Chris Kolenda

Chris Kolenda, a retired Army colonel and award-winning author, shares riveting tales from his time leading an 800-paratrooper task force in Afghanistan. He reflects on how curiosity can shift adversarial relationships into collaborative partnerships, illustrating this through a powerful narrative of building trust with local communities. Kolenda emphasizes the evolution of military leadership, emphasizing empowerment over direct control, and the critical role of empathy in resolving conflicts. His insights transform how we view relationships in high-stakes environments.