The VMI Leader Journey Podcast

Always on Parade with Heaton Lawrence '26

What does peer leadership really look like — and what does it cost you? In this episode of the VMI Leader Journey, host Lt. Col. Catherine Roy sits down with Cadet Heaton Lawrence, Virginia Military Institute Class of 2026, Corps Chief of Staff, and CSAB Vice President, just days before graduation. Heaton isn't commissioning — he's headed to the classroom to teach AP English and build a career in education. But his four years at VMI have been a front-row lesson in what it means to lead the people beside you, every single day.
Heaton opens up about navigating peer leadership at the highest level of the Corps, why he says VMI is "an experience, not an education," and the mindset shift that changed how he carries himself — on and off parade. He also shares hard-won advice for any cadet or young professional who has ever been passed over for a position they wanted.
In this episode:
What "always on parade" means and why it applies to everyone — ranked or not
Building peer leadership as a competitive career advantage
How to turn a setback into a stepping stone
Why you earn your stripes every single day
Whether you're pursuing a military commission, a corporate career, or something entirely your own, this conversation will meet you where you are.
🎙️ VMI Leader Journey is produced by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics.

Relationship Centered Leadership with Lt. Col. Scott Mann

In this episode of The VMI Leader Journey, we sit down with retired U.S. Army Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann—our 2025–26 Leader‑in‑Residence at the Virginia Military Institute. Scott shares hard‑earned leadership lessons from his Special Forces career, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror. Whether you’re a VMI cadet, a prospective student, a veteran, or someone interested in leadership and international security, this conversation delivers powerful insights on how authentic leaders build trust, influence without rank, and lead under extreme pressure.
Scott discusses:
His journey to becoming a Green Beret
What the 9/11 generation learned about resilience, mission focus, and human connection
How Special Forces teams build relationships “by, with, and through” local partners
The role of emotional intelligence, storytelling, and relatability in modern leadership
Why “failure is just a timestamp” in any leader’s development
The importance of authenticity and connection in the military and beyond
For anyone exploring military leadership, global conflict, cross‑cultural communication, or VMI’s unique leadership environment, this episode offers both practical tools and meaningful reflection.
 
🔗 About the VMI Leader Journey Podcast
The VMI Leader Journey shares the leadership stories, lessons, and lived experiences of VMI cadets, alumni, faculty, and distinguished speakers who visit Post. Though rooted in the traditions of the Virginia Military Institute, these conversations are relevant for anyone interested in leadership development—military or civilian.

What Does It Take to Lead the Corps? Inside VMI’s Regimental Commander Journey with Devin Auzenne ’26

Leadership lessons, cadet life insights, and the mindset behind VMI’s top leadership role. 
In this conversation with Devin Auzenne '26, you'll hear insights on servant leadership, transformational leadership, and how VMI’s unique systems—the Honor System, Regimental System, and Class System—shape leaders for life.

Leading with Faith: A Cadet's Journey of Balance, Resilience, and Leadership at VMI

Welcome to an inspiring VMI Leader Journey podcast episode, "Leading with Faith." In this episode, we introduce you to Cadet Collin Shannon from the Class of 2026, a psychology major and VMI's quarterback, who shares his insightful journey about leadership, teamwork, time management, and relentless perseverance.
From balancing the rigorous life of a student-athlete to identifying the transformative power of seeking help, Cadet Shannon's experiences paint an intricate picture of fortitude. He emphasizes the role faith and camaraderie play as the underpinnings of a reliable support system. He also discusses the importance of humility, authenticity, and unity within the VMI community while providing a peek into his future aspirations, especially toward coaching.
"Leading with Faith" is part of a strategic outreach program of the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, designed to inspire and engage the leadership journey within the VMI community and beyond. So, don't forget to subscribe to the VMI Leader Journey podcast for more enlightening conversations!

Tap and Advance: Behind-the-Scenes of Writing 'Fire in my Eyes' with Veteran and Paralympian Brad Snyder

In this episode, we're doing something a little different. Our conversation with Brad Snyder, a Navy veteran, Paralympic gold medalist, and author, will reveal some behind-the-scenes insights into his memoir, "Fire in My Eyes." We'll discover what inspired him to write a memoir, what it was like to put some painful and confusing memories down on paper, and other details about his process. We will also talk about some leadership lessons that go beyond the pages of a book.

Examining Leadership with Brigadier General Christopher Burns

In this exciting episode of the VMI Leader Journey, host Major Catherine Roy invites Retired Brigadier General Christopher Burns, the 2023-24 Leader in Residence at VMI. Burns gives a succinct overview of his career journey, laying out potent leadership philosophies he's learned from his time in the military and Wall Street. He delves deep into the distinction between managing and leading, emphasizing the centrality of clear communication and vision in inspiring successful endeavors.
Burns takes listeners on a whirlwind tour examining leadership in the light of rapidly evolving technology and societal shifts. He underscores the necessity of fostering trust, building effective communication channels, and maintaining accountability in team settings. He also unveils his unique approach to contemporary obstacles to leadership.
The episode highlights the importance of developing recruitable subordinates, the high-performance technique of practicing the 80-20 rule, and the Pareto principle and its relevance to work-life balance. 
Adaptability remains a key theme as Burns illustrates the importance of agility and resilience in today's fast-paced leadership landscape. Drawing insights from companies like Post-it and 23andMe, and contextualizing the needs of both civilian and military spaces, this episode offers a comprehensive roadmap to future-proof leadership approaches amidst accelerating changes.
The conversation concludes with an encouraging perspective on failure, emphasizing its role not as an endpoint but as a crucial learning tool for growth and advancement. In essence, to shape a promising future, leaders must foster resilience, adopt a dynamic approach to change, and champion agility within their teams.

"Finding Abundance in Structure" with Kate Taylor, '24

Beginning in her third class year, Kate Taylor, VMI Class of 2024, got involved with programs at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics. A civil engineering major, she attended the Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference three times, twice as a table group facilitator, and was a member of the VMI Swim and Dive Club and the Cadets' Superintendent's Advisory Board.
 
In this episode of the VMI Leader Journey, we predominantly cover the leadership domain of efficacy, which concerns an individual's confidence. Her leadership journey covers why she chose VMI out of 21 other choices, some of the distractions she faced, how a mentor helped her refocus her energy on productive goals, and what made her change her mind about commissioning. Her four-year development at VMI touches on leader competencies such as self-understanding, mentoring, service, resiliency, and goals. 
 
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To learn more about the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, please visit our website at www.vmi.edu/cle. At the bottom of the homepage, check out our annual Year-in-Review newsletter, which covers all the happenings over the academic year. 

"Something Beyond the Routine" with Riley Shultz, '24

Today's episode, "Something Beyond," is a conversation with Riley Shultz, VMI Class of 2024. They explore two of the Center's cadet clubs: The Cadets' Superintendent's Advisory Board, a diverse make-up of cadet representatives from thirds to firsts who explore aspects of cadet life and how to make improvements, and the Intercollegiate Ethics and Debate club, which competes in intercollegiate debate competitions. In addition to learning about these cadet experiences, he talks about peer leadership, accountability, and humility, and he includes some excellent advice for rats. 
Major Roy's conversation with Shultz touches on leadership competencies such as interpersonal interaction, group dynamics, and personal behavior.