Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters

Anyone who has had the privilege of working with the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, as I did for many years while the USCG was still part of the Department of Transportation, knows what an extraordinary service it is. Its mission runs the gamut: search-and-rescue at sea, border management, drug interdiction, environmental protection, maritime law enforcements, and of course military defense in times of war.The Coast Guard’s culture is special; it informed the culture of the entire Transportation Department until the service was transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security in 2003. It wouldn’t be too much to say that my DOT colleagues and I grieved their loss, even though we fully understood the rationale behind the transition.I met then Lieutenant Sandra Stozs when she became the personal aide to my boss at the time, Secretary of Transportation Samuel K. Skinner. I was immediately impressed by her all-business demeanor, nicely leavened by her consistently open and approachable manner. I wasn’t surprised to watch over the years as she moved from success to success. She was the first woman to be given command of a Coast Guard vessel, and eventually became the first woman to serve as superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy – or, for that matter, of any U.S. military academy. She retired as a Vice Admiral.Viewed from the outside, Stosz’s career seemed to be characterized by assured confidence and acknowledged competence. Thanks to her just-published memoir-cum-leadership primer, I now know it was far from that easy or simple. It was a journey beset with obstacles, from her admitted struggles as a cadet at the Coast Guard Academy to the conspicuous skepticism she encountered among some of her bosses and the non-commissioned officers she supervised. (“I’ve got more years at sea than you have on this planet,” one wizened non-com informed her upon their first encounter.)She learned from every experience and she obviously took notes. Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass is her story, an engaging narrative replete with colorful episodes – some harrowing -- from her 40-year Coast Guard career. She has also included some inspiring profiles of great leaders she served and from whom she learned. From this rich well of material Stosz has fashioned a set of principles for becoming what she calls “a leader of character.” Given the impact that managers at all levels have on the quality of their subordinates’ lives, one hopes the abundant wisdom in this book will find its way to a large audience.

"Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass" is an exceptional book on leadership. Authored by a woman who broke glass ceilings while breaking ice for the Coast Guard at the poles, this book is a recipe for leading others. Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz uses common sense and her set of values to describe setting examples, gaining trust, and leading units, whether military or business, to successful outcomes.Her premise is simple: it all starts with character. However, it is not just words. Stosz not only defines character, but also ties in the need to establish organizational core values, to create and utilize mentorial relationships both above and below you, and that an effective person of character must lead; ie, be “in the action.” She ties this latter requirement to Teddy Roosevelt’s philosophy of being “in the arena.”Using effective examples from her career, the Vice Admiral shows how respect for all teammates matters, and that influence, not authority, carries the day. While hard work and perseverance are critical for success, this book shows that a more concerted, but logical, effort is required. It is a must read for all aspiring (and current) leaders.

As a Naval Officer and reflecting on the lessons learned through a long career in a number of professions, I wish this book had been available many years ago. Yes, I figured out many of Sandra's points along the way. However, the iterative process leads to many "stumbles" . We all live in a life-long learning era and while each new experience teaches us new lessons, here is a guide that can help to smooth that learning process.As a teacher on the university level I have already referenced this book on leadership to my nursing students. Hopefully they can reference Vice Admiral Stosz's stories, implement them in their chosen profession and avoid some of the "stumbles" experienced by me and others. Recognizing that all experiences in life teach us something, a review and understanding of these principles of leadership by readers and their implementation into the workplace will help the reader to create a more positive workplace setting as well as encouraging their children and others in the community to be all they can possibly be.

I found Admiral Sandy Stosz to be inspiring and a great example of what it takes to be a leader. Her story was authentic and is beneficial to everyone, even if you do not have a background or much knowledge of the Coast Guard. She explained various hardships she has faced throughout her life and how she overcame them. The book's organization was one of my favorite parts, covering a range of topics such as core values, the importance of your emotional and physical health, principles of success, and more. I found that she went into immense detail on every topic she covered and offered great advice which all connected back to how to be a great leader. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for some motivation and great leadership advice!

Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz shares sound leadership skills based on her impressive career with the United States Coast Guard. Her insights provide tangible, real-world applications relevant to both leaders and anyone wishing to improve themselves and their ability to work with and for others.Vice Admiral Stosz shares captivating stories from her own impressive career and recognizes people at all levels who helped her achieve success.Finally, she emphasizes the importance of giving back by supporting those just beginning their journeys, mentoring, training, motivating and recognizing to build the next generation of leaders.A great read.