Leadership in the military is changing — and so is authority. In this episode of The Change Agent, Warrant Officer Simon Kardynal (Royal Canadian Air Force) discusses modern military leadership, generational shifts, empathy in structured systems, and what real accountability looks like at the senior NCO level. With nearly three decades of service — from infantry to Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent to Chief Warrant Officer — Simon explains: - How emerging leaders misunderstand authority - Where empathy fits inside a rigid command structure - Why failure is essential to leadership growth - How to balance assertiveness with trust - The danger of assumptions in command environments - Leading Gen Z inside hierarchical institutions - Self-awareness as a leadership weapon Simon also shares practical tools: rehearsing hard conversations, preparing for discipline decisions, managing physiological reactions under stress, and developing guiding leadership principles. This is a candid conversation about leadership maturity, emotional intelligence, command responsibility, and the cost of authority. Topics Covered:

• Military leadership

• Royal Canadian Air Force

• Senior NCO leadership

• Empathy in leadership

• Generational leadership gaps

• Leadership mistakes and recovery

• Authentic leadership

• Command presence Failure and accountability