Who is Sitting at My Desk

Who is Sitting at My Desk

In over 32 years leading organizations in dynamic and challenging environments, solving wickedly complex problems, a common question I heard over and over was, “how do I become a great leader?” Though I am unaware of a “leadership recipe,” I do know the first ingredient…self-awareness.

Directionally Appropriate Action

Delivered By: Adam Weiner, Managing Director

Adam spent 14 years in leadership roles as a Navy SEAL where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander, including assignments as Platoon Commander, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer.  After the Navy, he worked at executive levels in the automotive industry and finance.  In 2017, the governor of Michigan appointed him to the Veterans Facilities’ Board of Managers where he served for 2.5 years. 

While in automotive, Adam was the Business Manager for the Vice President of Engineering at General Motors, where he managed a $3.5B budget and coalesced eight Executive Directors.  After that, Adam began his career in finance as a Divisional Vice President for AIG, consulting with hundreds of financial advisors on retirement solutions.  Within the financial space, he transitioned to become a financial advisor and partnered with Michigan Retirement Advisors.  Working directly with individuals and families, Adam was able to increase the firm’s assets by over 25% in less than 24 months.

In 2022, Adam’s success led him to founding Freedom Financial Team where his pillars are:  providing clients financial peace of mind, community philanthropy, and financial literacy.  Consistent with this, Adam is a proud member of the Association of Financial Educators, a 501(c)(3) non-profit created to help with financial literacy.  Adam brings this education to high-schools, colleges, and businesses in the Detroit Metro area to help demystify complexities in investing and retirement planning.

Adam’s passion is teaching mindset, character, and leadership. Alongside his teammates at Victory Strategies, you might catch him at workshop or delivering his keynote, inspiring people to Rise, Focus, and Persist!

Adam is a proud graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is happily married, and they have three wonderful children.

Five Decades Of Leadership Wisdom From A 4-Star General

Five Decades Of Leadership Wisdom From A 4-Star General

After a five-decade career in the Air Force, a retired general shared with a credit union audience here not his triumphs or how he got his ribbons, but instead all the ways he believes he could have been a better leader.

Perception is Reality

Perception is Reality

“Perception is reality” is a useful cliché.  Factually speaking, our perception is not the arbitrator of reality.  In my opinion, this scientifically inaccurate cliché is functionally accurate. In the space of effective communication, your ability to appreciate this dynamic is critical on…

Empathetic Leadership

Empathetic Leadership

Years ago, I sat in my office as a wing commander, reviewing packages and working to decide which of our enlisted airmen to send to Officer Training School (OTS) and be commissioned as an officer in our United States Air Force.

Does 1+1 = 2?: The Power Of Team

Does 1+1 = 2?: The Power Of Team

I have a simple math problem for you.  What is one plus one?  If you said two, you’re correct, some of the time. If you had asked me that question right after I graduated from engineering school, I would have told you emphatically, “yes!” After a 26-year career as a US Navy fighter pilot, I’ll tell you the answer is, “sometimes.”

Protecting your IP: Why you should give a DAM

Protecting your IP: Why you should give a DAM

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed with a cascade of photos, videos, and documents spread across your phone, tablets and computer, you’re not alone. I’ve been working with a high-volume of data for many years as a TV reporter and photojournalist and I’m constantly…

Seek Commitment over Compliance

Seek Commitment over Compliance

The first slide boldly asked, “Are you committed to our company?” This was one of the first questions I was asked during my onboarding in one of my first post-military jobs. I had just completed committing 25+ years of my life and my family’s life to the United States Air Force. We were no strangers to the dedication this lifestyle required to…

Plan or Strategy – Short-Term Gain or Long-Term Pain?

Plan or Strategy – Short-Term Gain or Long-Term Pain?

Does your organization have a plan or a strategy? Does the plan apply to the strategy you developed? Does it even matter? Leaders conflate these terms and important organizational leadership tools to the detriment of their teams. Corporate graveyards are littered with…

The Unspoken Superpower In Business

The Unspoken Superpower In Business

In a world where many Navy SEALs and other seasoned professionals separate from the military or their past careers and choose a path of executive coaching, motivational speaking, or searching for a paid corporate board position…

Mange the email monster and make more time for personal connections

Mange the email monster and make more time for personal connections

We each have our own “special” relationship with email. That relationship can change over time with each message and the volume of emails both sent and received. Nonetheless, email is a fact of business and professional life, and therefore we must learn to manage email and not have email manage us. In a recent study about email, 86% of professionals say that emails are their preferred method of communication. That same study concluded that, on average, each person checks their email over…

Developing your leadership philosophy and team expectations

Developing your leadership philosophy and team expectations

The question came at me unexpectedly. I was in a pre-command course learning the roles and responsibilities the U.S. Air Force expects of its squadron commanders. “What is your leadership philosophy and expectations of your unit?”

Everyone Has a Plan… and then, Boom.

Everyone Has a Plan… and then, Boom.

Before his bout with Evander Holyfield, a reporter asked Mike Tyson if he was concerned about his opponent’s plan for the fight. Mr. Tyson famously responded, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Everyone chuckled. I chuckled and went about my business. Then I got “punched in the mouth.”