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Thayer is a premier executive leader development organization, offering unparalleled leadership expe

10/29/2026

When immediate demands fill the day, it can be easy to overlook the lasting impact of how we lead.

In this video, Thayer Leadership faculty member LTC (Ret.) Scott Mann shares the best advice he ever received, from his father, a wildland firefighter: “Leave tracks.”

For LTC (Ret.) Mann, that means creating a legacy that serves others, including people you may never meet.

A retired Green Beret with a 23-year Army career, including nearly 2 decades in Special Forces and multiple tours in Afghanistan, LTC (Ret.) Mann brings firsthand experience building human connections in high-stakes environments where trust is difficult to earn.

His message invites leaders to look beyond today’s results. Developing a colleague, sharing hard-earned knowledge, or improving how your team works can benefit people long after you’ve moved on.

Learn more about Thayer faculty member LTC (Ret.) Mann and the experience he brings to developing leaders:
https://thayerleadership.com/team-member/scott-mann/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

What is one thing you’re doing today to support the leaders who will come after you?

10/28/2026

The Thayer Leadership Experience: In Their Words | ViiV Healthcare Part 1

What makes leadership development relevant to the challenges your team faces every day?

For ViiV Healthcare, it starts with a partner who takes the time to understand their industry.

In this video, Mayte Rodriguez-Arriete, Director of Leadership Development, shares how Thayer’s understanding of the healthcare environment helped connect the experience to her organization’s challenges.

She also highlights lessons that apply across industries: building trust, empowering people to do their best, and communicating clearly so teams understand what they need to accomplish.

For leaders, it’s a useful reminder: stronger team performance starts with how you build relationships, create clarity, and support your people.

Thank you to Mayte and the ViiV Healthcare team for your trust and commitment to developing leaders!

Which of these areas could make the biggest difference for your team?

Discover how Thayer Leadership can support your team’s development:
https://thayerleadership.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

10/27/2026

Progress doesn’t always look like a leap forward. Sometimes, it’s choosing to take the next small step.

Thayer faculty member Alison Levine , MBA, captained the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, served as an adjunct professor at West Point, and authored the New York Times bestseller "On the Edge".

In “Lessons in Life and Leadership from a Record-Breaking Adventurer,” she shares how breaking daunting challenges into small, achievable goals helped her keep moving in demanding conditions.

For leaders, that lesson extends beyond the mountain. When a goal feels overwhelming -- clarify the next step, help your team see what’s achievable, and recognize the progress along the way.

What helps you keep moving when the path gets difficult?

Read more:
https://thayerleadership.com/leadership-blog/lessons-in-life-and-leadership-from-a-record-breaking-adventurer/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

10/26/2026

For those serving far from home, our gratitude knows no distance.

On Day of the Deployed, Thayer Leadership honors the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of our deployed service members.

We also recognize the families and loved ones navigating time apart, missed milestones, and everyday responsibilities throughout each deployment. Their strength and support deserve our appreciation, too.

To those deployed and the families standing beside them, thank you for all you give.

10/23/2026

Join us in congratulating our October 2026 Battle-Tested Open Enrollment participants on their commitment to becoming stronger leaders! 👏

Taking time to invest in your leadership is an investment in everyone you lead. Thank you to each participant for stepping away from daily responsibilities to reflect, connect with peers across industries, and explore practical strategies to bring back to your teams.

Throughout the program, participants explored Deliberate Leadership with LTG (Ret.) Mark C. Schwartz, learned alongside COL (Ret.) Thomas Donatelle, and put teamwork into practice through Urban Orienteering with LTC (Ret.) Sande Schlesinger. The experience also included valuable trust lessons from COL (Ret.) Patrick Sweeney, PhD, a keynote from COL (Ret.) Lee Van Arsdale, and a Staff Ride of West Point led by COL (Ret.) Pilar McDermott, PhD.

A special thank you to our senior advisors MG (Ret.) Jami Shawley and LTG (Ret.) Mark C. Schwartz for guiding participants, sharing their perspectives, and supporting learning throughout the experience.

Ready to invest in your own leader development? Thayer Leadership’s Open Enrollment programs welcome individual participants looking to strengthen their leadership and make a lasting impact on their teams.

If you’ve attended a Thayer program, what leadership lesson has stayed with you?

Explore upcoming Battle-Tested Open Enrollment dates:
https://thayerleadership.com/leadership-solutions/open-enrollment-programs/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

10/22/2026

Does your team know what to expect from you as a leader?

When priorities shift and pressure builds, a clear leadership philosophy helps your team understand your values and how you’ll put them into practice.

In this video, Thayer Leadership faculty member BG (Ret.) Richard Gross shares 4 principles that guided his leadership:

• Stay calm under pressure.
• Model and encourage a healthy work-life balance.
• Practice macromanagement.
• Take responsibility when things go wrong and give your team credit for success.

With more than 30 years of Army service, including serving as Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and principal legal advisor to U.S. Central Command, BG (Ret.) Gross brings firsthand experience advising senior leaders and supporting decisions with global implications.

His message offers a practical starting point: define what you stand for, share it with your team, and demonstrate it through your everyday actions.

Learn more about BG (Ret.) Gross and the experience he brings to developing leaders:
https://thayerleadership.com/team-member/brigadier-general-richard-gross/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

What is one principle you would include in your own leadership philosophy?

10/21/2026

Waiting for certainty can keep leaders and their teams from moving forward.

When the stakes are high, the challenge is knowing which risks are worth taking. For COL (Ret.) Tom Magness, that perspective is grounded in more than 26 years of leadership experience, including commanding a $5 billion engineering and construction program in Afghanistan and leading 5 organizations with diverse missions.

His words remind us to weigh risk against the value of the objective. Leading boldly takes preparation, sound judgment, and a clear purpose. It also means giving your team the direction and support to move forward when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

At Thayer Leadership, COL (Ret.) Magness draws on his experience leading military and civilian teams to help leaders develop a shared vision, communicate clearly, and turn strategy into action.

Ready to strengthen how you lead through uncertainty? Learn more about COL (Ret.) Magness’s experience and connect with our team about leadership development opportunities:
https://thayerleadership.com/team-member/colonel-thomas-henry-magness-p-e/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

10/19/2026

What if your next leadership lesson is already on your watchlist? 🎬🎧

Our 2026 Media List by Thayer Faculty brings together movies, television shows, and podcasts that offer fresh perspectives on how we lead.

From building trust in Ted Lasso to challenging assumptions in 12 Angry Men and rethinking ideas with Adam Grant, these faculty recommendations explore courage, communication, accountability, and leading under pressure.

Thank you to all the faculty who gave their recommendations!
MG (Ret.) Keith Thurgood, PhD
MG (Ret.) Robert Mixon, Jr.
COL (Ret.) Remi M. Hajjar, PhD
BG (Ret.) Rich Gross, PhD
COL (Ret.) Diane M. Ryan, PhD
COL (Ret.) David Moore, Defense Program Designer, Leadership Coach
COL (Ret.) Tania Martin, JD
Alison Levine

As you watch or listen, consider: What would you do in the leader’s position, and what could you apply with your own team?

Want more insight into these picks? Visit our website for the full list, faculty reflections, and questions to help you connect the lessons to your own leadership:

https://thayerleadership.com/leadership-blog/2026-media-list-by-thayer-faculty/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_media_list

What else would you add to the list? Share a movie, show, or podcast recommendation and the leadership lesson it taught you below!

10/17/2026

Great teams put in the work before the first whistle. 🏈

It’s game day at West Point - The U.S. Military Academy! Thayer Leadership is cheering on Army West Point Football as the Black Knights take on Florida Atlantic today at Michie Stadium.

From the practice field to the workplace, teamwork takes more than a shared goal. It takes preparation, clear communication, and trust that each person will do their part when it matters.

Those lessons extend far beyond the final play. Explore how Thayer Leadership helps leaders put them into practice:
https://thayerleadership.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

Go Army! 💛🖤

10/16/2026

The Thayer Leadership Experience: In Their Words | Sumitomo Corporation of Americas | Part 4

Are you giving every member of your team the attention they need to grow?

For Sumitomo Corporation , developing leaders means strengthening everyday conversations and recognizing opportunities to support people across the entire team.

In the 4th and final installment of our series, Teresa Oakley, Chief People Officer, reflects on how practical tools can help managers approach constructive feedback with greater confidence while working within their organization’s culture.

Liz Sung, Head of Talent Management, shares another valuable reminder: leaders often focus on their highest and lowest performers, leaving those in the middle with less attention. Making time to develop every team member is an essential part of helping the whole team succeed.

As we wrap up this series, thank you to Kotaro Tameda, Teresa, Liz, and the Sumitomo team for your continued trust in Thayer Leadership. A special thank-you to Teresa and Liz for sharing your experience throughout the series. We’re proud to be part of your leadership development journey!

Discover how Thayer Leadership can support your team’s development:
https://thayerleadership.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

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674 Thayer Road
West Point, NY
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http://www.thayerleadership.com/

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