From aircraft maintenance officer to professional fitness champion to executive coach, Tanji Johnson Bridgeman ’97 has exhibited leadership on many stages.
SUMMARY
In the premiere episode of Focus on Leadership, she joins host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 to share how resilience, self-care and feedback transform challenges into growth — and why caring for yourself is key to leading with presence and impact.
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TANJI'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
- Lead with a Whole-Person Approach: Effective leadership requires nurturing mind, body, and spirit, not just focusing on one aspect.
- Reframe Failure as Feedback: View setbacks as events and learning opportunities, rather than personal flaws or endpoints.
- Consistency Over Perfection: Strive for regular, sustainable effort and give yourself grace rather than aiming for flawless execution.
- Self-Reflection Builds Authenticity: Regular reflection (e.g., journaling, meditation) helps clarify values and stay true to yourself as a leader.
- Executive Presence Matters: Project confidence through body language, eye contact, and purposeful communication to influence and inspire others.
- Take Inventory and Set Self-Care Rituals: Assess mental, physical, and emotional health, then develop small, habitual self-care practices to maintain energy and focus.
- Recognize and Address Burnout: Leaders must be attentive to signs of burnout in themselves and others, emphasizing rest, breaks, and boundaries.
- Normalize and Model Wellness in Leadership: Leaders should model healthy habits and make personal wellness a visible priority to support team well-being.
- Focus on Connection and Service: Shift focus away from self-doubt by being intentional about serving, connecting, and empowering others.
- Adapt and Accept Change: Growth requires adapting to new realities, accepting changes (including those related to age or circumstances), and updating strategies accordingly.
CHAPTERS
0:00:06 - Introduction to the podcast and guest Tanji Johnson Bridgeman.
0:01:07 - Tanji shares her journey from the Air Force Academy to wellness and leadership.
0:04:13 - Discussing wellness strategies and advice for cadets and young leaders.
0:12:10 - Recognizing burnout, setting boundaries, and maintaining consistency in habits.
0:17:39 - Reframing failure as feedback with examples from Tanji’s career.
0:27:58 - Exploring the concept of executive presence and practical ways to develop it.
0:38:07 - The value of authenticity and self-reflection in leadership.
0:44:21 - Creating sustainable self-care rituals and adopting healthy habits.
1:00:54 - Emphasizing wellness in leadership and the importance of leading by example.
1:02:18 - Final reflections and a summary of key takeaways from the episode.
ABOUT TANJI
BIO
Tanji Johnson Bridgeman graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1997, where she distinguished herself by navigating the rigors of cadet life with both determination and initiative. As one of the first women to serve as Group Superintendent during Basic Cadet Training for the Class of 1999, she honed her leadership and public-speaking skills by addressing hundreds of incoming cadets nightly. Following her commissioning, she served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force — initially in the Academy’s admissions office as a minority enrollment officer, then as an aircraft maintenance officer at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where she led over 200 personnel across six specialties supporting KC-135 air-refueling operations.
After four years of service, Tanji pivoted to a second career in fitness and wellness, becoming an 11-time professional champion in the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) and competing for 18 years in 54 pro contests. She later leveraged her competitive success and military-honed leadership into executive-presence and lifestyle-coaching, founding the “Empower Your Inner Champion” brand and offering keynote speaking, coaching, and wellness solutions.
CONNECT WITH TANJI
Instagram: @OriginalTanjiJohnson
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