How do the best leaders stay calm and effective under extreme pressure? In this episode of No Limits Leadership, I sit down with Suzanne "Xena" Lesko, a retired Navy captain, combat veteran, and global leadership expert, to break down the mindset, habits, and skills required to lead through adversity.

Suzanne shares her journey from the Naval Academy to the cockpit, leading high-stakes missions and navigating the challenges of being a female officer in a male-dominated field. She later transitioned into a public affairs leadership role, where she mastered strategic communication under pressure—a critical skill for leaders at every level.

We dive into:
✔ Building Resilience Like a Muscle – Why adaptability, preparation, and mindset are key to thriving in high-pressure environments.
✔ "Go Ugly Early" Communication – How leaders can establish credibility and trust by addressing issues head-on.
✔ The Power of Mission-Critical Teams – Why diversity of thought and experience make the best teams unstoppable.
✔ How to Overcome Toxic Leadership – Strategies for maintaining integrity and effectiveness in challenging environments.
✔ The Role of Humor in High-Stress Situations – How levity and mindset shifts can transform tough leadership moments.

Whether you're leading in the boardroom, on the battlefield, or in your own life, this episode is packed with battle-tested leadership wisdom you can apply immediately.

🔗 Listen now and start leading with resilience!

Keywords

leadership, resilience, Navy, communication, service academy, adaptability, public affairs, personal growth, diversity, empowerment

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Resilience

02:09 The Impact of Service Academies on Leadership

08:05 Navigating Challenges in Naval Aviation

11:58 The Importance of Leadership in High-Pressure Environments

17:43 Effective Communication Under Pressure

21:28 Defining and Building Resilience in Leadership

26:45 Building Trust Through Transparency

29:27 The Foundations of Resilient Leadership

31:33 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

33:29 Finding Humor in Adversity

38:30 The Power of Creativity and Levity

40:56 Epistemic Humility in Leadership

47:34 Diversity as a Strength in Teams

In this powerful episode of the No Limits Leadership Podcast, host Sean Patton sits down with his longtime friend and West Point classmate, Matt Van Epps. Matt currently serves as the Commissioner of General Services for the state of Tennessee, bringing his military-honed leadership skills to the public sector. He is also a former aviation commander in the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), where he led some of the most complex and high-stakes aviation missions in the military.

From their shared experiences at West Point and the post-9/11 military landscape to Matt's innovative work in Tennessee state government, this episode is packed with leadership insights.

Listeners will discover:

• The Power of Team of Teams: How Matt applies General Stanley McChrystal's 'team of teams' approach to build high-performing, cross-functional teams in state government.
• The Role of Communication in Leadership: Why communication failures are at the root of most organizational breakdowns—and how Matt's military background taught him the importance of clear, consistent communication.
• Learning from Failure: Matt shares a personal leadership mistake and the lessons he took away about decision-making and escalation protocols.
• Patriotism and Perspective: A reflection on the unity the country experienced after 9/11 and why gratitude and civics education are critical for the nation's future.
• Leading with Heart: How becoming a father has given Matt a new perspective on patience, presence, and the importance of supporting team members as whole people.

Throughout the conversation, Sean and Matt connect the dots between military and civilian leadership, emphasizing the timeless principles of service, trust, and continuous learning. Whether you're leading a government team, running a business, or guiding a small group, this episode will leave you with actionable takeaways for building stronger, more cohesive teams.

Don't miss this engaging discussion with a leader who's driving real impact in both his state and his community.

🎙️ Listen Now and discover how you can apply these lessons to become a No Limit Leader.

Guest: Matt Van Epps | Commissioner of General Services, State of Tennessee

Host: Sean Patton | Founder of No Limit Leaders and Host of the No Limits Leadership Podcast

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Matt Van Epps

03:06 Reflections on Army-Navy Rivalry and Patriotism

05:52 Post 9/11 Experience and Its Impact on Leadership

08:50 The Importance of Unity and Teamwork in America

12:05 State Government as a Model for National Unity

15:11 Civic Engagement and the Role of Veterans

18:00 The Pursuit of a More Perfect Union

21:10 Gratitude and Perspective from Military Service

28:02 Finding Peace in Chaos

32:35 Leadership Lessons from Military Experience

39:13 The Importance of Communication in Leadership

50:14 Becoming a Father: A New Perspective on Leadership

Most leaders are stuck in a cycle of people-pleasing, overcommitting, and avoiding the hard truths—and it’s killing their impact. In this episode, I sit down with Lantz Howard, executive coach and founder of Champion Hope, to break down what it really takes to lead with confidence, clarity, and conviction. Lantz helps high-achieving leaders escape burnout, develop emotional resilience, and take full ownership of their decisions. If you’re tired of leading from fear, struggling with tough conversations, or feeling stretched too thin, this episode is your wake-up call.

Summary

In this episode of the No Limits Leadership Podcast, host Sean Patton engages with executive coach Lantz Howard to explore the concept of wholehearted leadership. They discuss the fragmentation many leaders experience in their personal and professional lives, the importance of emotional awareness, and the balance between assertiveness and connection in leadership. Lantz shares personal stories of his journey towards leading with his whole heart and emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and psychological safety in creating effective leadership environments. The conversation also touches on the impact of external influences, such as news media, on emotional capacity and decision-making.

Takeaways

-Leadership is about managing tasks but leading people.

-Many leaders struggle with emotional fragmentation.

-Vulnerability in leadership fosters connection and trust.

-Emotional awareness is crucial for effective leadership.

-Leaders should not be responsible for others' happiness.

-Creating psychological safety is essential for team dynamics.

-Emotional capacity is more important than emotional intelligence.

-The home environment serves as a critical leadership laboratory.

-Growth in leadership is not a linear process.

-Leaders must learn to listen and ask thoughtful questions.

Chapters

00:00 Wholehearted Leadership: A New Perspective

03:09 The Journey of Self-Discovery

05:43 Navigating Leadership Challenges

08:35 Emotional Capacity vs. Emotional Intelligence

11:32 Creating Psychological Safety in Leadership

14:30 Vulnerability as a Strength

17:13 Integrating Personal and Professional Growth

20:10 Coaching Culture in Organizations

26:47 The Art of Intentional Listening

29:02 Coaching as an Experiential Learning Process

30:38 Emotional Awareness in Coaching

32:51 Clarifying Intentions in Conversations

34:04 Lessons from Past Relationships

37:22 Navigating Midlife Transitions

39:43 Empowerment through Coaching

41:43 The Impact of Media on Emotional Well-being

Lantz’s Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lantzhoward/

https://www.lantzhoward.com/