Podcast
Building Better Leaders
Hosted by Doolittle Leadership Center · EN
The Doolittle Leadership Center's podcast, Building Better Leaders, features candid conversations with a wide range of influential leaders about their stories—and how they have learned to lead. Dr. Patrick Donley, Director of the DLC, hosts episodes at a variety of exciting locations across the globe as he tours with the DLC's on-location leader development workshops.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Building Better Leaders: General Lester Lyles on Being Your Authentic Self
5d ago01:06:02Tap to summarizeYour reputation as a leader has a dramatic impact on your career, for good or ill. While there are always areas you can improve, you shouldn’t try to be something you’re not. Gen. (Ret.) Lester Lyles, discusses his perspective on leadership through a remarkable career. General Lester Lyles is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In his post-military career, he has served in senior leadership positions for several corporations, including General Dynamics, USAA, and KBR Inc., among others. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipqualities #usaf #leader #airforce
Transcribe →Building Better Leaders: Intentional Leadership (Feat. CMSgt. Vincent Fasano)
3w ago01:05:58Tap to summarizeIntentional leadership requires knowing your people well. Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Fasano discusses the opportunities and challenges of leading people you don’t see every day. CMSgt Vincent Fasano is the command chief of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York. He serves as the wing's senior enlisted leader and is the principal advisor to the wing commander on matters impacting the well-being, professional development, and utilization of 1,100 personnel. Command Chief's Compass #15 https://www.afa.org/dlc/podcast/attachments/ep23/command-chiefs-compass-15 Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #airnationalguard #usaf #leader #airforce #ang
Transcribe →Trust as the Foundation of Leadership (Feat. Gen. Thomas Bussiere)
Jun 1201:21:30Tap to summarizeBuilding trust with employees is a vital leadership quality. Gen. Bussiere explains what “leading from the front” means and how trust is built from the top down. Gen. Thomas Bussiere is the former commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. In addition, as a command pilot, Gen. Bussiere accrued over 3,400 hours of flight time and has decades of leadership experience both in the air and on the ground. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipqualities #usaf #leader #airforce
Transcribe →Building Better Leaders: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders (feat. Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell)
May 2900:59:54Tap to summarizeHow to develop your employees, learn from the leadership principles we’ve inherited, and show your team you genuinely care. Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell is a retired F-16 pilot, wing commander, and senior leader developer who’s trained thousands of young leaders in the Air Force. Today he’s a Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center: https://www.afa.org/doolittle-leadership-center/ #leadershipdevelopment #management #leadershiptips #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #leadershiptraining #leadership #leadershipcoaching
Transcribe →The Secret to Setting Goals for Your Employees
May 1500:15:28Tap to summarizeSetting goals for your employees means more than setting a target: Your job as a leader is to clarify your vision, establish key performance indicators, give them the resources, identify obstacles, and help them stay on track in the midst of changing circumstances.
Transcribe →Spacepower, Legacy & Leading with Purpose (feat. Dr. David Arnold)
May 101:13:48Tap to summarizeSpacepower isn’t just about technology—it’s about the people, legacy, and mindset driving it forward. We talk to Dr. David Arnold, a renowned expert on space, General Bernard Schriever’s enduring impact, and the leadership principles that shape today’s Air and Space Forces. From historical perspective to modern-day relevance, Dr. Arnold shares insights on innovation, optimism, and what it means to lead with purpose in an ever-evolving domain.
Transcribe →Mentorship, Influencing Up & Leading Behind the Scenes (feat. Debbie Schiess)
Apr 1700:30:57Tap to summarizeMilitary spouses are the prime example of how a behind-the-scenes support role can drive change, build trust, and inspire leaders wherever they are. We talk to Debbie Schiess, a nonprofit leader, parent, and spouse of Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, on the role military spouses play every day in empowering Space Force and Air Force leadership.
Transcribe →Carnivore Leadership & Hardcore Self-Discipline (feat. CMSAF Wolfe & SEAC #4 Colón-López)
Apr 300:35:23Tap to summarizeElite leadership is earned through self-discipline. Take charge of yourself and you’ll inspire your followers to do the same—learn how in this power-packed episode with CMSAF David Wolfe and SEAC #4 Ramón “CZ” Colón-López. Colón-López's 2026 book, “Carnivore Leadership: Taking Charge Instead of Taking Shit,” is available for purchase now. #leadershiptips #leadershipdevelopment #leadershiptraining #leadershipskills #leadershipinspiration #leadershipcoaching #buildingbetterleaders
Transcribe →Giving Actionable Feedback & Getting to Know Your Employees (feat. CMSgt. Katie McCool)
Mar 2000:56:55Tap to summarizeMost leaders don’t look forward to having difficult conversations with their employees, but giving honest, actionable feedback leads to a culture where speaking up makes the whole team stronger. Here’s Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Command Chief of Pacific Air Forces, on how to achieve that.
Transcribe →Confrontation, Climbing Ladders & Inspiring Innovation (feat. CMSSF John Bentivegna)
Mar 600:31:44Tap to summarizeChief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna—the highest-ranking enlisted Guardian—describes the habits that real leaders follow, and how they inspire those habits in their followers.
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