Leadership from Battlefield Grit to Start-Up Guts

In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, host Naviere Walkewicz ’99 talks with Emma Przybyslawski ’10, an Air Force Academy graduate whose path has taken her from the front lines of tactical special operations in combat zones to the founder’s chair at Strike Solutions.

SUMMARY

With 1,634 confirmed kills, and personal threats from ISIS, Emma knows what high-stakes leadership looks like.

She opened up about her transition to the tech world, the power of the Air Force Academy network, and the role that courage, flexibility, and humor play in both survival and success. Whether you're in uniform or in a startup, Emma’s insights on active listening and continual growth are essential to your success as a developing or seasoned leader.

 

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EMMA'S 10 BEST LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

1. Leadership Requires Courage and Action

   “You have to be courageous and lean forward… even when you’re not sure.”
   → Leaders don’t wait for certainty—they move, learn, and adapt.

2. Course Correction Is a Leadership Strength

   “You’re not always going to get it right, but you can course correct.”
   → Mistakes aren’t fatal if you’re willing to pivot and improve.

3. Ownership Is the Price of Admission to Elite Teams

   “You meet the standard or exceed it—or you're not on the team.”
   → High-performance cultures are built on individual accountability.

4. Active Listening Builds Trust and Influence

   “Sometimes somebody just needs you to listen… and engage without fixing.”
   → Listening is one of a leader’s most powerful tools.

5. Feedback Isn’t Personal—It’s Growth Fuel

   “Ask for feedback—and be willing to take it.”
   → Good leaders seek the truth about themselves, even when it stings.

6. You Can Lead From Any Seat

   Emma’s career includes transitions from cadet to combat controller to business owner.
   → Title doesn’t define leadership—character and action do.

7. Clarity of Standards Drives Excellence

   “There was no rank—just performance. You either deliver or you’re gone.”
   → Clear expectations reduce confusion and elevate teams.

8. Mission Over Ego

   Her willingness to return to the Academy after leaving shows humility.
   → Leadership often means swallowing pride for a greater goal.

9. Diversity Demands Curiosity, Not Assumptions

   “Ask people about their experience—don’t assume you understand it.”
   → Inclusive leaders replace judgment with curiosity.

10. Leaders Multiply Leadership

“Your leadership should raise the waterline for everyone around you.”
→ Leadership is about impact—lifting others as you grow.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Emma Prisboslawski's Journey
01:26 Life in Special Operations
07:02 Navigating Chaos: A Day in Emma's Life
10:40 The Academy Experience: A Personal Journey
18:04 Leadership Lessons from Military Experience
27:52 The Importance of Active Listening in Leadership
28:21 The Power of Listening and Empathy
29:51 Navigating Career Transitions
32:18 Embracing Technology and Innovation
35:55 The Importance of Networking
36:24 Building Strike Solutions
37:48 Navigating the Vast Tech Landscape
40:14 Learning from Mistakes
42:31 Giving Back to the Academy
46:31 Continuous Self-Improvement and Leadership

 

ABOUT EMMA

BIO

Emma Przybyslawski ’10 is the daughter of Mj. Gen. (Ret.) Anthony '76 and Priscilla Pzybyslawski. She spent her childhood counting the number of states she lived in as a military brat. While at the Academy, she loved living in Cadet Squadron 19 and eventually led the Wolverines as Squadron Commander to Outstanding Squadron of the Year. Upon graduation, Emma was commissioned as a special operations intelligence officer and spent her Air Force career either overseas supporting counterdrug efforts or counterterrorism operations in the Middle East; she was awarded a Bronze Star during her last deployment for her combat efforts in Iraq. She decided to separate from the Air Force in 2016 and started her civilian career in the high-tech industry. Emma has since founded Strike Solutions, a defense company focused on bringing advanced technology solutions to various DoD operational mission sets. In her free time, she has a passion for traveling, food, spending time with family and friends, and sports – but all of those things are best enjoyed with her husband and Air Force pilot Chris Spach and their Bernese Mountain Dogs, Gunner and Harley.

 

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TRANSCRIPT

OUR SPEAKERS

GUEST:  Emma Przybyslawski ’10  |  HOST:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 

 

KEYWORDS

leadership, resilience, military, special operations, personal growth, Air Force Academy, women in combat, entrepreneurship, active listening, mentorship, leadership, empathy, career transition, technology, networking, innovation, military, Air Force Academy, personal growth, mentorship

 

 

The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation