MCFA podcast
LEADERSHIP BLUEPRINTS
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 well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries.
Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.
Leadership is a never-ending journey with infinite checkpoints for growth and self-discovery. Today, we are joined by Greg Kelly, the CEO of STV, a national, infrastructure-focused professional services firm that exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places, and the present to the future.
Greg begins by meticulously detailing his professional journey and how he found his feet in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) before explaining why learning never stops for anyone, specifically as a leader. We learn about his role as STV CEO, the work the company is currently engaged in, the best practices for leading with trust, and the leadership characteristics that are non-negotiable for effective leadership. This episode also unpacks plans for STV’s future, how it solves common and pressing industry pain points, how crisis begets great leaders, and the books that have influenced Greg Kelly’s leadership style.
To end, our guest shares the quotes that have carried him through difficult times, and he offers noteworthy advice for anyone with similar career aspirations.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why learning never ends as a leader.
- How to spend time with your team while also giving them enough space to operate.
- The importance of self-discovery and humility in leadership.
- How to identify leadership characteristics in others.
- Why disasters (like COVID) are also great opportunities for breeding leaders.
Quotes:
“What I learned at that point in my career, BJ, was the cultural appreciation that goes with working globally and knowing that there’s different cultural norms, and you have to be very respectful of that.” — Greg Kelly
“Let’s meet the moment and solve the problem, not hold it to some standard. So, the leadership piece, there’s no playbook. It’s about self-discovery and humility.” — Greg Kelly
“I’m a big fan of betting on people. We grew up betting on ourselves, so let’s bet on others.” — Greg Kelly
“Create your own comfort crisis – your greatest learning comes in the greatest periods of discomfort.” — Greg Kelly
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Daily Stoic
Trust Matters More Than Ever
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning