Leadership Blueprints

If you want to be successful in your career, you need to find your unique ability and have a maniacal focus on it!  Joining us today is the incredible CEO of ICONA Resorts and managing director of Achristavest, Eustace Mita to share his wisdom about business. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about Eustace’s incredible career, his businesses, his construction projects, and how his relationship with faith has changed him as a businessman.  We delve into our guest’s philosophy in life and business before discussing the importance of focusing on your purpose in life. Eustace even tells us how he maintains a sense of calm as a leader in hostile work environments and balances tactical and strategic leadership.  Finally, our guest shares a few of his seven favorite books and his ideal dinner guests. Thanks for tuning in!  Key Points From This Episode:•   How his faith journey has informed his business decisions. •   His life philosophy and the danger of distractions. •   The importance of discovering what your unique ability is. •   Why Eustace always teaches lessons in threes. •   Maintaining composure as a leader in hostile environments. •   How Eustace balances tactical and strategic leadership.  Quotes:“There are three things that are going to change you from who you are today to who you’re going to be tomorrow: the books you read, — the people you meet, [and] the goals you set and achieve.” — Eustace Mita  “Many men live lives of quiet desperation in jobs they hate and in relationships that are suffocating them. So I say, you’ve got to get more specific with everything you do in life.” — Eustace Mita  “You’ve got to have that curiosity, keep learning, and love what you’re doing. And the minute I lose the passion, — that’s when I’m going to retire.” — Eustace Mita  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Eustace Mita on LinkedInICONA ResortsAchristavestHow to Win Friends and Influence PeopleAs a Man ThinkethThink and Grow RichThe Greatest Salesman in the WorldLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Ron Bennett, Founding Dean and Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Thomas, shares insights from his remarkable journey in engineering and leadership education. He reflects on key formative experiences that shaped his understanding of leadership and the importance of mentorship. Bennett discusses his book, Leadership for Engineers, emphasizing how self-awareness can transform limiting beliefs into leadership qualities. He also highlights the need for effective decision-making and relationship-building in engineering, paving the way for future leaders.

Bill Mandara, CEO of Mancini Duffy and a veteran in architectural design, shares his journey from a family steeped in construction to leading a thriving firm. He discusses the evolution of architecture, emphasizing innovation and diversification in response to industry challenges. Bill highlights key leadership lessons, including the importance of humility, teamwork, and adapting workplace culture. He reflects on navigating difficult times, like the 2008 crisis, while balancing his passions for both music and architecture.

True leadership isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about empowering others and driving meaningful impact. In this solo episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, host BJ Kraemer dives into the heart of leadership transformation.  Tuning in, you’ll hear BJ unpack the concept of “leadership as leverage” and how leaders act as levers for those they are leading. He expands on this concept by sharing his insights on what the army taught him about leadership, like how to balance mission execution with taking care of the people who accomplish that mission. To end, BJ encourages listeners to reflect on their leadership style and commit to leadership in 2025.  Don’t miss out on this impactful conversation on how to become the lever your team needs! Key Points From This Episode:•   Unpacking the concept of leadership as leverage and how leaders act as levers.•   The two objectives of leadership: accomplishing the mission and serving your team.•   Why leadership is not about you, but the people relying on you.•   How great leaders ensure their team understands the why behind their mission.•   Navigating the tension between taking care of your team and accomplishing the mission. Quotes:“The leadership platform is one to be taken seriously, and requires constant self-reflection, self-development, testing, reevaluating, reapplying, and this whole process of continuous improvement.” — BJ Kraemer “Leadership is about understanding and executing the mission that you've been empowered to lead, and taking care of the people and empowering them to help you accomplish that mission.” — BJ Kraemer “Leadership's not about me. I'm not here to become a better me for me; I'm here to become a better me for everybody that's going to be relying on me.” — BJ Kraemer  “Reflect on your leadership of 2024: Did you lean more toward focusing on your team or focusing on the mission?” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Leadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Some of the best examples of good leadership come from the military. Today on Leadership Blueprints we are joined by veteran and CEO of HCPA Construction, Heath Sanders.  Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who Heath is today, his career journey from the Naval Academy to construction, his vision for his business in the future, and so much more! Heath discusses some of the most important leadership lessons he learned from the military and how he’s made use of them in his construction and entrepreneurial career.  He touches on the parallels between leadership lessons in the military and in trade professions like construction. And he shares his thoughts on nuclear power and even shares advice for transitioning veterans.  Thanks for listening in!  Key Points From This Episode:•   Heath tells us about HCPA Construction and BeaverFit. •   What led him to the Naval Academy and a breakdown of his career. •   Heath shares some leadership lessons he’s learned and how he applies them to HCPA. •   What his vision is for where HCPA Construction is going in the future. •   Heath’s thoughts about nuclear power and advice for transitioning veterans.  Quotes:“[In the military,] you have a mountain of things that need to get done and you have to be able to prioritize the most important tasks, and what I found interesting is that’s really the case in construction as well.” — Heath Sanders “Do the right thing right and in that order.” — Heath Sanders “I think the trades and specifically construction are well suited for military veterans.” — Heath Sanders Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Heath Sanders on LinkedInHCPA ConstructionBeaverFitThe FountainheadA Game of ThronesLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Capital is the cornerstone of healthcare infrastructure, and building large-scale projects without it is impossible.  Joining us today is Gail W. Kosyla, Executive Vice President and CFO at Yale New Haven Health System, to explore the intersection of healthcare, finance, and infrastructure. With over 38 years of experience, Gail has navigated the complexities of mergers, capital allocation, and strategic planning in a not-for-profit healthcare model, overseeing $6 billion in annual operations.  In this engaging discussion, Gail shares how her team balances immediate needs with long-term investments, including a billion-dollar neurosciences tower project adapted in the wake of the pandemic. She also reflects on the challenges of fostering innovation while maintaining access and quality in a system under financial pressure.  Gail’s career path offers valuable lessons for leaders across industries. Her focus on mentorship, collaboration, and lifelong learning underscores the importance of shared knowledge and diverse perspectives in tackling today’s challenges.  Tune in for a fresh perspective on leadership in complex, dynamic systems! Key Points From This Episode:•   Balancing quality care delivery with financial sustainability in nonprofit healthcare.•   Unpacking the role of mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare industry.•   How leadership makes decisions that balance core services and new growth opportunities.•   Gail’s experiences as a woman in finance and healthcare and how it’s shaped her leadership.•   The future of healthcare real estate, including supplementing ownership of core facilities.•   Examining the challenges and opportunities of managing large-scale projects.•   The need for strategic planning and investment in technology and growth. Quotes:“[As a non-profit] we don't exist to make a profit, but we need to make a profit to be able to fund important projects, to fund growth, and to have that security net of care for our community.” — Gail W. Kosyla “Everyone should be involved in finance. We’ve all got to be stewards of our resources – I just consider myself the shepherd of that. It’s up to all of our people – down to every employee in the organization of just being good stewards of our resources.” — Gail W. Kosyla  “Building those connections and having safe spaces to have conversations is so important. – I don’t think that any one person can know everything, we’re just better when we talk to people and share.” — Gail W. Kosyla  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Gail W. Kosyla on LinkedInYale New Haven HealthLean In CirclesLean In: Women, Work, and the Will to LeadLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Ever wonder what it takes to fix the people problem in the industries that quite literally build our world?  In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Dan Briscoe, President of BuildWitt, a company on a mission to transform the "dirt world,” from heavy civil construction to infrastructure and more.  Join us as we unpack the leadership, recruitment, and retention challenges facing the construction industry and explore how BuildWitt is innovating with creative solutions like microlearning platforms and leadership summits. Dan also shares invaluable insights from his journey through the Marine Corps, healthcare, and construction, offering actionable leadership lessons that resonate beyond the dirt world, and touches on the vital importance of caring for employees.  If you want to find out how tackling these challenges can elevate your leadership, inspire your team, and secure a thriving future for the construction industry, be sure to tune in now! Key Points From This Episode:•   BuildWitt’s focus on improving recruitment, training, and engagement in the dirt world.•   Unique challenges and hidden opportunities in the construction industry.•   The importance of caring for employees while building sustainable business models.•   Rethinking work-life balance to attract the next generation to the construction industry.•   Addressing systemic issues like mental health, safety, and professional development. Quotes:“There's so much of this industry that people don't know, don't see, take for granted.” — Dan Briscoe  “You’ve got to have a good business that's profitable so that you can lead and care for people. That's got to be first.” — Dan Briscoe “To attract the next generation [to the construction industry] and make it somewhere where people want to come work, they want to have a life and they want to work hard – We've got to think differently as leaders.” — Dan Briscoe  “We've got to be better companies to our current employees so that they don't leave and that they're fulfilled – We've got to take care of them not only with a paycheck, but look at their health and mental health.” — Dan Briscoe  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:BuildWittDan Briscoe on LinkedInDan Briscoe on InstagramAaron WittDirt Talk PodcastBuildWitt TrainingBuildWitt ConnectAriat DirtWorldSummitEchelon Front Field Training Exercise (FTX)Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like FamilyLandmanBanana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah BananasReset: How to Change What's Not WorkingLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Engineers should leave the world a better place than they found it!  Today, we are joined by the executive director of the National Engineering Foundation, Pat Natale. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about Pat’s incredible career, why he always prioritizes people in business, the power of marketing and diversification, and so much more!  We go on to discuss how the public’s awareness and understanding of infrastructure investment has changed and why it should not be political. We also dive into his experience at PSEG and  some leadership lessons he learned throughout his career. Finally, our guest offers some final words of wisdom for anyone who is new to the engineering world.  Thanks for tuning in! Key Points From This Episode:•   The importance of the ‘people’ side of business. •   Which diversification programs are working according to Pat and the power of marketing. •   Pat shares how the public’s awareness and understanding of infrastructure investment. •   Why infrastructure and engineering should not be political. •   Final words of wisdom for engineering students and new engineers.  Quotes:“[Engineers are] the doctors of infrastructure, and we’re going to advise you on what you need to do.” — Pat Natale “I believe engineers should leave things better than we found them.” — Pat Natale “Engineers need to be able to communicate effectively.” — Pat Natale Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Pat Natale on LinkedInUnited Engineering FoundationChanging the ConversationMessages MatterThe Tipping PointThink Big, Act SmallJason Jennings Books on AmazonThe O-Ring Case StudyNational Academy of ConstructionLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

How can today’s leaders best empower the new generation?  Melissa Smith is a Leadership and Innovation Consultant for a boutique firm in Michigan called Innovatrium, and she joins us today to share her career journey, and key insights she has learned along the way. Join us as Melissa unpacks the four personality categories that guide her as she builds international teams.  We discuss the five things that an idea needs to succeed, which include a birthday, and Melissa shares what she loves most about the new generation and how we can best support them to harness their enthusiasm most effectively. Melissa gives us a glimpse into her interior world with the quotes she lives by, why she would like to be remembered as a try-hard, and more.  Tune in today to hear all this and more.  Key Points From This Episode:. •   The four personality categories that she builds her teams around. •   How her work is structured through the framework, experimentation, and a final step forward.•   The five things that an idea needs to succeed. •   What Melissa believes the next generation needs from us as leaders.  Quotes:“We create teams around these four different personalities to bring about innovation and new ideas.” — Melissa Smith  “You have to overcome the inertia that is the status quo, and that’s the hardest part.” — Melissa Smith  “What we can give [the next generation] is our ears, to listen to the challenges they have [through] a lens of wisdom and lived experiences, but to have them keep [their] enthusiasm.” — Melissa Smith  “To go at all things with enthusiasm and to put your whole self behind them I think is where I’m at.” — Melissa Smith  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Melissa Smith on LinkedInInnovatriumThe 6 Types of Working GeniusMoonshotsRangeSimon SinekThe Infinite GameLeadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA Careers 

In the final episode of Leadership Blueprints for 2024, BJ Kraemer focuses on Christmas gratitude, reflecting on the year, and planning for a successful 2025. The episode emphasizes the importance of annual reflection as a tool for growth, acknowledging wins and losses, and setting clear, actionable goals for the coming year.Key Points From This Episode:·       The significance of the movie It's a Wonderful Life as a lens to understand gratitude and perspective.·       Kraemer’s personal annual reflection process, which includes reviewing his calendar and photos, identifying wins, losses, and  lessons learned.·       Planning and prioritizing goals for 2025 with a focus on professional, family, and personal objectives.·       The power of habits and systems in achieving success, with advice on creating an "ideal week" and building consistency.·       A closing message on reframing challenges as lessons and expressing gratitude to those who made an impact.Quotes:“No year is a failure if we learn from it.” — BJ Kraemer“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward“The person we want to become is a direct result of the goals we set and achieve, the people we meet, and the books we read.” — BJ KraemerLinks Mentioned in Today’s Episode:It's a Wonderful LifeBJ Kraemer on LinkedInLeadership Blueprints Podcast