Insights from my Experience at West Point

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

My experience at West Point was transformative — not just as a professional, but most importantly, as a human being.

At the human being perspective, I was deeply moved by the powerful sense of duty, humility, and selfless service that permeates all West Point graduates. As a professional, I was reminded of something simple yet profound: Leadership isn’t about control — it’s about inspiration and, get inspired by how leadership is taught, modeled, and expected at every level — learning firsthand how to build and lead high-performing teams with clarity and intent.

Following are the 3 lessons that moved me most — not just intellectually, but also emotionally as my key takeaways on a leader development journey at Thayer Leadership´s open enrollment program at West Point.

1. Non-Negotiable Values & Strong Culture

The leadership experience at West Point, NY begins with Character. From the moment you step onto the academy grounds, you’re immersed in a culture where values aren’t just spoken — they’re lived. It’s no surprise that Simon Sinek’s deep dedication to studying military leadership inspired books like Start with Why — now globally recognized — and Leaders Eat Last.

Integrity, Accountability, and Respect form the backbone of every action and decision. There’s no tolerance for shortcuts or excuses. You’re constantly reminded that leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about earning Trust by aligning your words with your actions. Walk the Talk. The BE-KNOW-DO perspective, as discussed during Colonel (Ret.) Remi Hajjar, Ph.D. session, has sparked deeper insights that led me to revisit my own Leadership Philosophy — a document that remains very much a work in progress.

This intense environment also pushes you into deep self-reflection. My Thayer Leadership Inventory (Assessment Report) made me to confront my assumptions, my thresholds for discomfort — and more importantly, my blind spots! That’s where self-mastery begins. You don’t just learn how to lead others — you learn how to lead yourself. The words (and book) of U.S. Army Brigadier General Rebecca "Becky" Halstead “The first person you must lead is you” wasn´t completely original for me once during my full-time master’s at IPADE I encountered a similar concept from a different angle: Moral Circle Expansion — an idea that´s isn’t new, as early as the 2nd century where the Stoic philosopher Hierocles described concentric circles of human connection and responsibility. Anyway, Becky's words truly struck a chord.

The point is: your Character will carry weight in every decision you make, your true compass. Leadership becomes less about being right, and more about being Purposeful, Clear, and Committed — specially in the face of uncertainty (VUCA). That’s the 1st lesson I’ll carry with me far beyond the academy walls.

2. Discipline & Consistency: Foundation of Excellence

There’s a saying from the Navy SEALs: “You don’t rise to the occasion — you fall to the level of your training.” From what I could observe at my experience at West Point, NY it’s no different. Leadership excellence isn’t fueled by adrenaline or raw talent alone — it’s forged through preparation, repetition, and an unwavering focus on detail.

Waking up before dawn, maintaining high standards even when no one is watching, and constantly pushing beyond your limits are all part of a system designed to make peak performance second nature. Discipline starts as the old Latin saying, "mens sana in corpore sano” — a sound mind in a sound body. General (Ret.) GEN (Ret) Joseph Martin hosted the 2025 OE1 Battle-Tested Leadership Strategies: Lessons from the Army and West Point, among the many insights he shared, a lesson on Discipline & Consistency stood out: his PT practices 6x a week — a testament to how true discipline becomes a lifelong skill.

And discipline all begins with walking your talk (again) — reinforced by the “battle buddy” system where you're paired with someone to support, monitor, and assist one another during training, operations, and even daily life. This concept strengthens accountability, safety, morale, and mutual support, ensuring no one is ever left alone — physically or emotionally — what´s reinforces the backbone of integrity and mutual respect in the group and the organization. But make no mistake, it all starts with your own discipline.

Perhaps the most humbling lesson about excellence was the principle of leading by serving. My experience at West Point, NY confirmed to me (again) that leadership isn’t about being first — it’s about putting the mission 1st and (always) your people before yourself. There will be moments when you lead from the front — setting the example — and moments when you will be leading from behind — offering guidance and support. This kind of leadership demands not just ownership of your role, but responsibility for the wellbeing and performance of those around you.

It’s a mindset shift that applies just as much in corporate boardrooms as it does in the barracks: the best leaders serve, support, and protect those they lead. This place teaches that excellence isn’t about occasional success — Discipline & Consistency are the foundations of mastery.

My lesson was that Competence is earned through training, rehearsal, and execution. True leadership isn’t about standing alone — it’s about standing together. Discipline & Consistency are what get you there.

3. Mission First, People Always: A strategic clarity to operate under pressure

In high-pressure environments, clarity of mission acts as an anchor. When objectives are simple, direct, and well-communicated, teams can align quickly — even amid chaos. During the program I saw how a structured 'Leaders Intent' empowers leaders to delegate with confidence and teams to act decisively, especially when unpredictability strikes.

I've seen countless reinterpretations of VUCA — BANI, RUPT, TUNA, RAGE, CAKE and more. I stick with the original. Truth is, most corporations don’t operate in true VUCA. The live account of a Black Hawk Down veteran made this stark. Unless you're trading in real-time markets like the NYSE, most environments don’t shift suddenly or chaotically. Scenario Planning can reveal likely futures, just do your homework and get prepared. Sure, the world is Complex — Telecoms & IoT have hyperconnected everything further enhancing that complexity. Ambiguity, however, has always been about perspective: an energy sector accident can cripple one and create opportunity for another — Portugal/Spain suffered while France/Morroco seized the moment in a recent power outage. The fact itself (accident) is static — it’s the perspective that might shift. In this, I lean toward Zygmunt Bauman’s "liquid modernity" perspective: change is constant, behavior is evolving fast, just be prepared. To stay resilient, leaders must embrace adaptability, anchor themselves in Purpose (S. Sinek´s Why, again), and respond with intention, not panic.

Military leadership thrives on mission clarity, disciplined execution, and 'battle-buddies' mutual trust — principles equally vital in business. The experience revealed to me how frameworks like “Commander’s Intent”, 'Red Teaming', and 'After-Action Reviews' (AAR´s) can enhance strategic thinking and accountability in corporations, especially when navigating with high-stakes decisions. BTW 'Red Teaming' and AAR´s hold similar concepts of Agile (Methodology) ceremonies of Sprint Planning Meeting and Sprint Retrospective & Sprint Review.

Here my lesson was that military frameworks are surprisingly relevant in business: (i) Commander’s Intent ensures clarity; (ii) After-Action Reviews build accountability and learning, (iii) Mutual Trust enables autonomy under pressure, and (iv) I-ROC Trust model to drive impactful influence. The experience at West Point, NY just reinforced to me that strategy and humanity must go together.

In summary ...

My experience at West Point, NY has just deeply shaped my views on leadership, emphasizing (even more) that strong values, discipline, and clarity of purpose are non-negotiable foundations of effective leadership. I experienced how character, consistency, and servant leadership are what drives true influence, especially in high-pressure environments. Military Leadership Frameworks are not only powerful on the battlefield but also highly applicable to corporate leadership, reinforcing that leading with purpose and trust is as critical in business as it is in combat.

DISCLOSURE: Thayer Leadership, located at The Thayer Hotel at West Point, NY offers leadership programs open to civilians. Thayer Leadership is not affiliated with the United States Military Academy, but the leadership education offered is based on leadership principles from the Army and West Point.

Last but certainly not least, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mimi Garcia and Alisha Barnsby for their support and warm welcome on behalf of the entire Thayer Leadership team. Congratulations on being ranked among the top 20 leadership training programs in the 2025 edition!

#Thayer #Leadership #Strategy #WestPoint #VUCA #MilitaryLeadership #MissionDriven #PeopleFirst #ExecutiveLearning

FEW PERSONAL MEMORIES (IMAGES)