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Leveraging Thought Leadership

From High-Stakes Flying to High-Impact Leadership | Merryl Tengesdal | 704

Leveraging Thought Leadership · 2026-04-02 · 22 min

Episode notes

What does it take to lead when the plan breaks, the pressure spikes, and failure is part of the mission? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Colonel (Ret.) Merryl Tengesdal , author of " Shatter the Sky: What going to the stratosphere taught me about self-worth, sacrifice, and discipline" about the ideas that drive her work today: adaptability, resilience, authentic leadership, and the courage to keep moving when the outcome is uncertain. Her message is clear. Success is never a straight line. The leaders who thrive are the ones who learn to adjust in real time. Merryl brings a powerful framework to the conversation. She treats leadership like flying. You prepare well. You know the mission. But you also stay alert, read the conditions, and make smart adjustments when reality changes. That perspective makes her thought leadership practical for executives, team leaders, and organizations facing constant pressure to perform. She also makes a compelling case for rethinking failure. Not as a verdict. Not as an identity. But as part of the process of building something meaningful. Merryl challenges the idea that top performers avoid setbacks.

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