What are the top five characteristics great leaders share? Academy graduates, Alison ’15 and Paul ’16 Yang, discuss that answer — and more!

----more----SUMMARY

Alison '15 and Paul '15 Yang discuss their backgrounds, experiences at the Air Force Academy, transition to the corporate world, and key qualities of successful leaders. Their leadership lessons and takeaways?  The importance of caring about people, having humility, being resilient, managing stakeholders, and leading through change.

LEARN.  ENGAGE.  LEAD!

Read Veterans in Leadership: How Military Careers Can Shape Corporate Success including the contributions of Alison and Paul Yang.   

DOWNLOAD THE VETERANS IN LEADERSHIP PDF HERE  |  SPENCERSTUART.COM

DOWNLOADABLE PDF - AS FEATURED IN THE SPRING 2024 EDITION OF JOURNAL OF CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

OUR FAVORITE QUOTES

- "Care about people, whether that's, you know, asking about how their day was to participate in the flightline and solving everyday problems." - Paul Yang

- "You have the humility to set yourself aside. You have a leg up, which enables you to have teams that perform under pressure and operate well through change." - Alison Yang

- "I truly did [enjoy the YC advice]. I think sometimes Alison is very good at telling you what you need to hear." - Paul Yang

- "Folks that come out of the military have no quit. If when we asked him to expand that out, he talked about how, when someone is asked whether or not they're willing to potentially make the ultimate sacrifice for this country, any other ask following that, in and out of the military becomes, I don't want to say easy, but it's going to fall short of it, right." - Paul Yang

- "Care about people. And if you care about people, your interpersonal skills are likely decent, you have the humility to set yourself aside, you have a leg up on stakeholder management, which enables you to have teams that perform under pressure and operate well through change." - Alison Yang

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:47 Childhood and Influences

07:04 High School and Leadership

10:51 Air Force Academy Experience

14:47 Career Choices: Maintenance Officer and Intelligence

20:30 Leadership Skills from the Military

24:03 Transitioning to the Corporate World

29:40 Transitioning as a Couple

35:13 Mistakes and Lessons Learned

46:23 Key Qualities of Successful Leaders

53:20 Advice for Future Leaders

58:02 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

59:05 How They Met

01:00:09 First Impressions

01:01:52 Working Together

01:02:52 Thoughts on Wise Advice

OUR FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS

- Caring about people is a key quality of successful leaders.

- Humility and resilience are important traits for leaders.

- Effective stakeholder management and leading through change are crucial skills.

- Transitioning from the military to the corporate world requires support and networking.

- Continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for leadership development.

BIOS

Alison Yang '16

I lead the delivery of global executive searches for US industrial companies and specialize in engineered products, distribution, and aerospace & defense.



Spencer Stuart is the world’s leading leadership advisory firm. Founded in 1956 and privately owned, we are the adviser of choice among organizations seeking guidance and counsel on senior leadership needs. We work with clients across a range of industries, from the world’s largest companies to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurial startups and nonprofit organizations.



Spencer Stuart today has 56 offices in 30 countries. Our global reach, leadership in CEO and senior executive searches, and status as the premier firm for board counsel give us unparalleled access to the world’s top executive talent.

CONNECT WITH ALISON

- Copy and image credit:  www.linkedin.com

Paul Yang '15

Spencer Stuart is one of the world's leading executive search consulting firms. Founded in 1956 and privately owned, we are the advisor of choice among organizations seeking guidance and counsel on senior leadership needs. We work with clients across a range of industries, from the world's largest companies to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurial startups and nonprofit organizations. Through 56 offices in 30 countries and a broad range of practice groups, our global reach, leadership in CEO and senior executive searches, and status as the premier firm for board counsel give us unparalleled access to the world’s top executive talent.

CONNECT WITH PAUL

- Copy and image credit:  www.linkedin.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPENCER STUART

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

Our Host is Dr. Doug Lindsay '92 | Our Guests are Alison '15 and Paul '16 Yang

Paul Yang  00:08

It’s real lives and young airmen and enlisted folks that you're put in charge of, and really making a true impact in people's lives on a day to day basis.

Alison Yang  00:16

The one theme, if we could say, captures all of this, is care about people.

Paul Yang  00:24

Whether that's, you know, asking about how their day was to supporting flightline and solving everyday problems.

Alison Yang  00:31

You have the humility to set yourself aside. You have a leg up, which enables you to have teams that perform under pressure and operate well through change. And it's also the difference between having people who just get the job done because they have to versus the people who get the job done because they want to. They believe in you.

Doug Lindsay  01:19

My guests today are Allison and Paul Yang, USAFA class of 2015 and 2016, respectively. Allison and Paul are a married couple based in the Washington, DC area and both work at Spencer Stewart, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm as associates in executive search. Both served in the Air Force with distinction winding up their careers in 2022 as officers in intelligence and maintenance leading large teams.  They are accomplished students of leadership and writers, which is how we met Allison and Paul. The pair recently contributed to an article on veterans and leadership in a Spencer Stewart publication. The article featured profiles of 10 prominent CEOs, three of whom are USAFA graduates and currently lead United Airlines, McAfee and Johnstone Supply.  We’ll spend the next few minutes getting to know Allison and Paul, and we'll talk about their work with Spencer Stewart. Then we'll focus on the top five qualities they believe make the best leaders. And finally, we'll ask them to share one or two bits of advice they would give to those who want to be leaders and leaders who want to become even better. Joining us from the DC area, Allison and Paul, welcome to the Long Blue Leadership podcast.

Alison Yang  02:31

Thanks, Doug. We're happy to be here.

Paul Yang