Long Blue Leadership:
Col. (Ret.) Kim "KC" Campbell '97
Facing Fear, Leading with Courage
SUMMARY
Kim shares her leadership journey, from overcoming resistance to pursuing her dreams to describing the life-changing effect one very long hour had in the cockpit of her A-10. She emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and professional development throughout one's career. She discusses the challenges of balancing life and leading, and the lessons she learned from failures and pushing outside her comfort zone. She shares the importance of having a wingman who supports you in both personal and professional aspects of life.
OUR FAVORITE QUOTES
"Any leader that isn't working to be better and trying to develop themselves along the way, is probably going to hit an endpoint at some point. We have to constantly learn to improve and adapt and it requires work. Leadership requires work."
"When I started out, I had this idea that leadership was like, put on this tough exterior, have the answers, be strong and credible and capable.â
"I absolutely think leadership requires work. It's not easy. There are challenges, there are things to learn, things to adapt. It's just constantly one of those things that professional development, for me is something that should continue throughout your career throughout your life, always looking for new ways."
"I think one of the things that really sticks out to me that we learned as cadets is the idea of having a wingman by your side personally, professionally. Someone that will have your back someone that will support you."
"If you want something, you're going to have to work for it. And it's not going to be easy."
- Col. (Ret.) Kim "KC" Campbell '97
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00: Continuous Improvement and Professional Development
03:52: Overcoming Resistance and Pursuing Dreams
06:36: Lessons from Running Cross-Country
08:58: Persistence and Overcoming Rejection
13:02: Leadership Journey at the Air Force Academy
15:17: Finding Passion and Purpose in the A-10
16:14: Life-Changing Moment in Baghdad
19:51: Lessons and Vulnerability in Writing a Book
22:09: Balancing Life and Leadership
26:14: Leadership Development and Growth
28:37: Authenticity and Human Connection in Leadership
32:16: Family's Influence on Leadership
36:58: Learning from Failure and Pushing Outside Comfort Zone
41:11: Building Human Connections and Getting to Know People
42:34: The Importance of Having a Wingman
43:31: The Importance of Having a Wingman
43:59: How to Get in Touch
44:30: Connect with Kim
44:55: Feedback and Connection
45:26: The Story Behind the Call Sign
45:54: Book Title and Conclusion
OUR FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS
- Leadership requires continuous improvement and professional development.
- Overcoming resistance and pursuing dreams are essential in leadership.
- Balancing life and leadership is a challenge that requires flexibility and grace.
- Building human connections and having a wingman for support are crucial in leadership.
BIO
Kim âKCâ Campbell is a retired Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission.
As a senior military leader, Kim has led hundreds of Airmen both at home and abroad in deployed locations and enabled them to succeed in their missions. She has experience leading complex organizations and driving cultural change. Kim knows what it takes to be a successful leader, to inspire and empower high performance teams to achieve success. Kim is passionate about leadership and feels strongly that leaders earn trust by leading with courage and connecting with their team.