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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

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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43:08

The Secret to Earning Respect - Admit What You Don't...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/11/19

Welcome back to another episode of Leadership Blueprints as we continue our special DoD to AEC series for November, honoring veterans who have transitioned from active duty into the built environment. In this episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with MCFA senior project leader and former Marine Corps infantry officer Brian McGrath to explore his journey from platoon commander in Afghanistan to leading complex construction and development projects across diverse markets. Brian shares the realities

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28:01

The Secret To Leading 100's is Remembering One Name

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/11/12

Bill Squires, now serving as Chief Venues and Operations Manager for the New York, New Jersey Host Committee for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, has built a remarkable career shaped by discipline, service, and an enduring passion for leadership. His journey began when he found his calling as a Navy pilot, a foundation that continues to influence his approach to managing complex operations and teams. Today, he remains connected to the Naval Academy, mentoring the next generation of leaders and

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51:18

The Hardest Order You'll Ever Follow: Your Own

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/11/05

In business, you should always approach situations with a focus on achieving the best outcome for the circumstances, not just for yourself.Today, we are joined by former West Point 2004 classmate and USACE market leader at Mead & Hunt, Craig Bryant. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Craig’s career and transition from active duty to Mead & Hunt, why you need to make sure the people you lead feel valued and respected, how you can do that, and so much more! We delve into Craig’s unique

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20:10

Good Things Come to Those Who...Trust the Process

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/10/29

As the year winds down and the pace of projects, planning, and priorities picks up, BJ takes a moment to reflect on what it means to lead through transition. In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, he shares insights on recognizing the natural rhythms of leadership - the seasons of building, the pauses for reflection, and the moments when teams need to reset before accelerating forward.BJ discusses the importance of taking inventory - not just of your workload, but of your mindset

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34:06

Why Great Leaders Should Do Less This Season

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/10/22

The final months of the year can feel like a sprint - at home, at work, and everywhere in between. For leaders, that “push to the finish line” often comes at the expense of peace, presence, and purpose. In this special re-release of a timely conversation, BJ Kraemer sits down with Valerie Peterson, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor who helps high-performing professionals find balance and resilience through self-awareness and intentional living.Together, they explore how to lead with

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26:10

What If Trust Is More Powerful Than Talent in Business?

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/10/15

At first glance, business development might not appear to be part of a leader’s role. Yet it’s central to how effective leaders build trust, connect vision to operations, and align people and projects around shared purpose. In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ welcomes Brad Adams, founder and principal of The R4 Group, a specialized business development consulting firm. Drawing on decades of experience from Wall Street to partnerships with architects, engineers,

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32:14

Is Running Notre Dame's Campus More Complex Than...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/10/08

Welcome back to another episode of Leadership Blueprints. Join our conversation with today's guest, Dan Cook, as he shares what his role at the University of Notre Dame entails and why he initially decided to join the Navy. Dan sheds light on the leadership lessons he learned in the military and how he had to adjust his leadership style for civilian life. We also dive into how he approached his transition, what life is like now, and how he balances work and life. For all this, plus his

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35:09

The Walk-On Mindset: Why Leadership is Earned Every Day

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/10/01

Discipline and consistency aren't just habits - they're essential virtues that fuel our guests’ leadership style, entrepreneurial triumphs, and social impact. Joining BJ on the podcast today is Dr. Charles Thomas Jr, or CT for short. CT is a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, educator, and Amazon #1 best-selling author committed to service.He embodies the Renaissance ideal of broad learning and full engagement, drawing on diverse experiences across the public, private, and nonprofit

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40:11

Is Love the Missing Metric of High-Performance...

Leadership Blueprints ·

2025/09/24

Joining BJ on the show today to discuss the finance side of real estate is Ward Fitzgerald. He is the former CEO and Senior Managing Principal of Exeter Property Group, which was acquired by EQT in 2021. Ward is now the current CEO of ExCorde Capital, a real estate investment platform that delivers unprecedented value creation with a strong focus on sharing love. Ward holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Join

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244 results

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