Major-General Craig Aitchison was good enough to chat with me (online) about leadership and professional military education.  As the Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy, he is responsible for Canadian Armed Forces Education and Training including the professional development system.  We talked about socialization, organizational culture and institutional leadership as well as the stewarding the Profession of Arms.  As someone who has spent a lot of his last 36 years training and educating leaders, Major-General Aitchison is passionate about the subject which made for a really great conversation.

Fareoffice The Tribute by Mikael Hellman

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6095-fareoffice-the-tribute

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I got the opportunity to talk with Lieutenant–General Christine Whitecross and discuss some of her ideas on leadership and her own experiences during her career.  One of my favourite moments was when she talked about breaking the glass ceiling and how important it was that those shards don’t take out those who come after you.  She emphasized how important it was to reach down and pull people up after you.  …“It’s not about being one of one.”….  It was a really great conversation – one that I am still thinking about.

Theme music provided by:

Fareoffice The Tribute by Mikael Hellman

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6095-fareoffice-the-tribute

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

CWO Kevin Mathers took time, while on leave, to chat with me about his thoughts on institutional leadership.  Our discussion ranged from how his leadership has evolved from a young soldier in Calgary to what is important now as the LANDCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader.  He shared his thoughts on ‘Tactical Patience’ while working in a multinational environment, the importance of friendship in building partnerships that are required in organizations like NATO, and the role of mentoring the next generation of soldiers for the profession of arms.  

Theme music is provided by: 

Fareoffice The Tribute by Mikael Hellman
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6095-fareoffice-the-tribute
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/