, an expert in leadership, about unlocking your team's potential and achieving organizational excellence. John is a retired U.S. Air Force general, combat and test pilot, and senior defense leader with thousands of flight hours across a wide range of aircraft. He is now the founder and president of Capital Leadership LLC, where he focuses on developing innovative, integrity-driven leaders across government and industry. 

In our conversation, we explore why leaders should prioritize people and the mission, why investing in people ensures long-term success, and why intentional use of time and resources is essential for organizations. John explains how leaders can demonstrate care and empathy while helping people connect to a greater purpose, and he unpacks the importance of inspiration in leadership. He also breaks down the qualities that make for an effective leader, the ways to foster connections with your team, why continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for leaders, and much more. 

Tune in to learn about the significance of intentional leadership and living up to the responsibility of being a leader that people deserve with John Teichert!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn why leadership is about leverage and multiplying impact through other people.
• How organizations show their priorities through how they spend their time and money.
• Explore why investing in people is vital for the long-term success of an organization.
• Why leadership is not only about inspiring but also about handling tough situations.
• Discover the steps for implementing corrective action with empathy and compassion.

Quotes:

“If [leaders] are not intentional about investing our time and our money in developing people to become the best possible version of themselves, then we are fooling ourselves.” — John Teichert

“People need to be loved or cared for, and people want to be part of something greater than themselves.” — John Teichert 

“The equipping, challenging, and convicting; those are all some of the bread and butter that [leaders] should be doing every day.” — John Teichert 

“We’re all lifelong learners of leadership. No one has arrived.” — John Teichert 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Teichert

John Teichert on LinkedIn

John Teichert on YouTube

Boom!

Prayers for a Nation

The Dragon Who Earned His Wings

InSideOut Coaching

The Infinite Game

Greater Than Yourself

Lincoln on Leadership

American Generalship

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

George Washington’s General Orders

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

True leverage is about multiplying leaders! 

In this solo episode, BJ explores the concept of leadership and leverage and shares why he believes that leaders are actually levers. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what to consider when thinking about leverage, the power of discerning leverage properly, and how the 80/20 rule can help leaders. 

BJ delves into the importance of leveraging and protecting your time before discussing the difference between responsible and irresponsible leverage. BJ even talks about systems, why they’re imperative, and why bad systems are problematic. Finally, we touch on the idea that people aren’t leverage, their growth is. 

To hear all this and even be challenged to consider how you are discerning your leverage, be sure to listen now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• What leadership actually is and why leaders are levers. 
• BJ explains the 80/20 rule and what it means for leaders. 
• Responsible leverage versus irresponsible leverage. 
• The difference between true leverage and fake leverage. 
• Three things to ask yourself this week to be a better leader. 

Quotes:

“Leverage without discernment and wisdom turns into burnout, overextension, anxiety, or – using people instead of developing them.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Leadership requires us to constantly ask, ‘Where am I spending time that someone else can grow into [or] – that I might be able to delegate to somebody? – Where am I holding onto work that’s preventing scalability? Where might I be confusing activity with impact or results?’” — BJ Kraemer

“Time is the only resource that you can’t get more of.” — BJ Kraemer 

“If your organization or family relies on your heroic effort to function, you don’t have a leadership problem, you have a systems problem.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The ONE Thing

Buy Back Your Time

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Projects don’t fail in the field; they fail when leaders aren’t clear on the upfront work needed to make a project successful. 

Today on Leadership Blueprints, Daniel McCaulley joins us to discuss how he ensures projects go well. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who our guest is and what he does, how he approaches projects so they are successful, how he paces an owner so that a project gets planned properly while maintaining enthusiasm, and so much more! 

We delve into some of the best leadership lessons he has learned that have contributed to his success before discussing bad hires and how to avoid them. Daniel touches on his business philosophy and why he prioritizes laser-focused communication in the world of engineering. We even discuss the importance of being open to learning and growing throughout your career. Finally, our guest tells us about his favorite leadership books, quotes, and dream dinner guests (dead or alive). Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Daniel explains his blueprint for getting a project on the right track. 
• How to help an owner slow down to plan a project properly. 
• Daniel shares some leadership lessons that have served him well. 
• An example of a bad hire that Daniel made and how he handled it. 
• How he facilitates an environment of constant learning for his employees. 

Quotes:

“You really do have to go slow to go fast sometimes. Everything in construction is better done yesterday.” — Daniel McCaulley 

“Hire good people and get out of their way!” — Daniel McCaulley 

“People do need to be managed differently.” — Daniel McCaulley 

“We’re all created to be here on a specific mission, and let’s not let that time be wasted.” — Daniel McCaulley 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Daniel McCaulley on LinkedIn

Moonshot

The 5 Levels of Leadership 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it really take to lead massive infrastructure programs at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and national security? 

In today’s episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with longtime mentor, former boss, and retired two-star general in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tom Tickner, to unpack leadership, public infrastructure, and how the industry is evolving through geospatial technology. 

They discuss what the Corps of Engineers actually does, what he learned about appropriations, education, and relationships from serving on Capitol Hill as a budget liaison, and why infrastructure often goes unnoticed until it fails. 

They also delve into the intersection of engineering, policy, and politics, Tom’s career transition after 33 years of active duty to working at Woolpert, and how the company is leveraging geospatial data, digital twins, and “GEOAI” to help decision-makers plan, build, and maintain systems faster and smarter. 

Tom also shares his thoughts on leading without rank, building culture through teamwork and communication, and why trust and collaboration are essential in both the military and private sector. Tune in now! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Learn what a USACE district commander is responsible for and their role in disaster response. 
• The USACE’s role in the Pacific and how it supports other agencies operate at scale. 
• Unpack what Tom learned on Capitol Hill about educating decision-makers on priorities. 
• Tom shares the differences between working in the military and the private sector. 
• Hear the biggest leadership lessons from his career and why AI will not replace people. 

Quotes: 

“Within the military, we don’t lobby. We do build advocacy, and we do educate.” — Tom Tickner 

“We’re all learning, leading, and going together and doing really, really well. It is a lot of fun what we have going on in Woolpert.” — Tom Tickner
 
“I am convinced that culture in a company, in a unit, is just as important, if not more important, of getting the mission done, especially when times get tough.” — Tom Tickner 

 
“If you have time to collaborate, do it. It serves a lot of purposes.” — Tom Tickner

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Tom Tickner on LinkedIn 

Woolpert 

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)  

The Speed of Trust 

The Infinite Game 

Selling the Invisible 

The First 90 Days 

A Philly Special Christmas Party Album 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

You cannot become a better leader without reflecting on where you have come from. At the end of every year, we dedicate an episode to helping you reflect, reset, and recommit to your goals. 

This conversation is built around one of host BJ Kraemer’s favorite annual practices. It’s a deliberate, honest review that drives real change across faith, family, fitness, finance, friends, and fun. 

In this episode, BJ shares practical ways to reflect on the year gone by, from reviewing photos, time, money, and energy to identifying wins, lessons, and gaps. The conversation then looks ahead, exploring how reflection creates momentum for the year to come, informs clearer commitments, and translates into intentional planning and daily routines that support meaningful progress.

If you’re looking to start 2026 off on the right foot, this episode is for you.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why it is powerful to reflect on what you have already achieved.
• Reviewing where you have spent your time, money, energy, and talents in the past year. 
• The role of reflecting in generating excitement for the year to come. 
• Establishing morning and wind-down routines that support your goals. 
• What might change when you introduce a lunch routine. 

Quotes:

“Before you set goals, you should really reflect on what it is that you accomplished over the last year.” — BJ Kraemer

“My warning to myself and to everybody is to not try to set too many goals.” — BJ Kraemer

“Set your goals, set your habits, set your plans, and let’s get after 2026!” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Never Eat Alone
The Miracle Morning
Dan Sullivan

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

In this special Christmas-themed episode of the Leadership Blueprints podcast, host BJ Kraemer draws on some of his favorite classic Christmas films to explore the art and science of leading oneself and others. 

Ebenezer Scrooge sparks a conversation around awareness and change, while Kevin McAllister offers a surprising lens on ownership and responsibility. A nod to It’s a Wonderful Life serves as a quiet reminder of the power of relationships. 

The episode also explores what it means to help others grow into the roles they’re called to step into, and concludes with Clark Griswold as a timely reflection on how unchecked vision can impact those around us. 

Join BJ for another episode filled with valuable leadership insights! Happy Holidays! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The leadership lesson from Ebenezer Scrooge: transformation after self-awareness.
• How Kevin McAllister shows that ownership drives creativity.
• It’s a Wonderful Life: “No man is a failure who has friends.”
• Leadership is about cultivating potential by giving people the opportunity to grow into who the role requires them to become.
• The lesson from Clark Griswald: vision without awareness can exhaust everyone around you. 

Quotes:

“Transformation is possible, but like I've talked about before, only after self-awareness.” — BJ Kraemer 

“When people truly own outcomes, they rise faster than we expect.” — BJ Kraemer 

“[George Bailey] teaches us that the most meaningful impact is often invisible when you're living through it.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Good intentions don't excuse poor awareness.” — BJ Kraemer 

“I talk a lot about the first step in leadership is leading yourself first, and the first step in leading yourself first is getting clear on who you are, who you aren't, what your strengths are, what they're not. And I think the lesson we can all take away from Scrooge McDuck is results without humanity create financial success, but no relationship success and no legacy.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mickey's Christmas Carol (Disney+)
A Christmas Carol

Home Alone

Home Alone 2
It’s a Wonderful Life (Apple TV)

The Santa Clause (Disney+)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Netflix)
Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Real innovation often starts with a problem you just can't stop thinking about. In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ Kraemer welcomes Scott Wolfe, founder and former CEO of Levelset, to unpack how a small but persistent frustration with construction payment practices led him to build one of the most influential platforms in the industry. 

Scott shares how Hurricane Katrina pulled him into the world of restoration work, construction law, and software development, ultimately revealing the systemic barriers that keep contractors from getting paid for the work they complete. He traces Levelset’s evolution from a lien rights tool to a suite of products that reduce friction, increase transparency, and help stakeholders protect the value they put into a job. 

Scott also reflects on the culture that shaped Levelset’s rapid growth, the leadership habits that held the team together through the scaling process, and why true innovation starts with deep familiarity with the problem you’re trying to solve. 

Tune in to hear how genuine leadership and commitment to the customer can transform a key sector of the AEC industry!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   How Hurricane Katrina redirected his path into restoration work and construction law.

•   Launching Levelset as a lien-rights solution before expanding its scope.

•   Growing the platform into risk, finance, and insurance tools for the industry.

•   How payment delays and retaining employees strain small contractors and suppliers.

•   Scaling the company to hundreds of employees through clear, consistent communication.

Quotes:

“When you do work on a job, or you put materials into a job, you deserve to get paid, and we want to make sure you're always in an empowered position to do it.” — Scott Wolfe

“We really didn't have true venture money. It was a little more like friends and family, seed money, and cash flow. – But what that allowed our culture to do, and I think this is a little underappreciated by companies, [is] to get a lot of institutional knowledge about the problem.” — Scott Wolfe

“You have to be in the stream of something from my standpoint, to be able to understand where the problem is and really care about the problem.” — Scott Wolfe

“I still think that the crown jewels of any super successful company is in the affinity that you develop around the problem you're solving and how well you know it. All the technology becomes a tool for it. AI is great, it does some interesting things, but it doesn't build a business.” — Scott Wolfe

“People follow people who have that true enthusiasm and that true authenticity.” — Scott Wolfe

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Scott Wolfe

Scott Wolfe on LinkedIn

Levelset

Made to Stick

The Power of Moments

Switch

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Sport is an incredible tool in developing leaders. Welcome to a very special episode of Leadership Blueprints, where BJ and Joey Fay are diving into the Army-Navy rivalry ahead of Army-Navy Week next week! 

In this conversation, you’ll hear all about the history of the Army-Navy games, what it feels like to participate, the rivalry of both love and hate, and so much more! We delve into some leadership lessons we’ve learned on the field of friendly strife before discussing the power of working as a team. Finally, you’ll hear about Joey and BJ’s Army-Navy bet for this year. 

Thanks for tuning in and go Army! Beat Navy! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   How sports help develop good leaders. 

•   The history of wins in the Army-Navy games. 

•   What it’s like to be part of the Army-Navy game. 

•   The love/hate relationship this rivalry creates. 

•   Leadership lessons we learned on the field. 

•   The special trust between these teammates. 

•   Joey and BJ tell us about their Army-Navy bet. 

Quotes: 

“The power of sports in the development of leaders is unmatched.” — BJ Kraemer

“I think that this is an unpredictable game!” — Joey Fay

“The experience at the Army-Navy game as an athlete is one of the most exciting things I think you could ever experience.” — Joey Fay

“The [Army-Navy] rivalry is one of both love and hate.” — BJ Kraemer
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joey Fay on LinkedIn

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Entrepreneurship often starts with a spark of curiosity and the courage to follow it. 

In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ Kraemer sits down with Malory Atkinson, co-founder and managing partner of Shear Structural, Georgia’s only all-women-owned structural engineering firm. Malory shares how growing up with an entrepreneurial father and starting her career during the 2008 recession shaped her approach to leadership, relationships, and resilience. She reflects on her time in tech startups, her return to the built environment, and what it means to create a company that grows sustainably while empowering employees to lead. 

From the lessons of working directly under CEOs to launching a firm focused on adaptive reuse, healthcare, and education projects, Malory underscores that engineering is ultimately a business of people, and that success depends on relationships built before you need them. 

Tune in to hear her insights on networking, storytelling, and leading with authenticity in a changing industry!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   How her father’s example sparked her entrepreneurial drive.

•   Insights gained from a stint in tech and returning to the built environment.

•   Founding Georgia’s only all-women-owned structural engineering firm.

•   Creating a resilient company that grows sustainably and supports employee growth.

•   Building leadership at every level of your company.

•   The importance of making relationships before you need them.

Quotes:

“I started my career in 2008, which is the absolute worst time anybody could have ever started in this industry. But I learned a lot about the value of client relationships and winning business when there was no business to be had.” — Malory Atkinson
 

“Engineering is not just a business of design: it’s a business of people and trust.” — Malory Atkinson

“Shear Structural is Georgia's only all-women-owned structural engineering firm. We're focused on adaptive reuse, health care, education, and municipal projects across the southeast.” — Malory Atkinson

“Somebody told me, early on in my career, to make relationships before you need them.” — Malory Atkinson

“I approach networking as, ‘How can I help you?’ So, if I'm meeting somebody, I'm not like, ‘How can you help me by giving me work?’ I'm like, ‘How can I help you?’” — Malory Atkinson 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Malory Atkinson on LinkedIn
Shear Structural

The Zero Co

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn