In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Co-Hosts Naviere Walkewicz and Wyatt Hornsby reflect on the leadership lessons shared by accomplished graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy over the first two seasons.

SUMMARY

The hosts highlight key moments and insights from various guests, emphasizing the importance of personal connections, resilience, and the role of mentorship in leadership. They discuss the unique experiences of leaders like Coach Troy Calhoun, Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks, Nicole Malachowski, Madison Marsh, Lieutenant General BJ Schwedo, and Carl Falk, showcasing how their journeys can inspire others in their leadership paths.

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TAKEAWAYS

 - Leadership is deeply personal and requires understanding your people.

 - The importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks.

 - Mentorship plays a crucial role in developing future leaders.

 - Building relationships is essential in leadership roles.

 - Knowing your craft enhances credibility and effectiveness as a leader.

 - Leadership is about doing good and positively impacting others' lives.

 - Embracing vulnerability can lead to personal and professional growth.

 - It's important to risk failure in pursuit of big dreams.

 - Support from family and mentors can shape one's career trajectory.

 - Leaders should encourage others to pursue their passions and dreams.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Celebrating Leadership Lessons from the Air Force Academy

02:11 Highlighting Coach Troy Calhoun's Leadership Philosophy

08:09 Insights from Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks

12:59 Nicole Malachowski: Overcoming Setbacks and Embracing Dreams

19:09 Madison Marsh: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose

23:27 Lessons from Lieutenant General BJ Schwedo on Future Conflict

28:23 Karl Falk: The Importance of Support and Grit in Leadership

ABOUT THE HOSTS

BIOS

LT. COL. (RET.) NAVIERE WALKEWICZ ’99

Senior Vice President, Engagement

With over two decades in leadership roles, my current focus at the Association of Graduates - U.S. Air Force Academy is fostering a robust network of 50,000+ alumni. This commitment involves igniting a culture of engagement and inclusivity, underpinned by a strong foundation in support of our Air Force Academy.

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MR. WYATT HORNSBY

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications | Executive Editor & Writer

Wyatt Hornsby is passionate about developing marketing and communications talent and cohesive, high-performance teams. He is senior vice president of marketing and communications at the Air Force Academy Foundation and the Association of Graduates. He leads the work of the foundation and alumni association marketing and communications division, while also coordinating with various Air Force Academy offices, including Public Affairs and Strategic Communications.

- BIO COPY CREDIT:  LINKEDIN.COM

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BRYAN GROSSMAN:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org

Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Publications | LBL Podcast Network Copy Editor

WYATT HORNSBY:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org 

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications | Executive Editor & Writer | LBL Podcast Network Executive Producer

FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

Co-Hosts:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99  |  Mr. Wyatt Hornsby



Guests:  Coach Troy Calhoun ’89; Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks ’96; Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96;  2nd Lt. Madison Marsh ’23; Gen. BJ Schwedo ’87; Mr. Karl Falk ’98, Mr. Ted Robertson 

Naviere Walkewicz 00:20

Welcome to our Long Blue Leadership retrospective. We're celebrating our first two seasons and the countless leadership lessons shared by some of the most accomplished United States Air Force Academy graduates.

Wyatt Hornsby 00:31

Naviere, seasons 1 and 2 have showcased amazing leadership stories and takeaways. From the very start, Long Blue Leadership has given listeners an inside look at real experiences, insights and advice from seasoned leaders, as well as those just beginning their leadership journeys. These deep dives have explored how leaders not only face challenges head-on but also find ways to inspire and empower those around them.

Naviere Walkewicz 00:58

Yes, what really sets this podcast apart is the mix of our guests’ perspectives on leadership. These discussions have touched on teamwork, perseverance, humility, excellence and service before self.

Wyatt Hornsby 01:12

In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we're sharing a few of our favorite moments. Not easy, because there are so many. Plus, we'll give you a preview of Season 3, which launches soon.

Naviere Walkewicz 01:23

And so, without further ado, Wyatt, let's get into our Long Blue Leadership podcast.

Wyatt Hornsby

Let's do it, Naviere.

Naviere Walkewicz

Some of our favorite moments. This was not easy to do at all.

Wyatt Hornsby 01:33

Indeed, it was not easy. Two seasons — and Naviere, while we're at it, I just want to congratulate you; awesome job on hosting Long Blue Leadership, and also a little plug for our friend Doug Lindsay as well for doing a great job as host.

Naviere Walkewicz 01:46

It’s been an amazing journey, and I think the biggest thing for me has been just being able to share some of the stories of our graduates. So, like we said, picking just a few of them was really hard, but it's been just a beautiful transformation of where we started and where we're going in Season 3.

Wyatt Hornsby 02:01

It's been wonderful storytelling, and I hope that our listeners have been able to take away some great actionable insights for their own leadership journeys, whether they're Academy graduates or others seeking to develop as leaders.

Naviere Walkewicz 02:13

I know I personally took some things away from all of these conversations. I think some of them we’ll highlight today.

Wyatt Hornsby 02:18

Wonderful. Let's do it. Looking forward to it.

Naviere Walkewicz 02:21

So, I think you might have the first one you wanted to highlight.

Wyatt Hornsby 02:24

So Naviere, as we said, I mean, it's so difficult to find our favorites. I mean, there are just so many across seasons 1 and 2. But I'm going to tell you, I was so struck by Coach Troy Calhoun, Class of ’89. That conversation was absolutely awesome. And a couple of things sto