He Led Troops in Combat — Now He Leads Billion-Dollar Companies (Lance Olmsted, President of Copperleaf, an IFS company)

Leadership Under FireHe Led Troops in Combat — Now He Leads Billion-Dollar CompaniesI first met Lance Olmsted, now President of IFS Copperleaf, expecting a story about discipline and precision.What I didn’t expect was how deeply human it would be.Lance served as a U.S. Marine. He learned to lead in the most uncertain environments imaginable — where hesitation could cost lives AND empathy wasn’t optional.That’s right...empathy.And you’ll never forget why when you hear his story.Those lessons stayed with him and became a positive guiding force.Today, he’s guiding global teams and helping industries use AI to make smarter, faster decisions.Before that, he helped drive a $1 billion unicorn exit by applying the same mindset that got his Marines home safe:? Focus on the mission, not the noise.? Act fast and adapt faster.? Build trust before you need it.? Lead with empathy, even under fire.His story is proof that military leadership still works — not because it’s rigid, but because it’s built on resilience, clarity, and purpose.Leadership isn’t about power — it’s about people. What’s your take?-----Follow Lance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-olmsted-98708568/-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter