You Can’t Command Innovation—But You Can Lead It

What if the secret to empowered leadership isn't control—but clarity of intent? In this episode of The Next Interview, Doland White sits down with Lee Pepper, veteran, former Ross Perot campaign staffer, and author of Never Outmatched: Military Strategies to Lead, Innovate and Win in the Modern Marketing Battlefield. Together, they explore how military strategies—like Commander’s Intent—can transform leadership, marketing, and innovation inside modern organizations. Lee shares why you can’t command innovation, but you can lead it. From leading high-performing teams in behavioral healthcare to helping CEOs align strategy with execution, Lee unpacks how leaders can stop micromanaging and start trusting their teams to deliver outcomes with clarity, autonomy, and ownership. Actionable insights from this episode: • How to apply “Commander’s Intent” to empower millennial teams • Why micromanagement kills innovation—and how to avoid it • The Anvil & Hammer strategy: What it means for your marketing budget • Creating KPIs that align with real business outcomes • How to lead from the front—especially when you’re new in the role Lee’s practical wisdom and military-to-business mindset offer a fresh lens on leadership that today’s executives can apply immediately. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to help more leaders find these game-changing insights. Meet Lee: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepepper/ Never Outmatched: https://a.co/d/9TIauMh Website: https://www.peprallygroup.com/home