Veteran Led

Air Force veteran Marlie Andersch, CEO of rockITdata, shares her raw journey from launching a tech startup before COVID to scaling in GovCon and AI. She dives into lessons on leadership, layoffs, hiring mistakes (including an AI bot!), and the real cost of loyalty. If you're building, leading, or navigating the veteran-to-entrepreneur path, this is 35 minutes of insight you can't afford to miss.

Think leaders always eat last? Never take flak? Always confident? Think again. In this raw and real episode of Veteran Led , John S. Berry debunks 3 of the biggest leadership myths holding teams back. If you're serious about leading well—especially under pressure—this is the one you can’t miss.

In this episode of Veteran Led , John S. Berry explores the critical role of external partners—your attachments and detachments—in achieving organizational success. Drawing parallels to military operations, John discusses how to identify aligned vendors, assess contracts, manage expectations, and avoid costly mistakes. With firsthand stories of collaboration, failure, and redemption, this episode...

In this episode of Veteran Led , host John Berry sits down with Bronze Star recipient and Gulf War Veteran Steven Kuhn—author of Unleash Your Humble Alpha and co-founder of Novascale Partners. Steven shares how military principles like urgency, adaptability, and unwavering purpose fueled his rise from a post-service identity crisis to leading billion-dollar international deals. You’ll hear lessons...

Hooked from the first pill, headed for Leavenworth. In this gripping episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with David Mike—former soldier, convicted drug dealer, and now author of Dishonor. From a broken leg at Airborne School to the darkness of addiction and the light of redemption, this is a raw, emotional journey of failure, faith, and finding purpose after disgrace. You won't believe...

Step inside the battlefield of leadership failures with Veteran Led. In this episode, Veterans pull no punches as they expose the worst leadership they've ever witnessed — no names needed, just hard truths.  From selfish credit-grabbers and insecure tyrants to mission-driven disasters that cost lives, our guests share jaw-dropping, raw stories that every leader (and aspiring leader) needs to hear....

You can’t change the people around you—but you can change who you’re around. John Berry breaks down elite leadership and building A-player teams.

When life blows up—literally—you either sink or rise stronger. In this episode of Veteran Led , soldier in the special operations community, turned powerhouse CEO, Channing Walker, shares how he went from IED survivor to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures. Dive into Channing’s no-fluff lessons on building unstoppable teams, winning federal contracts against billion-dollar competitors, and why re...

Numbers track our progress, but they don’t tell our story. In this episode, John S. Berry breaks down why true leadership isn’t found in statistics, but in the moments we rise after failure. Learn how veterans are conditioned to win through relentless preparation, resilience, and character under pressure. Subscribe and discover how to turn your toughest challenges into defining victories—both in b...

In this powerful episode of Veteran Led , host John Berry sits down with trailblazer Lieutenant General Jody Daniels, Ret., the first woman to command the U.S. Army Reserve. With over 41 years of military service and a successful civilian career at Lockheed Martin, Dr. Daniels shares raw insights on what it takes to lead nearly 200,000 service members, challenge outdated systems, and reshape milit...

What happens when a Marine officer, Silicon Valley engineer, and fintech disruptor builds a better way for law firms to get paid? On this episode of Veteran Led , host John Berry sits down with Emery Wager , co-founder & CEO of Confido Legal. From combat tours in Afghanistan to streamlining cash flow for thousands of law firms, Emery shares why financial clarity is the lifeblood of legal succe...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Travis Mack, Chairman and CEO of Saalex Corporation, as he shares valuable lessons on scaling businesses. A decorated Navy Veteran turned successful entrepreneur; Travis breaks down the crucial decisions leaders face when growing their organizations.​ ​ Key Takeaways: ​ • How to identify when to develop internal talent vs. hiring externa...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Dave Bray, former Navy Corpsman and Marine Corps Veteran turned rock star, as he shares his remarkable journey from serving with the Marines to becoming a prominent voice in patriotic rock music. Dave discusses how his military service shaped his music career and his ongoing mission to honor Veterans and first responders through powerful...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Yolanda Clarke, a former Army Intelligence Officer who has successfully transitioned into the role of CEO at Powder River Industries. Named after her Wyoming roots, Yolanda shares how authenticity and transparency shaped her company's identity while navigating the challenges of building a business during frequent PCS moves as a military...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Barb Carson, Managing Director of Programs and Services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. In this powerful episode of Veteran Led, Air Force Veteran Barb Carson shares invaluable insights on leadership, transition, and Veteran support. As a leader at IVMF (Institute for Veterans...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Ray  Toenniessen, Deputy Executive Director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and​ Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. Through IVMF's innovative programs, including Onward to Opportunity and their entrepreneurship initiatives, the institute serves over 20,000 service members, Veterans, and military families annually.​...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Terry Hill, the Co-Head of Emerging Middle Market and Co-Head of Veteran Initiatives for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. Hill – a U.S. Army Veteran and a West Point graduate – helps lead the firm’s efforts to support veteran and military spouse founders and business leaders. Hill plays an active role in CEOcircle, a program for vetera...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Jennifer Vollbrecht, CEO of J. Volbrecht Consulting and author of My Mom is a Veteran. From her beginnings as a Marine Corps crew chief to becoming a successful entrepreneur, Jennifer shares her story of transformation and leadership.​ ​ Jennifer discusses a moment in her career that led her to pursue entrepreneurship, emphasizing the im...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Kelo Makelele, an Army Veteran and Direct of Operations at RedTrace Technologies since 2018. Kelo Makelele successfully transitioned from IT and Cyber Operations in the Army to a cyber security career in the private sector. We delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on modern businesses and how it’s shaping the fu...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Steve Russell, the Army battalion commander who led Task Force 1-22 Infantry in the historic capture of Saddam Hussein. Russell shares the details of tracking Saddam through his network of trusted families and the ultimate successful raid in December 2003.​ ​ Beyond his military service, Russell discusses his continued dedication to publ...

In Episode 104 of Veteran Led , John S. Berry hosts Lieutenant Colonel Retired Oakland McCulloch, renowned leadership expert and author of Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be .​ ​ Oak dives deep into the timeless principles of leadership, sharing how trust, service, and adaptability can elevate teams and organizations. From lessons learned in the military to adapting t...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry sits down with JT Taylor, CEO of the USMC Scout Sniper Association, to explore the vital work of building support networks for veterans and their families.​ ​ JT shares his journey from Marine Scout Sniper to veteran advocate, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of leading a nonprofit dedicated to empowering veterans. Learn how the USMC Scout Sniper...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry challenges leaders to ask the tough question: “Is this the best you can do?” He dives into the mindset of continuous improvement, explaining why “your best” today should only be a steppingstone to what you can achieve tomorrow.​ John shares personal stories, including lessons from hiring coaches, building high-performing teams, and developing new skills—e...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry shares practical advice for leading your team during the holiday season. From bonuses and holiday parties to showing genuine appreciation, John explains how great leadership sets the stage for success in the new year.​ ​ The best holiday leadership isn’t about extravagant gifts or mandatory fun—it’s about understanding your team, showing genuine appreciat...

In this milestone 100th episode of Veteran Led, John Berry tackles a leadership lesson: the difference between familiarization and true training. He shares a personal failure in replacing hands-on training with videos and web-based content, leading to increased mistakes within his team. John breaks down the four essential steps of effective training: familiarization, practical application, mastery...