Podcast
Leadership Blueprints
Hosted by BJ Kraemer, MCFA · EN
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.
With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries.
Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Leader Whose Impact Is Still Growing 20 Years After His Death
4d ago00:59:46Tap to summarizeGet 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 and protect, to his decision to stay at West Point after 9/11, to the legacy his family built in his name, this episode is a reminder that real leadership shows up long before the title does. And its impact outlives the leader.Topics discussed:00:00 - What leadership costs when stakes are life and death01:00 - Reading the foreword from The Strong Gray Line03:00 - Why this conversation matters for Memorial Day07:00 - Dennis the protector and the young volunteer09:00 - Handling failure with maturity beyond his years12:00 - The decision to go to West Point14:00 - Why Dennis refused to leave after 9/1117:00 - Leading among 4,000 future leaders at West Point20:00 - Choosing church over the party on post night23:00 - The generosity Dennis built into his will28:00 - The night of the knock at the door39:00 - Building the Dennis Zilinski Fun40:00 - Dennis's promise to go meet the parents48:00 - How service dogs are saving veteran lives 55:00 - What Memorial Day is really aboutConnect with Marion Zilinski:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marion-zilinski
Transcribe →She Had 4 Coaches in 5 Years. Here’s What They Taught Her About Leadership
2w ago00:48:18Tap to summarizeGet 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 sports is headed, and her advice for parents and coaches navigating it.Topics discussed:00:00 - Introduction03:34 - What coaches look for in tryouts05:51 - Communicating with families08:53 - Recruiting coaches that care12:48 - The fine line between pushing hard and burnout16:50 - Why athletes should play other sports22:40 - Mental health on and off the field25:09 - Youth sports infiltrated by big business27:13 - The weight of being a coach30:09 - All American Aim’s origin story33:57 - The moments that make it all worth it37:44 - Advice for new or aspiring coaches40:56 - Mind Gym and mental skills training44:29 - Katie’s mantraConnect with Katie Lee:https://allamericanaim.com/
Transcribe →The Leadership Habit That Strengthens Teams and Projects
3w ago00:36:23Tap to summarizeDuring 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 unpack the difference between leadership across sectors and how military retirees can be America’s secret weapon in business and entrepreneurship. Thanks for tuning in! Key Points From This Episode:Transitioning out of active duty to join the private sector.How addressing risk in the Navy translates to leadership outside of it. Balancing leadership of project, teams, and people with a healthy, profitable business.The one thing that differentiates business leadership from military leadership.Finding a way to make an impact strategically after exiting the Navy. Quotes:“In business, the challenge is you want to pound as much risk out of it as you can, but if you spend all your time trying to get to zero risk, you’ll never make any money.” — Chris Banks [0:09:25]“What I really wanted was impact. I felt like I’d come from an organization where there was a process for everything, but you could make an impact on nothing.” — Chris Banks [0:20:02]“You should spend some time thinking about it before you go and apply for a job or take a location or move your family — find a place that aligns with your mission and your need for impact.” — Chris Banks [0:23:29]“Military retirees can be America’s secret weapon in terms of entrepreneurship.” — Chris Banks [0:28:04]Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Christopher Banks on LinkedInBanks Industrial GroupAllentown by Billy JoelThe Wisdom of the BullfrogThe Rise of Theodore RooseveltLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →Leading Through Complexity: Cybersecurity, Risk, and Better Decisions
4w ago00:39:41Tap to summarizeA 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 leadership lessons Bill has learned throughout his career. As always, we close with some rapid-fire questions for our guest and hear who he wants to network with in the near future. Thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode:What Bill is seeing in the cybersecurity space at the moment. Bill tells us about his career in the military and after active service. What leaders aren’t aware they’re at risk of when it comes to cybersecurity. How MCFA can help early on in the design of information security. What attracted Bill to step into his position at MCFA. Quotes:“IT systems have inherent risk as they support the business. The business leaders are accepting that risk whether they know it or not.” — Bill Jones “If your team doesn’t trust you, if they don’t know what you’re going to do ahead of time – then nothing happens.” — Bill Jones “[AI is] a great research tool!” — Bill Jones Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Bill Jones on LinkedInTeam of TeamsThinking in BetsStart with WhyFlexThe 80/20 PrincipleRiskLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →Leadership Lessons from Billion-Dollar Infrastructure Projects
Apr 2200:32:05Tap to summarizeThe 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 consultants who provide the objective perspective needed. They also introduce the DNA framework, a strategic tool to help leaders assess project viability and overcome institutional inertia. Tune in now to learn why leadership-driven approaches are critical to infrastructure projects to deliver long-term value to the public. Key Points From This Episode:Understanding the importance of a champion in moving projects forward.They dig into the three As of a project champion.How external partners bridge organizational gaps and enable effective execution of vision.Brian takes us through the DNA process: discover, navigate, accelerate.The importance of the project charter.Quotes:“Sometimes a third party within your organization can color outside the line and kind of protect and buffer the internal champion.” — Michael Fuhrman “Discover, navigate, [and] accelerate is not necessarily a linear process, but it's iterative.” — Brian Pieplow “Multigenerational projects are not easy and not for the faint of heart.” — Michael Fuhrman “I think one takeaway — is the importance of the project charter, setting the tone and using DNA to help develop a strong project charter — every major project, mega project has a charter…” — Brian Pieplow Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Brian Pieplow on LinkedInMichael Fuhrman, MCFAMake No Little Plans: A Planning as Project Development Approach to Building Infrastructure DNA Workshop WorkbookStudy (managing risk)Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client LoyaltyJETCAmerican Planning Association ConferenceLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →Why Projects Fail Before Construction Starts (And How to Fix It)
Apr 1500:26:39Tap to summarizeWhat 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 how early estimating supports smarter planning and stronger project outcomes and unpacks the importance of communication, trust, team dynamics, and leadership. Brad also shares the lessons he has learned from leading his own firm, why estimating remains deeply creative work, and why the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and ask better questions still matters. Tune in to hear why cost estimating is not just a technical service, but a strategic advantage for owners, project teams, and future leaders in the built environment.Key Points From This Episode:What early-stage cost estimating looks like and how estimators translate vision into scope.Learn how estimators break large creative ideas down into a detailed scope and budget. Discover how estimating helps teams navigate risk, feasibility, and budget limitations. Explore why effective communication is an essential skill for cost estimators. Unpack why cost estimators are value-add rather than extra project cost.Quotes:“[Estimators] really have to define the big scope and then each one of our estimators in their own specialized division whittles that down into the small scope.” — Brad Tubbs “The real value of an estimator – is the creativity and the imagination that you have to have as an estimator to understand what’s not currently shown in the documents and apply a solution to what’s not shown.” — Brad Tubbs “The estimator is the person, in the team, who really is most intimate with the project as a whole.” — Brad Tubbs “Learn the drawings, learn the process of design and engineering so that you can manage projects well, but also learn to communicate.” — Brad Tubbs Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Brad TubbsBrad Tubbs on LinkedInWillis Construction ConsultingBrad Tubbs EmailHeroic LeadershipThe Power of One Leadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →The "We Over Me" Philosophy in Leadership and Coaching
Apr 800:51:30Tap to summarizeWhat 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 into a family. He delves into the challenges behind youth sports culture, the pitfalls of early specializations, and the importance of relationships, communication, and core values in a “me-first” world. He also shares how to cultivate team culture, develop leaders, and leave the game better than you found it. Tune in to learn how to lead with purpose, passion, and humility with Frank DeLano.Key Points From This Episode:Frank’s coaching mission statement and the values that shape his leadership.Why he chose to eliminate individual awards from his football program.Find out what his “we, not me” philosophy looks like on and off the field. Why relationships and communication are essential for meeting kids where they are.The benefits of multi-sport and the dangers of youth sports specialization.Quotes:“I have always loved the passion of the X and O part of football. I always knew that being a fan simply wasn’t good enough.” — Frank DeLano “Rules are for people who don’t have discipline. Standards are for those who want to be elite.” — Frank DeLano “[Coaches] didn’t invent [football] and our job is to make this game a little bit better than when we found it.” — Frank DeLano “Clinic seasons are great; they’re also dangerous. Because you might sit in front of someone for 45 minutes, they’ve got this wonderful idea, and they never told you what went wrong.” — Frank DeLano Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Frank DeLanoHaddonfield Memorial High School InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform LivesDo You Love Football?: Winning with Heart, Passion, and Not Much SleepFearless: How an Underdog Becomes a ChampionLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →Signal vs. Noise: The Leadership Advantage of Simplicity
Mar 3100:39:57Tap to summarizeIt’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 introduces the concept of “frame, floor, focus,” and explains how simplifying priorities can unlock higher-impact opportunities. He also explores the identity shift required of leaders as their roles evolve, and why coaching and accountability are essential to sustaining progress. Listen in for a grounded, practical perspective on leading and scaling with intention!Key Points From This Episode:Using time as a tool to force better decisions and innovation.The concept of signal vs. noise in business decisions.Identifying which opportunities are distractions rather than true growth paths.Introducing “frame, floor, focus” as a scaling framework.Setting a floor to define what work and clients to say no to.Quotes:“The impossible goal is a 10x goal, but the more impossible piece of it is to collapse and use time as a tool.” — Jeff Evenson “If we use time as a tool, we can force people to think differently and create innovative pathways to get to that 10x goal in a much shorter timeframe.” — Jeff Evenson “That floor will indicate what things we can do, and, more importantly, what things we say no to.” — Jeff Evenson “Personally, professionally, having somebody [who] is always in your corner, yet is also relatively rigorous with accountability, is a superpower.” — Jeff Evenson “Our goals and our future self really shape who we are today.” — Jeff Evenson “The goal is just a tool. We don't want it to be a cudgel or a punishment or anything like that. We want it to be a tool, a useful tool that challenges our thinking and really shapes our decision making now.” — Jeff Evenson Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Jeff Evenson on LinkedInJeff Evenson EmailScaling.comThe Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think PossibleBill Watkins on LinkedInDan Sullivan BooksBenjamin Hardy BooksWho Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing LessFreddie Kim on LinkedInMILSPEC TALENTEntrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad OnesLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Quarterly Alignment
Mar 2500:26:46Tap to summarizeSetting 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 staying focused on larger targets, emphasizing the role of weekly check-ins and accountability in turning plans into meaningful progress. BJ also explores how you can apply quarterly thinking beyond work to your personal goals and growth. Listen in for a practical framework to reset your focus and make the most of the next 90 days!Key Points From This Episode:Using a 90-day cadence to align efforts, set priorities, and get clarity.The gap between annual reviews and reactive daily work.Using quarterly reviews to connect your long-term vision with your daily actions.Understanding your limitations and how to make trade-offs.The 90-day challenge: define priorities, build a plan, and track weekly progress.Quotes:“We are going to prioritize where we're going to invest our time, our energy, our creativity, and our focus for the next 90 days.” — BJ Kraemer “This is our chance to synchronize everybody's efforts, get everybody back on the same page and make sure that we're really working on the hardest things.” — BJ Kraemer “Even though I've been doing this for eight years, there are different parts of my life where I get out of sync with the discipline of a 90-day world.” — BJ Kraemer “We can't do it all. – There is a limitation to what we can invest, whether that is our own time or reinvesting company profitability. There's always a limitation. So you have to really be good with understanding trade-offs.” — BJ Kraemer “The quarter, [or] the 90-day world is short enough to create urgency, [and] long enough to actually give yourself time to create change.” — BJ Kraemer Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)Leadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
Transcribe →Your People Are Your Greatest Asset (Why Leadership Development Can't Be Ignored)
Mar 1800:28:06Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to lead major infrastructure projects when the work is complex, there are many stakeholders, and the outcome must last for decades? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Brian Pieplow, Chief Project Development Officer at MCFA, to explore how project development leaders transform big ideas into tangible, resilient realities. Brian shares the path that shaped his work in planning and the built environment, and he breaks down how he approaches planning and problem-solving across disciplines. He also explains why diverse teams create better outcomes and why strong coordination matters when projects involve public agencies, private partners, and long timelines. Tune in now!Key Points From This Episode:The “MCFA is ME” idea and how MCFA reinforces a people-first approach.Hear why diverse team backgrounds improve how projects get developed and delivered.Explore how curiosity and continuous learning show up in Brian’s day-to-day work.Learn why the built environment needs different skillsets working together to succeed.How professional networks can help solve problems more quickly and unlock new opportunities.Quotes:“Life is more than a sum of transactional experiences.” — Brian Pieplow “When new developing staff or new talents come in and find an environment [and get to] create their own journey and thrive, it’s extremely exciting.” — Brian Pieplow “I think a lot of challenges in our industry, particularly design professionals [and] engineering professionals, don’t know is that there is a business side as well.” — Brian Pieplow “There really isn’t a problem we shouldn’t be able to figure out how to solve.” — Brian Pieplow Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Brian Pieplow Brian Pieplow on LinkedInThe 4-Hour WorkweekMake No Little PlansLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
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