Join us as we welcome Ian Winer, class of 1996, managing director of investor relations at Disruptive, as he shares his unique story of commitment, transformation, and resilience.

Ian recounts his journey to West Point, a path paved thanks to his skills on the rink playing ice hockey and his affinity for the Academy's core values that resonated deeply with his personal aspirations. Ian offers a perspective on the challenges and triumphs of cadet life, reflecting on the enduring mentorship he received from then Major Jim Knowlton and Colonel Jim Blake, and the indelible bonds formed with teammates under his coaches.

Ian opens up about the unforeseen twist in his military career, an injury that rendered him non-commissionable just before his commissioning. This emotional pivot led him to the fast-paced world of finance at Goldman Sachs. Hear how he navigated the shift from military structure to the frenetic rhythm of Wall Street.

Ian speaks candidly about his battle with substance abuse and the path to recovery. His story is a testament to the power of support networks and the value of service, demonstrating that even the toughest challenges can be overcome with gratitude, routine, and a helping hand from fellow graduates. As Ian emphasizes the importance of seeking assistance during a crisis and celebrates the support systems available to veterans, we're reminded of the strength found in a community and the transformative journey toward a life of purpose.

Key Quote:

“It's all work. It doesn't necessarily come easily. But if I get back to kind of what I learned at West Point, if I get back to not making excuses for, for behavior that's not okay, if I get back into that, um, that is what keeps me sober. And so, and then it's at night. It really is thinking about the day and thinking about like, What did, how did I act today? What did I do? What did I do right? What did I, you know, kind of, uh, you know, and it goes back to that quote from Hamlet, you know, to thine own self be true. And that is really what sobriety and my life boils down to now. Am I being true to myself? You know, am I, am I being honest with myself?”

(00:00) - Life at West Point

(09:40) - West Point to Wall Street Transition

(27:31) - Ian’s Recovery and Support

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Led Klosky, Professor of Civil Engineering at West Point and the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction! Dr. Klosky takes us through his journey to West Point, discussing his commitment to equipping today’s Cadets with the necessary skills and leadership for their future roles through learning and inspiring innovation in tomorrow’s warriors.

We explore the groundbreaking Cyber and Engineering Academic Center (CEAC), a project advocated by Dr. Klosky since 2008 to bring West Point’s STEM program to the modern age and designed to enhance the educational environment through collaboration across engineering disciplines in a cutting-edge facility.

In addition to being a Professor, Dr. Klosky is the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction, helping lead the Academic Building Upgrade Program. Led has been at West Point for over 2 decades and advocated for the new STEM facilities at West Point starting in 2008! That advocation is now being realized in the the CEAC building, with Margin of Excellence elements including the 4th-floor Redoubt and the beautiful Gateway Bridge that will connect the CEAC and Mahan Hall!

Our conversation also delves into the challenges of preparing cadets for modern warfare's ever-changing landscape, underscoring the vital role of innovation and adaptability. We discuss the significance of the Army's investment in advanced infrastructure and the role of private support in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in educational facilities. Discover how collaborative environments and cross-disciplinary interactions within these spaces can lead to significant breakthroughs and the added benefits of efficient study spaces that enrich the cadets' workday experience.

Key Quote:

“Our cadets in their senior year are doing a senior capstone project. Ever cadet. And that capstone project, we're engaging real army problems with real clients and producing real products at the end of that. That means machine shops it means computer facilities for prototyping. It means an engaged faculty that are right there with the cadets day after day. It means a lot of risk on the part of our faculty in that, in the old days, I knew the answer. When I walked into the classroom and I'm like, look, I'm a smart guy. I know a lot of smart stuff. You cadets need to know all this smart stuff. I'm going to put all my smart stuff that I planned up on the board with this piece of chalk. And then I'm going to give you a WPR in a few weeks where you show me you know all this smart stuff. And then we're all happy. And it's all very predictable and it's all good to go. The trouble is that if a cadet graduates today, knowing exactly what I know, I've failed. I need to grow in them, creativity, drive to innovation, a desire to contribute in new ways, and I want them to think things I didn't.

–

(00:29) Dr. Klsoky’s journey to West Point

(5:15) Getting involved in the CEAC building

(13:25) Bringing new recruits through modern technology

(25:30) Bringing CEAC’s renditions to life

–

Connect with Led

Learn more about CEAC

In this episode, we sit down with the extraordinary Kathleen Hildreth, the 2024 West Point Distinguished Graduate Award recipient. Kathleen shares her awe-inspiring journey from a cadet at West Point to founding M1 Support Services, a company that stands at the forefront of supporting the Department of Defense. Her story is one of unwavering dedication, from her early days in Army aviation to becoming one of America's richest self-made women, as recognized by Forbes. Her success is not just measured in financial milestones but also in her philanthropic endeavors, including her significant contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project and West Point's initiatives.

Kathleen Hildreth is West Point’s most commercially successful woman graduate to date. A member of the Glee Club and Protestant Chapel Choir as a cadet, Hildreth was commissioned as an Aviation officer. She flew VIPs in Korea and then served as a Maintenance Test Pilot at Hunter Army Airfield before choosing to remove the uniform in 1988 as a captain. While she left the Army, her service continued. After positions of increasing responsibility with Fortune 500 companies, Hildreth founded M1 Support Services in 2003. Through her leadership, M1, a nearly billion-dollar service company, has supported the DoD in over 43 CONUS locations and OCONUS in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad, Djibouti, Japan, Korea, Germany, Lithuania, and 27 other countries. M1’s critical support earned the Army Aviation Association of America’s Material Readiness Award for Contributions by a Major Contractor in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. With her entrepreneurial success and exceptional leadership, Hildreth was the first veteran named to the Forbes list of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” in 2019 and every year since. In 2023, Forbes also selected her to the prestigious “50 over 50” list. Since 2020, she has served on the board of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). She was inducted into West Point’s Omar N. Bradley Lifetime Giving Society in 2023. Hildreth has addressed the West Point Entrepreneurs, cadet academic classes, and the Corbin Forum

The episode delves into her leadership style, the challenges and successes of being an entrepreneur, her philanthropic efforts, and her insights into government contracting and the future of innovation in this space. It also touches on the importance of culture, employee management, safety, and strategic risk mitigation in building a successful business.

Key Quote:

“Like any organization, having the right people in the right positions is one of the most challenging things that you can do, and hiring the right people. We're, we're fortunate that a lot of what we do is related to the military, so a lot of the people we hire are retired military, former military, they already have discipline. They already understand the mission. They're mission-focused focused and to a large degree, they're self-motivated and they don't require a lot of extra motivation. But, you know, we did something here, I was mentioning not liking the bureaucracy, a lot of large companies will set up a, you know, a framework for this position is a You know, grade 10, step 3, you know, whatever, and it's very bureaucratic and you hire a person into that position that you try to fit in that box. Taking the entrepreneurial view to it. We said, ‘Okay, let's go find good people, and let's figure out what their skills are, and let's figure out the best way to deploy them in the organization, rather than to put them in this, you know, grade three-step, whatever.’ And that has really, I think, paid dividends for, for our management team.” -Kathy Hildreth, Managing Director & Principal for M1 Support Services; Class of ’83

–

(00:27) Kathy’s career accomplishments

(05:07) Kathy’s inspiration to attend West Point

(11:03) Launching the M1 Support Services and springboarding into Gov’t contracts

(20:35) Finding small business opportunities with the government

(28:55) Recruiting high-end talent to your organization

(31:50) Stepping into AI and Machine Learning

(34:55) Keeping small businesses comfortable as small businesses

(37:28) Engaging with contract officers

(39:15) Learning to grow from failure

(42:58) Mission first focused on culture

–

Connect with Kathy

Visit M1 Support Services Website

Support the Wounded Warrior Project