In the high-stakes world of submarine warfare, having a world-class team that is highly resilient and agile is not a luxury; it's a matter of life and death. Imagine spending 1,000+ days under the surface of the ocean, cramped into a cold steel tube with no sunlight or fresh air. You’re completely isolated from family and loved ones and need to make split second decisions that impact the lives of 110 crew members and the fate of a $1 billion vessel.

It was only through a purpose-driven culture, which is best expressed by the submarine motto, "Either we all come to the surface or no one does,” that they are able to complete missions critical to national security and be resilient and agile in the face of dynamic change and adversity.

In this Executive Management Conference preview, get to know former U.S. Nuclear Submarine Officer Marc Koehler, who will host a session titled “Fast Attack Leadership.” Koehler will tackle core issues plaguing modern leadership and share empowering solutions to revitalize your leadership approach.

Tell us more about your experience with coaching modern leaders. What excites you most about being in this field?

My experience in the nuclear submariner service, where I received two Battle Effectiveness Awards, and in the business world as a turnaround CEO, has led me to become one of the foremost experts on elite leadership. This is a needed, relevant, and achievable approach to leadership for this new, disruptive world. My leadership development and research firm, Lead With Purpose, has developed over 51,000 leaders through the company’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)-accredited organizational leadership consulting, coaching, courses, and simple systems.

What excites me most about leadership consulting is the opportunity to help people see the leader already inside them, often when they or their team are struggling to find their way. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch those same individuals unlock their own potential, build a world-class team, and get everyone aligned around a shared purpose. Seeing that transformation — the same people who were once in doubt or overwhelmed now leading confidently and driving meaningful results — fuels me every day. It’s proof that leadership is not about a title; it’s about empowering the everyday person to rise, lead, and achieve extraordinary things.

What can attendees look forward to during your session?

In my keynote, I will unveil the extraordinary parallels between submarine command and effective business leadership I found as both a U.S. Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO for struggling companies. I will share compelling stories from 400 feet below the surface of the ocean and from countless struggling businesses, highlighting how Fast Attack Leadership is what is needed today by leaders to create world-class teams.

Today’s leaders are often pulled in several different directions. What’s your advice for maintaining a clear focus?

One of the most powerful and engaging topics in my Fast Attack Leadership keynote is “Connect to the Mission.” It’s the foundation of everything. When you identify what matters most — the driving purpose behind your team’s work — and distill it into a simple code word and symbol, it creates an anchor for every decision and action. You are, quite literally, leading with purpose. Once that connection is made, everything else — communication, alignment, execution — becomes easier. It’s the spark that transforms teams and unlocks their full potential.

Marc Koehler, a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO, is a rare blend of expertise, engagement, and 35 years of battle-tested, proven experience in elite leadership, evangelizing that what the world needs is not more management systems — it needs more leadership.

Koehler is the best-selling author of “Leading With Purpose,” a hands-on guide to developing engaged, empowered, and encouraged employees. He is also the host of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, where he tells the stories of leaders in unlikely places and the human spirit that drives us all.

Residing in Oceanside, California, Koehler is married to his wife Heidi of 29 years and dad to their three grown daughters, Anja, Liesel, and Sophie.

Register now for BSCAI’s Executive Management Conference, taking place May 7-9 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.