In Extremis Leadership, Leading As If Your Life Depended On It
Operating environments for both government and business are characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity -VUCA, perfect conditions for crises to emerge. Brigadier Gen. Tom Kolditz, author of In Extremis Leadership: Leading as if Your Life Depended on It, shows how extreme life-and-death situations can offer profound lessons for leaders in any setting. Tom’s research reveals that the leadership skills and principles evident in dangerous settings also apply to leading in business and everyday life, making this program applicable to both personal and professional success.

Leading in Uncertain Times
Current levels of uncertainty, historically unprecedented and globally widespread, create unique challenges for leaders. All leaders and followers are impacted. Extending from his 2026 book, Against the Storm: How True Leaders Prevail When the World Shakes, Tom Kolditz presents how leaders can transform uncertainty into opportunity, hope, and continuous achievement.

Hope is Not a Method: 40 Years of Leadership Takeaways

Too often, leaders hope for success without using specific techniques for leading effectively. After leading dozens of organizations on 4 continents, and teaching leaders and leadership for more than 30 years, Tom distills eight proven techniques he uses regularly to get the job done as a leader. This presentation is extremely pragmatic and will allow for immediate application of take-aways in peoples’ professional and personal lives.

How the Best Leaders Manage Failures

Failure is inevitable, but how leaders respond to it determines whether it becomes a setback or a catalyst for growth. Drawing on his experience leading in the military and advising organizations around the world, Brigadier General Tom Kolditz shares practical strategies for helping people overcome the fear of failure, navigate the guilt and shame that can follow mistakes, and build a culture where accountability and learning go hand in hand. Leaders will also learn when retaining employees after a failure strengthens an organization - and why doing so can be one of the most powerful investments in long-term performance and trust. 

Leaders Developing Leaders

One of a leader’s most powerful legacies is developing the leaders who follow them. Leadership development programs in business are often focused on talent managers and HR directors. Brigadier Gen. Tom Kolditz illustrates how, in an evidence-based way, each leader can personally and directly develop their people, increasing the performance and retention of employees and building a solid foundation for the future. Tapping leadership development principles used at West Point, the Yale School of Management, Google, and other high-performing organizations, Tom’s presentation creates a clear path and practical framework for leaders to have greater impact and influence over their people while simultaneously helping them achieve their potential.