MCFA podcast
LEADERSHIP BLUEPRINTS

Leadership Blueprints is the podcast where leaders in the built environment learn to disrupt the status quo, improve their project teams, and steward public and private investments more effectively. Your host is BJ Kraemer. As the President and CEO of MCFA, BJ has navigated the complexities of the architecture, engineering, construction, and development industry. With a blend of interviews with national industry leaders and solo episodes filled with stories, tips, and lessons, Leadership Blueprints is your weekly source of inspiration and practical advice. By tuning in, you will learn how to challenge conventional processes, enhance team performance, and manage projects more effectively, paving the way for innovation and success in the built environment. Join BJ each week for a deep dive into the strategies and mindsets that drive real change and lead to real results.
True leadership isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about empowering others and driving meaningful impact. In this solo episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, host BJ Kraemer dives into the heart of leadership transformation.
Tuning in, you’ll hear BJ unpack the concept of “leadership as leverage” and how leaders act as levers for those they are leading. He expands on this concept by sharing his insights on what the army taught him about leadership, like how to balance mission execution with taking care of the people who accomplish that mission. To end, BJ encourages listeners to reflect on their leadership style and commit to leadership in 2025.
Don’t miss out on this impactful conversation on how to become the lever your team needs!
Key Points From This Episode:
• Unpacking the concept of leadership as leverage and how leaders act as levers.
• The two objectives of leadership: accomplishing the mission and serving your team.
• Why leadership is not about you, but the people relying on you.
• How great leaders ensure their team understands the why behind their mission.
• Navigating the tension between taking care of your team and accomplishing the mission.
Quotes:
“The leadership platform is one to be taken seriously, and requires constant self-reflection, self-development, testing, reevaluating, reapplying, and this whole process of continuous improvement.” — BJ Kraemer
“Leadership is about understanding and executing the mission that you’ve been empowered to lead, and taking care of the people and empowering them to help you accomplish that mission.” — BJ Kraemer
“Leadership’s not about me. I’m not here to become a better me for me; I’m here to become a better me for everybody that’s going to be relying on me.” — BJ Kraemer
“Reflect on your leadership of 2024: Did you lean more toward focusing on your team or focusing on the mission?” — BJ Kraemer
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
