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September 9th, 2025

543 Resilience, Honor and Commitment: Leadership Lessons from POW Survivor | Lee Ellis

#overcomingadversity #veteranstories #leadershipmatters
543 Resilience, Honor and Commitment: Leadership Lessons from POW Survivor Lee Ellis 🎖️✨

What does it take to build lasting resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity? In this inspiring episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with Lee Ellis—leadership coach, award-winning author, Air Force veteran, and former POW in North Vietnam for over five years. Drawing on his extraordinary experiences of captivity, Lee shares practical Wisdom on resilience, leadership, honor, and the true power of mission-driven living.

Lee opens up about overcoming adversity as a prisoner of war, the critical role of commitment, faith, and community, and why self-acceptance and vulnerability are essential for real leadership. Together, Nicole and Lee explore what sets resilient people apart, how to bounce back after failure, and why having a strong sense of purpose can actually extend your life. Plus,

Lee shares moving stories from his latest book Captured by Love and the unsung heroism of the POWs’ wives.

If you’re seeking actionable inspiration on navigating hardship and leading with honor—at work or in life—this episode will equip you with the mindsets and tools you need most.

0:00 – Own Yourself: Build Resilience
1:19 – Meet Lee Ellis
2:30 – Farm Boy to Fighter Pilot
4:36 – Shot Down: Life Changes
6:48 – POW Survival Secrets
8:45 – Why POWs Live Longer
9:32 – Mission-Driven Resilience
11:13 – Bouncing Back from Defeat
13:02 – Hope: POW Wives’ Fight
15:22 – Purpose Fuels Life
17:03 – Lead with Faith & Humility
18:28 – Vulnerability and Confidence
20:59 – 7 Core Leadership Behaviors
23:49 – Building Courageous Communities
25:47 – Isolation vs Connection
28:40 – Encouragement & Accountability
29:48 – The Myth of Lone Rangers
30:48 – Captured by Love
32:48 – Hidden Heroes: POW Wives
35:54 – Coming Home: The Release
36:48 – Lee’s Modern Mission
40:05 – Build Your Own Resilience
41:51 – Your Uniqueness is Strength

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone looking to deepen their resilience and lead with true honor—no matter what life throws at you.

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/543-resilience-honor-and-commitment-leadership-lessons-from-pow-survivor-lee-ellis/

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#leadersoftransformation #leadershippodcast #successmotivation #growthmindset #transformationalleadership #businessgrowth #businesstraining #entrepreneurship #christianentrepreneurs #faithandbusiness #kingdomentrepreneurship #changemakers

As a transformational leadership coach, strategic business advisor, and podcast host, my passion is developing aspiring leaders and helping good leaders become great. This world needs more great leaders, who live and lead themselves well, and who uplift and empower others to do the same. Leaders who make this world a better place for everyone.

It begins with you and me - living on purpose, expanding our vision and beliefs, and inspiring positive change in our circles of influence. If you enjoy intelligent conversations, I invite you to check out my Leaders of Transformation Podcast where I interview extraordinary difference makers and world changers every week. Currently we have over 475 episodes and are honored to be in the top 1.5% podcast globally reaching listeners in over 140 countries. Hope to see you there!