Why Character Matters - Lessons in Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty

​Join us for a candid conversation with a leader whose career exemplifies what it means to lead with character at every level of responsibility.

​LT. Gen. Robert Caslen, DBA served in the U.S. Army for 43 years. LT. Gen. Caslen served in the U.S. Army for 43 years, culminating in 2018 as the 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Under his leadership, West Point was named the #1 public college in the nation by both Forbes and U.S. News & World Report. He refined the Academy's leadership program around a conviction that has defined his career: professional ethics and character are not soft skills — they are the foundation of leadership.

​He later served as the 29th President of the University of South Carolina, where he guided the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic and proved that leadership principles forged in the military translate powerfully into civilian institutions. By revitalizing performance cultures and anchoring decisions in trust, accountability, and values, he demonstrated a lesson that applies equally to officers and executives: you don't just lead outcomes — you build systems and cultures that endure.

​His philosophy is captured in two books, The Character Edge and The Impossible Mission, and built on a simple conviction: competence may open doors, but character sustains influence.

​What to expect: This is a conversation, not a presentation. Come ready to listen, reflect, and ask the questions that matter most to your own leadership — whether you lead a platoon, a team, or an enterprise.