The VMI Leader Journey Podcast

In this full-length episode of our interview with Kevin Black '99, you will hear all the engaging dialogue of our conversation hosted by Maj. Catherine Roy, communications and marketing specialist at the VMI Center for Leadership & Ethics.  This full-length interview touches on Black's leadership journey beginning with his cadetship at VMI, some lessons learned from his years in the Army as well a...

Forbes coach, entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and founder of Black Market Leadership alumnus Kevin Black '99 shares how VMI provided him the hands-on opportunities to lead and feel in real-time what went well and what did not. In this episode, we looked at the highlights of our conversation to focus on specific insights which connect leadership with strategy. We hope you will enjoy Black's engagi...

LeAndrew Jefferson is a First-Class Cadet from Southwest Detroit, MI. He is an international studies major, a member of the Promaji Club, a member of the Cadets' Superintendent's Advisory Board, and a Cadet Chaplain. LeAndrew discussed his introduction to VMI, the VMI network, VMI as a leadership laboratory, growing into his studies, and the difficulty of the new reality during COVID restrictions....

Peer-to-peer leadership is the most challenging leadership position, particularly when rank (or job title) doesn't require your peers to follow you or respond to your requests.  For this installment of the VMI Leader Journey podcast, we chose to highlight a First-Class cadet whose leadership example has been nonetheless meaningful.   We welcomed Officer of the Guard Association president, the cade...

Holly Njabo, VMI Class of '20, says VMI's recruitment video, research, and a beautiful acceptance letter influenced her decision to enroll sight-unseen! She didn't know it, but she was learning even then to 'Go with the Flow.' Hear more about her leadership development journey in this episode! 

Retired CIA Agent, former marine, and entrepreneur Karl Renne, VMI Class of 1996, is a founding partner and CEO of Ghost Wolf Industries. Renne spent nearly 17 years with the CIA as a Chief Operations officer. Learn why Renne says leaders benefit from learning from all kinds of individuals and the common mistake he and others make early in their careers. Join us! You can learn more from Renne by w...

Bob Fricke, VMI Class of 1978, was one of our 2019 leadership conference breakout speakers . Alumni speakers provided our audience with personal examples where individuals had to lead through or despite the disruption, addressing our theme. In this episode, Fricke shared his definition of leadership and how that remained fairly consistent throughout his life, the powerful lessons he learned as a y...

Josh Austin, Vice President of the VMI Class of 2020, says that the military-style structure at VMI was something he sought in a higher-education environment, but that the practice and routines of that structure gave him a kind of template he could maintain off-Post during the Coronavirus shut-down. His role as class vice president helped him understand the value of leading by example. We talked e...

In this remote episode of our podcast prior to 2020's graduation, we got to know Madeleine Barrett,VMI ring designer for her class. Her leadership journey was an exercise in learning how to pick the right leadership roles, but admits she tried several ranging from ethics debate team to club Cadet-in-Charge. Her desire to get involved with so many gave her the chance to figure out who she is. 'Good...

Learn by observing is great advice when you are the new kid on the block. Through Jeremiah Gaulding's various leadership roles, even coming into VMI, he found this to be a good rule of thumb. He says he finds certain challenges are easier to bear when you know everyone else is going through the same thing. Prior to attending VMI, Gaulding faced a few serious life challenges and says he was able to...

On this remote podcast episode, we talked with Sam Trepp, VMI Class of 2020's class president. He discusses his unique leader journey which started with his initial decision to attend the University of Richmond. Remaining close to a buddy of his who was attending VMI, he decided to transfer to VMI sight-unseen and says it was the best decision he ever made. Said Trepp, it felt like home. During hi...

Our Center's mission is to enhance the VMI citizen-soldier journey with programming that educates, engages and inspires critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and leader development. The VMI Leader Journey podcast is an outreach program where our guests can share insights from their own leadership journey, and where VMI may have contributed to their personal growth.  In this episode, we touch...

In this episode of the VMI Leader Journey podcast, our guest, VMI Class of 2007, former Marine, and entrepreneur Carrie Papke talks about how being open to new challenges and opportunities can be both exciting and rewarding. Though she had, as she describes it, a 'less than picturesque' cadetship at VMI, she still had a successful military career and founded her own 'ath-leisure' line of clothing....

In this episode of the podcast, we sat down with Cadet Carl Skerry Class of '20 to talk about his leadership journey and his experiences at VMI. Skerry explains the reasons why VMI presented the kind of challenge he sought after high school. Skerry is the F-Company Commander, an international studies major, and plans on commissioning into the Marines. Our Center's mission is to enhance the VMI cit...

Each spring, VMI hosts a leader-in-residence to visit Post for a mutual exchange of ideas on leadership and ethics. The individual is a leader in business, industry, government, military, or academia. Their visit takes place, ideally, over a two-week period of time where they visit VMI academic departments, meet with staff and faculty, and give the keynote speech for the superintendent's Annual Le...

Court Whitman '99 discussed his leadership journey with Emily and Derek on a break during the 10th Annual VMI Leadership Conference this past October where he was a guest speaker. Court is energetic and dynamic on stage and focusses his latest efforts on high performance in individuals and teams. He also hosts his own podcast, High Performance Pathways!  Whitman is a former NCAA D1 Football player...

This is a mobile edition of the VMI Leader Journey podcast recorded live in the Green Room of Marshall Hall. Our podcast hosts Emily Coleman and Derek Pinkham, staff members at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, sat down with Cadets Brittany Szczepanik '20 and Will Neikirk '20 this past November just after our Annual VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference to discuss their leadership journeys....

In this episode with former NFL offensive lineman, PhD mathematics candidate at MIT, and author John Urschel, we spoke about his football and math careers and how he developed and applied his leadership style. He came to post spring 2020 as part of our Courageous Leader speaker series.  This podcast is hosted by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics. The Center's mission is to enhance the VMI c...

This is a mobile edition of the VMI Leader Journey podcast recorded live on the stage of Gillis Theater in Marshall Hall. Our podcast hosts Emily Coleman and Derek Pinkham, staff members at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, sat down with our first Courageous Leaders speaker from February of 2019 Alejandro Villanueva to discuss his insights on leadership based upon his experiences as a West...

VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics' conference project manager Derek Pinkham and conference assistant Emily Coleman sat down last spring with Sean Matson '05, co-founder & CEO of MATBOCK and the co-founder and president of Strike Force Beverage. Matson spent 13 years (2005 - 2018) as a Navy SEAL Officer, with multiple deployments in strategic locations. Matson is currently an entrepreneur.  We h...

This mobile episode captured in our Center's Green Room features our 2019 summer interns and brand new VMI alumni 2nd Lt. Jeybriel Townsend and 2nd Lt. John 'Jay' Forehand. They spoke with Emily and Derek about experiences at VMI before they left town for duty assignments. They talked about the unique VMI experience, the Rat Line, and leadership transformations.  Hailing from Fayetteville, NC, Tow...

This is a mobile edition of our podcast (on remote location) taped in the Center's Green Room (speaker lounge). VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics' conference project manager Derek Pinkham and conference assistant Emily Coleman sat down at the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year to talk leadership with Stewart Spurry '20 including his journey to becoming the Rat Disciplinary Committee (RDC) p...