Podcast · Business

Leadership Blueprints

by BJ Kraemer, MCFA · English · Business

Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 40 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 31 minNew

Creating a More Peaceful Holiday Season with Val Peterson

How do you want to show up for the people who matter most this holiday season? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer revisits his conversation with Val Peterson, a licensed mental health counselor at Destin Counseling Center, about making room for peace before the calendar fills up. They explore how expectations and family dynamics shape the season and why protecting your energy matters for the people you lead and love. Val introduces a simple check for feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT) and explains how greater self-awareness can change how we respond to stress.…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E277 · 7 Oct 2026 · 31 min
Leveraging AI While Managing Cybersecurity Risks with Dr. Derek Smith
AI is a challenge that business leaders are going to have to deal with, and finding a balance between pushing innovation and managing cybersecurity risk is essential. Today on Leadership Blueprints, we are joined by former DHS Deputy Director, veteran, author, keynote speaker, and federal cybersecurity operations expert, Dr. Derek Smith, to discuss how AI makes us more efficient! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the biggest concerns when it comes to AI and cybersecurity risk, how leaders can encourage their employees to play with tools like AI without putting the organization at risk, what…
E276 · 30 Sep 2026 · 44 min
Preparing Future Leaders for AI and Growth with Edward DuCoin
How can leaders prepare the next generation for a workforce being rewritten by artificial intelligence? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer welcomes Edward DuCoin, a lifelong entrepreneur, adjunct professor, and co-founder and partner of Orpical Technology Solutions, to discuss how education and business leadership must adapt as AI reshapes employability, work, and growth. In their conversation, Edward reflects on starting his first business as a teenager, navigating significant setbacks, and turning those experiences into lessons for students and business leaders. He…
E275 · 23 Sep 2026 · 27 min
Always Be Collecting Dots
If you are in sales, you have probably heard the phrase: Always Be Closing, or ABC! But if you walk through life trying to ‘close’ every person you meet, you are likely to miss far more valuable things. In today’s solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ offers a new version of this phrase and inspiring listeners to place their focus on more important things such as relationships, generosity, curiosity, and service. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what it means to collect dots and why it’s essential. BJ delves into why showing up in the world with a spirit of curiosity and service is so…
E274 · 16 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Operationalizing Leadership with Kevin Chemidlin
What does it take to turn leadership values into repeatable action? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer welcomes Kevin Chemidlin, MCFA’s new Director of Client Activation. In a twist, Kevin takes the interviewer’s chair to ask BJ how systems thinking can coexist with the human realities of leadership. They discuss how structure and empathy work together, why growth depends on choosing the right challenges, and how leaders create clarity around expectations and shared responsibility. BJ and Kevin also unpack MCFA’s values of love, entrepreneurial spirit, accountability, and…
E273 · 9 Sep 2026 · 52 min
Creating Opportunities and Taking Action with Rylee Meyer
What can happen when you stop waiting for the right opportunity and start creating one? In this episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with Rylee Meyer, MCFA’s Office Manager and Marketing Coordinator, to talk about creativity, identity, and the courage to take action. Rylee shares how a background in radio, television, and film led her from production into a role that brings together operations, marketing, and storytelling. They discuss her upcoming Korean-language program, reconnecting with her birth family, and a documentary idea inspired by the Korean adoptee community. Rylee also explains why…
E272 · 2 Sep 2026 · 48 min
Human-First Leadership and Why Caring Compounds with Justin Ricklefs
What if the most powerful leadership advantage is showing people that you care? In this episode, BJ sits down with Justin Ricklefs, Founder and CEO of Guild Collective and author of Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies , to explore what human-first leadership looks like in practice. They discuss his path from sponsorship sales to building a brand storytelling agency, and how mentors shaped his belief that leaders earn commitment by knowing and caring for their people. He explains why strong systems create room for exceptional human connection, how curiosity, compassion, clarity,…
E271 · 26 Aug 2026 · 36 min
The Human Advantage in an AI World with Jim Rogers
AI may transform how professional services firms deliver technical work, but it cannot replace the human qualities that build trust. In this episode, BJ welcomes back Jim Rogers, founder of Impellor Group and author of Becoming a Seller-Doer , to explore why client leadership, judgment, and empathy will become even more valuable as AI reshapes the AEC industry. Jim outlines the progression from transactional provider to embedded advisor, explains the difference between attentive, active, and empathetic listening, and shares ways emerging leaders can develop client-facing skills. They also…
E270 · 19 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Becoming Happy High Performers with Jay Abbasi
Becoming Happy High Performers with Jay Abbasi Episode 270: Show Notes What if burnout isn’t a sign that you need less ambition but rather that you need a different way to pursue it? Today we welcome Tesla leader turned professional speaker, Jay Abbasi, to discuss how leaders can help people achieve at a high level without sacrificing personal life along the way. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Jay’s work in burnout, how he helps people become more adaptable through mindfulness and ‘mind-free-ness’, how mindfulness helped him thrive in a stressful environment at Tesla, and more! We delve…
E269 · 12 Aug 2026 · 29 min
Building Leaders Through Trust, Commitment, and Love with Jeff Monken
What does it take to build leaders who can perform when the stakes are much higher than winning a football game? In this episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with Army West Point Head Football Coach Jeff Monken to explore how football can become a blueprint for leadership, character, and service. Jeff shares the philosophy he brought to West Point, the lessons he learned from other coaches and leaders, and how he rebuilt Army Football by changing attitudes, establishing standards, and creating belief within the program. They discuss the value of delayed gratification, how doing hard things prepares…
E268 · 5 Aug 2026 · 40 min
The Leadership Behind the FIFA 2026 World Cup with Bill Squires
Bill Squires has spent decades managing some of the world's biggest sporting events, but the FIFA 2026 World Cup raised the bar even higher. In this episode, BJ sits down with Bill Squires, Chief Venues and Operations Manager for the New York, New Jersey Host Committee for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, to explore what it takes to deliver an event of unprecedented scale. Reflecting on his experience leading venue operations, Bill shares how thousands of people, hundreds of organizations, and years of planning came together behind the scenes to create a safe, seamless experience for fans from…
E267 · 29 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Leading Through Adversity with DJ Eliot
What does leadership look like when life delivers its hardest challenge? In this deeply moving episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer welcomes NC State defensive coordinator DJ Eliot to talk about coaching, mentorship, and resilience both on and off the football field. DJ explains the philosophy behind his renowned "Skill Drill Time" approach to player development, building winning cultures in today's ever-changing college football landscape, and the invaluable role mentorship has played throughout his career. DJ also shares his family's extraordinary journey through his daughter’s…
E266 · 22 Jul 2026 · 49 min
Build a Career, Not a Job: 36 Years of Leadership Lessons
After spending 36 years at EwingCole, John Capelli has officially stepped into the role of CEO. But his story isn't just about reaching the top. It's about a company that has spent decades intentionally developing leaders, planning for succession, and building an ownership model designed to outlast any one individual. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints , BJ Kraemer sits down with John to discuss EwingCole's unique approach to leadership, the lessons John learned throughout his career, and why earning respect comes from contribution rather than title. They explore succession planning,…
E265 · 15 Jul 2026 · 42 min
Why Cybersecurity Is a Leadership Responsibility—not an IT Problem
A lot of people are talking about how AI is changing the landscape of professional services, but there’s one really important consideration that often gets overlooked — cyber threats. As CEO of Ridgeback Network Defense Inc., today’s guest, Scott Fogarty, helps organisations defend against cyber attacks. We begin by unpacking the importance of being prepared for battle as a business leader with the understanding that cybersecurity is a real fight against other human beings who pose a threat to the safety of our resources. Next, Scott reveals more about his leadership and founder journey,…
E264 · 8 Jul 2026 · 54 min
What a National Champion Learned About the Victories That Mattered Most
Most people think winning builds confidence. But this former Princeton National Champion says it's the other way around. For Lauren, the championship isn't the first thing she remembers when she reflects on how sports shaped her. It's the moments that taught her to believe in herself. Now, as a high school lacrosse coach and parent of three athletes, she's helping young people discover a different kind of victory—one that has nothing to do with the scoreboard and everything to do with who they're becoming. In this episode, Lauren and BJ explore why the mental side of sports deserves as much…
E263 · 1 Jul 2026 · 37 min
The Leadership Lesson Hidden in America's Story
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter The story of America is the story of getting punched in the face and choosing to come back stronger. That is not just history. That is leadership. As the country turns 250, BJ sits down with Army Colonel Steve Messenger to unpack what that actually demands of you. Steve teaches a class called Failing with the Stoics and has spent his career building leaders inside the military's deliberate, hierarchical, brutal development system. In this episode, Steve and BJ get into the BRAG…
E262 · 24 Jun 2026 · 27 min
Your Project Managers Are CEOs in Training. Are You Developing Them Like It?
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Most firms send their project managers to a bootcamp once a year, hand them a certificate, and call it development. Anthony Fasano says that's not even close. PMs are running your client relationships, your budgets, your teams. They are CEOs of their projects. If you are not building them like CEOs, you are capping your own growth. Anthony just released Beyond PM Training, and his ecosystem approach is a wake up call for any firm that thinks a seminar is a strategy. In this episode,…
E261 · 17 Jun 2026 · 37 min
How to Be the Parent Your Young Athlete Actually Needs
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Most parents think they're doing right by their kid in youth sports. They show up. They invest. They mean well. But Jonathan Carone says two hidden emotions are quietly driving most of the bad sideline calls. Self love and self glory. Once you can name them, the whole thing changes. Jonathan runs Healthy Sports Parents and helps moms, dads, and coaches build the kind of relationship with their kid that makes the sport actually mean something. In this episode, Jonathan and BJ get…
E260 · 10 Jun 2026 · 34 min
The Question Every Business Owner Should Be Asking Themselves
Most business owners can rattle off their revenue, their pipeline, and their biggest headaches. Almost none can answer this one. What is the business actually doing to serve you in your life? Krystn Macomber asks her clients that before anything else. She's a fractional Chief Growth Officer who helps small government contractors stop chasing every shiny opportunity and actually build a strategy. In this episode, Krystn and BJ get into the BD curse of always saying "maybe we can win this," why the first year of her own business was the easy one, where AI actually helps in marketing and where…
E259 · 3 Jun 2026 · 41 min
The 2 Words Every Leader Should Say More Often
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Most leaders shut down ideas without realizing it. A "yeah but" in a meeting. A quick correction before someone finishes. The team quietly learns to stop bringing anything new. Will Dennis runs Unscripted Productions, an applied improv studio that trains Fortune 500s, hospitals, and schools on the fix. It comes back to two words. Yes, and. In this episode, Will and BJ unpack why "yes, and" is the most underrated leadership tool out there. What Nick Sirianni was secretly doing all…
E258 · 27 May 2026 · 45 min
Championship Coach: Your Team Is Only as Good as Your Least Committed Person
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Every leader has that one person on the team. The one showing up halfway. The one quietly setting the ceiling for everyone else. And most leaders tolerate it longer than they should. Matt Crispino refused to. After taking over the Princeton men's swim team, he inherited what his assistant called an opt-in culture, where the committed thrived and the disengaged got to coast. Matt blew it up. He made the team write their own core values, told the roster it was all in or out, and just…
E257 · 20 May 2026 · 1 hr
The Leader Whose Impact Is Still Growing 20 Years After His Death
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Every Memorial Day, BJ replays this episode to reset how he thinks about what it means to lead. Dennis Zilinski was his West Point classmate, swim teammate, and one of his best friends. Dennis was killed in action on November 19, 2005, at 23 years old. In this conversation, BJ sits down with Dennis's mother, Marion Zilinski (Mama Z), to talk about who Dennis was, how he led, and how his leadership continues to make an impact 20 years after his death. From his early instinct to serve…
E256 · 13 May 2026 · 48 min
She Had 4 Coaches in 5 Years. Here’s What They Taught Her About Leadership
Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter 95% of women executives and 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs were athletes. Yet, most kids leave sports before they even get to high school. This episode breaks down why more kids are walking away and how parents and coaches can work together to change it. Katie Lee, founder of All American AIM, has placed girls at college programs including West Point by coaching the whole kid, not just the athlete. She shares what good coaching actually looks like, why she's concerned about where youth…
E255 · 6 May 2026 · 36 min
The Leadership Habit That Strengthens Teams and Projects
During this episode, we are digging into the leadership challenges of transitioning from the military into the private sector and the lessons that had to be learned along the way. Chris Banks is a 20-year Navy veteran and the President of Banks Industrial Group, a company providing maintenance services in the industrial space. He joins us to share more about his search for impact after working in a process-driven environment, lessons he learned from good and bad leaders in the sector, and how his experiences have shaped the true mission and values of Banks Industrial Group. Tune in as we…
E254 · 29 Apr 2026 · 40 min
Leading Through Complexity: Cybersecurity, Risk, and Better Decisions
A good leader is aware of cybersecurity risks and tackles them intentionally! Today on Leadership Blueprints, we are joined by our very own information security practice leader, Bill Jones, to discuss all things cybersecurity. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the very real cybersecurity threats that are out there, Bill’s career from the military to the FBI to MCFA, and more! We delve into what most leaders are blind to with regard to cybersecurity risks before touching on the importance of awareness and proactivity in information security practice. We even discuss some of the most valuable…
E253 · 22 Apr 2026 · 32 min
Leadership Lessons from Billion-Dollar Infrastructure Projects
The difference between a stalled project and a successful ribbon-cutting ceremony lies in the project champion, a leader who possesses the courage, fortitude, and strategic mindset to navigate complex bureaucracies and transform ambitious plans into multigenerational realities. Today on the podcast, BJ is joined by MCFA’s Brian Pieplow and Michael Fuhrman to talk about the necessity of cultivating a project champion to manage upcoming billion-dollar infrastructure programs. They unpack the three As, characteristics all project champions have, and highlight the importance of third-party…
E252 · 15 Apr 2026 · 27 min
Why Projects Fail Before Construction Starts (And How to Fix It)
What does it take to turn an ambitious vision into a buildable, fundable reality? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, host BJ Kraemer sits down with Brad Tubbs, president of Willis Construction Consulting, to discuss cost estimating, risk management, and the leadership role estimators play in complex construction projects. In their conversation, Brad explains why great estimators do far more than assign numbers to drawings, how estimators mentally build projects long before design is complete, and how they help owners and teams make better decisions earlier in the process. Brad shares…
E251 · 8 Apr 2026 · 52 min
The "We Over Me" Philosophy in Leadership and Coaching
What does it take to build a championship football program that shapes not just great athletes but exceptional leaders? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, host BJ Kraemer sits down with Frank DeLano, Head Football Coach at Haddonfield Memorial High School, to explore how to build a winning culture rooted in relationships, values, and community, and his leadership lessons from decades of success on and off the field. Frank explains the origins of his “we” philosophy, the mission statement that guides his coaching, and how creating a sense of belonging for every player can change a team…
E250 · 31 Mar 2026 · 40 min
Signal vs. Noise: The Leadership Advantage of Simplicity
It’s easy to assume that growth comes from adding more, but it often actually requires doing less with greater intention. Today on the Leadership Blueprints Podcast , BJ sits down with Jeff Evenson, Scaling Strategist at Scaling.com, where he helps clients 10x their business in three years or less, which Jeff describes as the “impossible goal”. Tuning in, you’ll find out what it really means to grow a business strategically, including compressing timelines to sharpen decision-making, learning how to distinguish signal from noise, and setting clear boundaries around what not to pursue. Jeff…
E249 · 25 Mar 2026 · 27 min
From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Quarterly Alignment
Setting priorities and staying aligned is essential in business. But without the right systems, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in day-to-day operations and lose sight of the bigger picture. Since 2018, MCFA has been using quarterly reviews to set a 90-day cadence, allowing teams to align efforts, set priorities, and ensure clarity across teams. In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints , BJ Kraemer discusses the importance of quarterly reviews and how they connect your long-term vision with your daily actions. He shares why setting up robust systems is essential for…

About Leadership Blueprints

Leadership Blueprints is a English business podcast from BJ Kraemer, MCFA. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: BJ Kraemer, MCFA
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 40 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1561090224
Rights: MCFA

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