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

executive coaching, leadership development, team accountability, coaching culture, middle managers, high-performing teams, leadership communication, onboarding systems, questions for leaders, leadership podcast, self-leadership, culture-building, lead yourself first, Ken Proctor, Sean Patton, No Limits Leadership