If you slow down and figure out what went wrong, it will help you accelerate in the future."
- Ron Higgs
In this episode, host Ana Melikian sits down with Ron Higgs, former naval aviator turned leadership consultant, to uncover the powerful mindsets and tools honed in the cockpit—and how they translate into today’s rapidly shifting business world.
Ron shares his journey from 24 years in the U.S. Navy, where he flew and managed complex aerospace projects, to guiding leaders and teams through uncertainty and change. Together, they delve into the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) framework, mapping its military origins directly onto the challenges leaders face in navigating team dynamics, technological disruptions, and rapid market shifts.
Ana and Ron explore the practical power of the Brief-Execute-Debrief cycle used by naval aviators—demonstrating why slowing down for feedback, debriefs, and contingency planning is a high-performance must, not a luxury. They address the critical role of psychological safety, open feedback, and continuous improvement, as well as practical ideas that business leaders can use to foster a culture where learning and trust thrive under pressure.
If you’re an executive, team leader, or technical expert craving practical strategies to align teams, accelerate learning, and lead with clarity amidst chaos, this episode is packed with actionable insights (and aviation stories you won’t want to miss).
Let’s dive in!
This week on The Mindset Zone:
02:02 – From naval aviation to corporate: Ron’s leadership journey
05:59 – What VUCA means—and why it matters for today’s leaders
10:14 – The briefing, execution, and debriefing cycle for business growth
17:33 – Why slowing down accelerates results—and avoids costly mistakes
17:56 – Creating a feedback culture: lessons from the cockpit
19:03 – Building psychological safety and trust in teams
22:44 – Delegation, the co-pilot mindset, and the keys to empowering your team
25:41 – How to strengthen leadership and collaboration at every level
About The Guest
Ron Higgs is a leadership consultant, U.S. Navy veteran, aerospace engineer, and former Fractional COO. With over 20 years of experience in executive operations, Ron brings a unique blend of military precision and business acumen. He helps companies align strategy, execution, and culture—often drawing from his time as a Naval Aviator flying complex missions in high-stakes environments. Ron is also a speaker and the author of the LinkedIn series Leadership Lessons from Aviation.
Connect with:
Ron Higgs LinkedIn Profile
Wolf Management Solutions, LLC
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