In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, host Naviere Walkewicz ’99 talks with Emma Przybyslawski ’10, an Air Force Academy graduate whose path has taken her from the front lines of tactical special operations in combat zones to the founder’s chair at Strike Solutions.

SUMMARY



With 1,634 confirmed kills, and personal threats from ISIS, Emma knows what high-stakes leadership looks like.

She opened up about her transition to the tech world, the power of the Air Force Academy network, and the role that courage, flexibility, and humor play in both survival and success. Whether you're in uniform or in a startup, Emma’s insights on active listening and continual growth are essential to your success as a developing or seasoned leader.

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EMMA'S 10 BEST LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

 - Leadership requires courage and action

 - Course correction is a leadership strength

 - Ownership is the price of admission to elite teams

 - Active listening builds trust and influence

 - Feedback isn’t personal—it’s growth fuel

 - You can lead from any seat

 - Clarity of standards drives excellence

 - Mission over ego

 - Diversity demands curiosity, not assumptions

 - Leaders multiply leadership

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Emma Prisboslawski's Journey

01:26 Life in Special Operations

07:02 Navigating Chaos: A Day in Emma's Life

10:40 The Academy Experience: A Personal Journey

18:04 Leadership Lessons from Military Experience

27:52 The Importance of Active Listening in Leadership

28:21 The Power of Listening and Empathy

29:51 Navigating Career Transitions

32:18 Embracing Technology and Innovation

35:55 The Importance of Networking

36:24 Building Strike Solutions

37:48 Navigating the Vast Tech Landscape

40:14 Learning from Mistakes

42:31 Giving Back to the Academy

46:31 Continuous Self-Improvement and Leadership

ABOUT EMMA

BIO

Emma Przybyslawski ’10 is the daughter of Mj. Gen. (Ret.) Anthony '76 and Priscilla Pzybyslawski. She spent her childhood counting the number of states she lived in as a military brat. While at the Academy, she loved living in Cadet Squadron 19 and eventually led the Wolverines as Squadron Commander to Outstanding Squadron of the Year. Upon graduation, Emma was commissioned as a special operations intelligence officer and spent her Air Force career either overseas supporting counterdrug efforts or counterterrorism operations in the Middle East; she was awarded a Bronze Star during her last deployment for her combat efforts in Iraq. She decided to separate from the Air Force in 2016 and started her civilian career in the high-tech industry. Emma has since founded Strike Solutions, a defense company focused on bringing advanced technology solutions to various DoD operational mission sets. In her free time, she has a passion for traveling, food, spending time with family and friends, and sports – but all of those things are best enjoyed with her husband and Air Force pilot Chris Spach and their Bernese Mountain Dogs, Gunner and Harley.

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TRANSCRIPT

OUR SPEAKERS



GUEST:  Emma Przybyslawski ’10  |  HOST:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 

KEYWORDS

leadership, resilience, military, special operations, personal growth, Air Force Academy, women in combat, entrepreneurship, active listening, mentorship, leadership, empathy, career transition, technology, networking, innovation, military, Air Force Academy, personal growth, mentorship

The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation