In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Chris Kolenda, retired Army Colonel, West Point graduate, and founder of Chris Kolenda, LLC—a leadership consultancy transforming how CEOs, NFL coaches, and public sector executives build unshakable business endurance. Chris shares his extraordinary journey from leading 800 paratroopers in Afghanistan (and persuading insurgents to switch sides) to advising Fortune 500 companies. He reveals how battlefield strategies—like the story of Joshua Chamberlain at Gettysburg—directly translate to modern leadership, emphasizing clarity, buy-in, and unwavering inspiration as pillars of enduring success.

Chris breaks down his unique approach: blending history with actionable frameworks to help leaders create unbeatable positioning, unstoppable workforces, and unwavering inspiration. He also shares hard-won lessons from scaling as a solopreneur, including why his $200K Facebook ad campaign failed (and how he pivoted). For leaders seeking to build legacy-driven organizations, Chris’s insights on "leading with the iceberg mentality"—focusing on aspirations over superficial tactics—are game-changing.