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PODCAST

Leadership Blueprints

BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership. With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people

business management

All Episodes

51:30

The "We Over Me" Philosophy in Leadership and Coaching

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/04/08

What does it take to build a championship football program that shapes not just great athletes but exceptional leaders? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, host BJ Kraemer sits down with Frank DeLano, Head Football Coach at Haddonfield Memorial High School, to explore how to build a winning culture rooted in relationships, values, and community, and his leadership lessons from decades of success on and off the field. Frank explains the origins of his “we” philosophy, the mission

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39:57

Signal vs. Noise: The Leadership Advantage of Simplicity

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/03/31

It’s easy to assume that growth comes from adding more, but it often actually requires doing less with greater intention. Today on the Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ sits down with Jeff Evenson, Scaling Strategist at Scaling.com, where he helps clients 10x their business in three years or less, which Jeff describes as the “impossible goal”. Tuning in, you’ll find out what it really means to grow a business strategically, including compressing timelines to sharpen decision-making,

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26:46

From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Quarterly Alignment

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/03/25

Setting priorities and staying aligned is essential in business. But without the right systems, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in day-to-day operations and lose sight of the bigger picture. Since 2018, MCFA has been using quarterly reviews to set a 90-day cadence, allowing teams to align efforts, set priorities, and ensure clarity across teams. In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer discusses the importance of quarterly reviews and how they connect

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28:06

Your People Are Your Greatest Asset (Why Leadership...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/03/18

Most organizations invest heavily in logos, proposals, and marketing—but overlook their most powerful asset: their people. The truth is, your brand isn’t what you say it is - it’s what your people demonstrate every day. In this episode, BJ is joined by a special co-host, MCFA's Chief Project Development Officer, Brian Pieplow, to explore a foundational belief at MCFA: MCFA is ME. Together, they unpack what it means to build a people-first culture where every individual owns the brand and

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23:59

Sharpen the Saw: Sustaining Leadership for the Long Game

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/03/11

Most leaders believe the lie that “hustle” is the only path to success. But true success is actually an optimized daily experience sustained over time. When you neglect your physical, mental, and spiritual health, you become a reactive leader-swinging a dull axe and working harder for fewer results. In this episode, BJ explores the powerful intersection of servant leadership and personal sustainability. Through the classic leadership parable of the Two Lumberjacks and a personal story about

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61:27

Stop Drifting. Start Directing.

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/03/04

Time is the most precious resource leaders manage, and you can either drift with time or direct it. In a world where there is not a lot you can control, your time is something you can take ownership of. In David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, he teaches readers his methods for stress-free performance and emphasizes that your productivity is directly proportional to your ability to relax. A few years ago, BJ interviewed David about this topic, and today, we are playing that conversation

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52:09

Leadership Growth Starts in the Mirror

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/02/25

Part of being a great leader is being self-aware and understanding the blind spots in your leadership approach. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Jill Macauley to unpack the concept of blind spots through the lens of Martin Dubin’s book Blindspotting. Jill is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials and brings over 15 years of experience in business and non-profit consulting. Her work centers around helping leaders grow, plan strategically, and

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15:34

Compassion, Clarity, Courage: A Blueprint for...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/02/18

What hard conversation are you avoiding right now?In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ reflects on Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and even the Winter Olympics to unpack one central leadership tension: compassion and accountability must coexist. Real leadership is not choosing between love and standards - it is holding both.Through presidential vignettes, youth sports culture, and lessons from business and family life, BJ introduces a practical three-part framework for

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50:52

What Youth Sports Gets Right About Leadership

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/02/11

What does it mean to create a safe space to fail? During this episode, we are going outside of the built environment to speak to a different kind of inspiring leader in his field. Paul Donovan is the CEO and Head Coach of Jersey Wahoos, a USA swimming club program located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He is a champion of self-compassion and kindness. In this conversation, Paul shares how to balance compassion with accountability, navigate parental pressure, and prevent burnout in youth

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19:02

What It Really Means to Be a Leader Worth Following

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/02/04

Consider your funeral – what is being said in your eulogy, and what do they thank you for? Are they praising your achievements and accomplishments or memorializing your character and the relationships you nourished? In this solo episode, BJ challenges listeners to define the leader you are trying to become, not just at work, but at home, too! You’ll hear all about the inspirational books (and soldier) that inspired this episode, the danger of being too focused on achievement, the importance

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40:37

Why Your Team Isn't Reaching Its Potential

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/01/28

What if the true measure of leadership is not what happens on your watch, but what happens long after you are gone? In this episode, we speak with John Teichert, an expert in leadership, about unlocking your team's potential and achieving organizational excellence. John is a retired U.S. Air Force general, combat and test pilot, and senior defense leader with thousands of flight hours across a wide range of aircraft. He is now the founder and president of Capital Leadership LLC, where he

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21:08

Leadership is Leverage: When Leaders Become the...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/01/21

True leverage is about multiplying leaders! In this solo episode, BJ explores the concept of leadership and leverage and shares why he believes that leaders are actually levers. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what to consider when thinking about leverage, the power of discerning leverage properly, and how the 80/20 rule can help leaders. BJ delves into the importance of leveraging and protecting your time before discussing the difference between responsible and irresponsible leverage. BJ

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38:52

The Cost of "We'll Fix it Later" and What To Do Instead

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/01/14

Projects don’t fail in the field; they fail when leaders aren’t clear on the upfront work needed to make a project successful. Today on Leadership Blueprints, Daniel McCaulley joins us to discuss how he ensures projects go well. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who our guest is and what he does, how he approaches projects so they are successful, how he paces an owner so that a project gets planned properly while maintaining enthusiasm, and so much more! We delve into some of the best

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56:43

Your Culture Beats Your Strategy

Leadership Blueprints ·

2026/01/07

What does it really take to lead massive infrastructure programs at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and national security? In today’s episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with longtime mentor, former boss, and retired two-star general in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tom Tickner, to unpack leadership, public infrastructure, and how the industry is evolving through geospatial technology. They discuss what the Corps of Engineers actually does, what he learned about

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15:00

The Year End Review Most Leaders Skip

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/12/31

You cannot become a better leader without reflecting on where you have come from. At the end of every year, we dedicate an episode to helping you reflect, reset, and recommit to your goals. This conversation is built around one of host BJ Kraemer’s favorite annual practices. It’s a deliberate, honest review that drives real change across faith, family, fitness, finance, friends, and fun. In this episode, BJ shares practical ways to reflect on the year gone by, from reviewing photos, time,

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13:17

Leadership Lessons From Christmas Classics

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/12/24

In this special Christmas-themed episode of the Leadership Blueprints podcast, host BJ Kraemer draws on some of his favorite classic Christmas films to explore the art and science of leading oneself and others. Ebenezer Scrooge sparks a conversation around awareness and change, while Kevin McAllister offers a surprising lens on ownership and responsibility. A nod to It’s a Wonderful Life serves as a quiet reminder of the power of relationships. The episode also explores what it means to

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41:41

The Industry That Pays You Last But Expects You to...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/12/17

Real innovation often starts with a problem you just can't stop thinking about. In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ Kraemer welcomes Scott Wolfe, founder and former CEO of Levelset, to unpack how a small but persistent frustration with construction payment practices led him to build one of the most influential platforms in the industry. Scott shares how Hurricane Katrina pulled him into the world of restoration work, construction law, and software development,

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19:53

From Competition to Collaboration: Leadership Lessons...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/12/10

Sport is an incredible tool in developing leaders. Welcome to a very special episode of Leadership Blueprints, where BJ and Joey Fay are diving into the Army-Navy rivalry ahead of Army-Navy Week next week! In this conversation, you’ll hear all about the history of the Army-Navy games, what it feels like to participate, the rivalry of both love and hate, and so much more! We delve into some leadership lessons we’ve learned on the field of friendly strife before discussing the power of

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23:50

What If Growth Isn’t About Getting Bigger - But...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/12/03

Entrepreneurship often starts with a spark of curiosity and the courage to follow it. In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ Kraemer sits down with Malory Atkinson, co-founder and managing partner of Shear Structural, Georgia’s only all-women-owned structural engineering firm. Malory shares how growing up with an entrepreneurial father and starting her career during the 2008 recession shaped her approach to leadership, relationships, and resilience. She reflects on her

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26:05

Why Humility - Not a Résumé - Wins in Corporate America

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/11/26

A leader’s success is directly tied to their ability to set an example to those they’re leading and manage their own sense of discipline. Today on Leadership Blueprints, we wrap up our DOD series with a special guest, Dan Bailey. Dan is a former naval officer and the current vice president of commercial operations at Quanta Services. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Dan’s time in the Navy, moving from active duty to Quanta Services, what the company does, and why leaders need to be enablers. We

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253 results

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