<p>Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.) was the Commanding Officer of the USS <em>Cole</em> when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen, on October 12, 2000. During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking. This event is widely recognized as one of the most brazen acts of terrorism by al Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001.</p><p>Today, Commander Lippold is a popular inspirational figure and leadership speaker who is in high demand with Fortune 500 companies, leading financial institutions, and top industry associations. At a time when everything we’ve come to know is being reshaped by domestic and world events, Commander Lippold reveals how to lead teams and manage challenges successfully in the face of financial, national security, and global uncertainties.</p><p>Engaging his audience as a compelling storyteller, Commander Lippold draws upon his Pillars of Leadership to offer strategies he learned and applied to instill integrity into his team members and mitigate crises throughout his naval career. With takeaways for every organization to evaluate their own achievements and shortfalls as they prepare for what the future may hold, his lessons learned can make the difference between success and failure when it matters most.</p>
Authority on Leadership, Global Security; Former Commander of the USS <em>Cole</em>, Former USNA Adjunct Professor on Leadership & Ethics
<ul><li><strong>Leadership and Accountability When It Matters</strong></li><li>In a rapidly evolving world, leadership is the defining point between success and failure. The privilege and burden of leadership comes with a level of accountability that many aspire to emulate, and anyone can rise up to and achieve. Using his experience from a devastating suicide terrorist attack as a backdrop, Commander Kirk Lippold conveys how the principle of integrity created a diverse and inclusive environment for leadership where his crew felt empowered with a sense of ownership, seizing the opportunity to be responsible for their ship, and not just their jobs. Their own sense of personal accountability and leadership proved to be a guiding principle in the crucible of combat. Lippold shares why his "Pillars of Leadership" are must-have business tenets for any success-oriented team.</li><li><strong>Safety: Why It Matters to Your Success</strong></li><li>The responsibility for safety starts at the top, but more importantly, it is the individual actions and initiative necessary from every person in an organization that makes it a success. Creating a safe working environment that embraces a proactive mindset with diversity and inclusion at its core is more than the mechanics laid out in programs, processes, and procedures; it is the conscious actions and situational awareness that turn safety from a program into a way of life – both on and off the job. Taking his safety experiences from a 26-year career in the Navy, Commander Lippold shows how positive engagement by leaders will create safe working environments.</li><li><strong>National Security: Your Safety and Bottom Line</strong></li><li>Former USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold is a frequent guest on many cable news networks that cover national security issues, global hotspots, and their effect on our economy and businesses. Lippold instructively breaks down how the U.S. national security apparatus actually operates. His presentations are informative, relevant, and accessible for a broad range of audiences. Lippold delivers a thorough analysis of the current news headlines and how ongoing world events drive strategy and shape our economic and national security posture. Covering current areas from Russia, China, and the Middle East, to North Korea and the global threat of cybersecurity/cyberwarfare, Lippold provides audiences with an invaluable perspective on U.S. policy development, risk management, the state of the world, and what it means for you and your organization.</li></ul>