What can flying an AH-1 Cobra and leading Marines teach us about making better decisions, building high-performing teams, and staying steady when everything goes sideways?

In this conversation, Ryan A. Cherry, author of READBACK: A Marine Aviator’s Manual for Navigating Life’s Hardest Lessons, shares the leadership lessons he learned through military aviation, failure, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making.

Cherry discusses how leaders can make sound decisions without having all the information, give people autonomy while knowing when to step in, recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their teams, and develop the ability to see situations from a competitor’s perspective. He also reflects candidly on his own mistakes and explains why maintaining an “even keel” may be one of the most important leadership skills of all. Plus discusses:

• Leadership under pressure: Lessons from flying AH-1 Cobras and leading Marines when decisions had to be made without all the answers.
• Learning from failure: How mistakes, doubt, and setbacks shaped Ryan A. Cherry’s approach to leadership.
• Empowering teams: Finding the balance between giving people autonomy, recognizing their strengths, and knowing when to step in.
• From cockpit to C-suite: The military leadership principles that translate surprisingly well to business and executive leadership.

Whether you an executive or rising up the ranks, Cherry brings lessons from the cockpit into the boardroom and beyond. This interview offers practical insights for anyone responsible for leading others, navigating uncertainty, or simply trying to make better decisions when the stakes are high.