Veteran Led

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Jennifer Vollbrecht, CEO of J. Volbrecht Consulting and author of My Mom is a Veteran. From her beginnings as a Marine Corps crew chief to becoming a successful entrepreneur, Jennifer shares her story of transformation and leadership.​

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Jennifer discusses a moment in her career that led her to pursue entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance. She highlights how military discipline and planning skills translate into effective project management, a crucial element for success in any field. Jennifer also shares her experiences with both exemplary and poor leadership, underscoring the value of mentorship and personal connections. ​

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Balancing her systematic approach to business with creative endeavors, Jennifer demonstrates how storytelling can be a powerful tool in leadership, helping teams understand their mission and context. Her insights offer valuable lessons on leadership and the execution of vision.​

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Explore Resources from this episode:​

• Home - My Mom Is A Veteran Children's Book​
• Jennifer Vollbrecht | Project Management Consulting

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Kelo Makelele, an Army Veteran and Direct of Operations at RedTrace Technologies since 2018. Kelo Makelele successfully transitioned from IT and Cyber Operations in the Army to a cyber security career in the private sector. We delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on modern businesses and how it’s shaping the future. Kelo also discusses his decision to venture into entrepreneurship and the factors that influenced his choice.

Drawing from his military background, Kelo talks about the essential leadership qualities that have helped him succeed in both his military and civilian careers. Watch the full episode to hear Kelo’s inspiring story and gain valuable knowledge on navigating the intersection of military experience and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Steve Russell, the Army battalion commander who led Task Force 1-22 Infantry in the historic capture of Saddam Hussein. Russell shares the details of tracking Saddam through his network of trusted families and the ultimate successful raid in December 2003.​

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Beyond his military service, Russell discusses his continued dedication to public service as an Oklahoma State Senator and U.S. Congressman, where he championed veteran causes including the Uniform Spouse Protection Act reform. His journey from battlefield commander to manufacturer and elected official demonstrates the lasting impact of military leadership principles in civilian life.​

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Today, Russell serves with JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Relay Service), where he applies his military logistics and leadership experience to support humanitarian missions in remote jungle locations worldwide. Using aircraft, boats, and four-wheel drive vehicles, JAARS reduces barriers and serves communities across the Amazon, Congolese, and Melanesian rainforests.​

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Explore Resources from the Episode:​

• JAARS​
• We Got Him!: A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein

In Episode 104 of Veteran Led, John S. Berry hosts Lieutenant Colonel Retired Oakland McCulloch, renowned leadership expert and author of Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be.​

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Oak dives deep into the timeless principles of leadership, sharing how trust, service, and adaptability can elevate teams and organizations. From lessons learned in the military to adapting those skills in civilian life, this episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to lead with integrity and purpose.​

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What you’ll learn in this episode:​

• Why trust is the foundation of effective leadership​
• How to connect with your team and build a culture of excellence​
• The power of reflection and adapting military leadership skills to new environments​
• Real-world examples of great (and poor) leadership and their lessons​

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Whether you’re leading a team or striving to grow personally, this conversation will inspire and equip you to leave a lasting leadership legacy.​

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Explore Resources from the Episode:​

• ltcoakmcculloch.com​
• Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry sits down with JT Taylor, CEO of the USMC Scout Sniper Association, to explore the vital work of building support networks for veterans and their families.​

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JT shares his journey from Marine Scout Sniper to veteran advocate, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of leading a nonprofit dedicated to empowering veterans. Learn how the USMC Scout Sniper Association provides mentorship, financial assistance, and critical resources while preserving the legacy of Marine Scout Snipers.​

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Learn more about the USMC Scout Sniper Association at scoutsniper.org and the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation at scoutsniperheritagefoundation.org.

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry challenges leaders to ask the tough question: “Is this the best you can do?” He dives into the mindset of continuous improvement, explaining why “your best” today should only be a steppingstone to what you can achieve tomorrow.​

John shares personal stories, including lessons from hiring coaches, building high-performing teams, and developing new skills—even when it meant starting from scratch. This episode is a reminder that great leaders lead by example, embrace growth, and never settle for “good enough”.​

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry shares practical advice for leading your team during the holiday season. From bonuses and holiday parties to showing genuine appreciation, John explains how great leadership sets the stage for success in the new year.​

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The best holiday leadership isn’t about extravagant gifts or mandatory fun—it’s about understanding your team, showing genuine appreciation, and setting the stage for success in the new year.

In this milestone 100th episode of Veteran Led, John Berry tackles a leadership lesson: the difference between familiarization and true training. He shares a personal failure in replacing hands-on training with videos and web-based content, leading to increased mistakes within his team. John breaks down the four essential steps of effective training: familiarization, practical application, mastery through practice, and advancement to higher-level skills.​

This episode provides leaders with a clear framework for developing robust training programs that go beyond basic familiarization to achieve true operational excellence.​

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry sits down with Reggie Ordonez, Marine Corps Veteran and founder of Forward Brands, to discuss the power of clarity in branding and leadership. Reggie shares his philosophy on why "clarity sells," how simplicity can drive success, and the importance of truly understanding your audience.​

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Drawing from his experiences as a Marine and a branding expert, Reggie reveals how to identify core customer needs, craft messages that resonate, and align your personal and professional goals for lasting impact. Whether you're building a business, refining your brand, or leading a team, this episode is packed with actionable insights.​

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Connect with Reggie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raordonez/​

Learn more about Forward Brands: https://www.forwardbrands.us/​

Learn more about Warrior Rising: https://www.warriorrising.org/

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry shares insights about organizational evolution and the courage to break working systems to build better ones. Drawing from his experience, John explains why leaders must view organizational growth as chapters, each building upon the last.​

He reveals how his company intentionally dismantled their administrative structure to become more agile and lethal, emphasizing that previous systems weren't failures but necessary foundations for growth. John challenges leaders to recognize when systems become inadequate and take proactive steps to rebuild them before they fail.​