How do the best leaders stay calm and effective under extreme pressure? In this episode of No Limits Leadership, I sit down with Suzanne "Xena" Lesko, a retired Navy captain, combat veteran, and global leadership expert, to break down the mindset, habits, and skills required to lead through adversity.
Suzanne shares her journey from the Naval Academy to the cockpit, leading high-stakes missions and navigating the challenges of being a female officer in a male-dominated field. She later transitioned into a public affairs leadership role, where she mastered strategic communication under pressure—a critical skill for leaders at every level.
We dive into:
✔ Building Resilience Like a Muscle – Why adaptability, preparation, and mindset are key to thriving in high-pressure environments.
✔ "Go Ugly Early" Communication – How leaders can establish credibility and trust by addressing issues head-on.
✔ The Power of Mission-Critical Teams – Why diversity of thought and experience make the best teams unstoppable.
✔ How to Overcome Toxic Leadership – Strategies for maintaining integrity and effectiveness in challenging environments.
✔ The Role of Humor in High-Stress Situations – How levity and mindset shifts can transform tough leadership moments.
Whether you're leading in the boardroom, on the battlefield, or in your own life, this episode is packed with battle-tested leadership wisdom you can apply immediately.
🔗 Listen now and start leading with resilience!
Keywords
leadership, resilience, Navy, communication, service academy, adaptability, public affairs, personal growth, diversity, empowerment
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Resilience
02:09 The Impact of Service Academies on Leadership
08:05 Navigating Challenges in Naval Aviation
11:58 The Importance of Leadership in High-Pressure Environments
17:43 Effective Communication Under Pressure
21:28 Defining and Building Resilience in Leadership
26:45 Building Trust Through Transparency
29:27 The Foundations of Resilient Leadership
31:33 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
33:29 Finding Humor in Adversity
38:30 The Power of Creativity and Levity
40:56 Epistemic Humility in Leadership
47:34 Diversity as a Strength in Teams
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