Episode 27 with Admiral Sandy Stosz
Leadership Lessons from (Ret) Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz
Tales of Leadership | Episode 27 | Vice Admiral (Ret) Sandra Stosz
In this episode of Tales of Leadership, Joshua McMillion sits down with Vice Admiral (Ret) Sandra Stosz, a trailblazer who served over 40 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and broke barriers as the first woman to command an icebreaker and lead a U.S. service academy. Her story is not just one of rank and achievement, but of resilience, reflection, and the steady development of leadership grounded in core values.
Admiral Stosz begins by defining leadership in a way that reflects both simplicity and maturity. Over decades of experience, her perspective evolved into something clear and actionable. Leadership is the ability to motivate people toward a shared purpose and mission. Early in her career, she may have viewed leadership through authority or execution, but over time, she learned that true leadership is rooted in aligning people emotionally and purposefully toward something bigger than themselves.
A foundational lesson she shares is the importance of core values. These were not something she explicitly defined early in her life, but rather something she discovered through reflection later in her career. Influenced by her upbringing, coaches, and early work experiences, she identified honesty, humility, hard work, and perseverance as the guiding principles that shaped her decisions. Core values are the foundation of your character, and your character determines the leader you become. She emphasizes that leaders must take the time to reflect deeply on their experiences to uncover what truly guides them, because without that foundation, decision-making under pressure becomes uncertain and inconsistent.
Her journey also highlights the power of adversity and diversity. From working on farms alongside people from vastly different backgrounds to entering a male-dominated military environment, she learned early that differences are not weaknesses—they are strengths. These experiences prepared her to lead in complex environments and to embrace the discomfort that often accompanies growth. There is power in being different when you choose to use it with confidence.
One of the most impactful insights from her career is the concept of the three forms of power: personal, professional, and positional. She learned this early and carried it throughout her leadership journey. The best leaders rely on personal and professional power and use positional power only as a last resort. Personal power comes from emotional intelligence and relationships. Professional power comes from competence and credibility. Positional power—rank or authority—should never be the primary tool because it creates compliance, not commitment.
Another critical lesson she shares is the importance of moral courage. Leadership is not just about guiding teams through missions; it is about upholding standards, even when it is uncomfortable. She observed that many leaders avoid difficult conversations, which ultimately erodes trust and damages team culture. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. However, she also emphasizes that how you enforce standards matters just as much as enforcing them. Leaders must correct behavior in a way that preserves dignity and strengthens the team rather than breaking it down.
Admiral Stosz also reflects on her pivotal career decision to shift from operational command at sea to developing future leaders. While she loved her time at sea, she realized her deeper passion was shaping people. That awareness led her to pursue roles where she could influence the next generation, ultimately culminating in her leadership at the Coast Guard Academy. Your passion may evolve, but you must be willing to listen when it calls you in a new direction.
Throughout the episode, a consistent theme emerges: leadership is a journey of continuous growth. Even at the highest levels, she continued learning—from junior officers, cadets, and evolving environments. Leadership is never mastered; it is refined through experience, reflection, and humility. Great leaders remain students of leadership for their entire lives.
Final Thoughts
This episode reinforces that leadership is not about position—it is about purpose, values, and the courage to act when it matters most. Admiral Stosz’s journey shows that success is not defined by titles, but by the impact you have on others and the legacy you leave behind. Her lessons on core values, moral courage, and the three forms of power provide a clear blueprint for leaders at any stage. If you want to lead well, you must first define who you are and stand firm in those values when it matters most.
After Action Review
What are your personal core values, and have you clearly defined them through reflection?
Do you rely more on positional power or on personal and professional power to influence your team?
Where in your leadership are you avoiding difficult conversations that require moral courage?
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by arming you with the tools required to lead with purpose, integrity, and accountability.
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