Stanley McChrystal, a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army, rightfully had a lot to say about leadership, during the “Alchemy of Leadership” talk Saturday morning at Carnegie Hall. As the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, his insights were intercontinental. “There aren’t a series of qualities that you can have to be a perfect leader. It’s much more reacting to the moment, reacting to the requirements of the situation,” he explained at the History Talks event.
Other heavy-hitters like former FCC chairman Michael Powell, former U.S. National Security Adviser and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, West Point professor Elizabeth Samet and Tulane University professor Walter Isaacson also spelled out firsthand accounts of leadership. As the former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan and the former commander of the premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command, McChrystal detailed various pinnacle career points including overseeing a 46-nation coalition and 1,700 non-government organizations and “trying to get somewhat unclear set of mission done.” Along with intelligence, state diplomacy and other key pieces, he emphasized the need to get different tribes to work together.
“When I took over Joint Special Operations Command counter-terrorist forces, it
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