Developing Others Starts with Developing Yourself | Nick Cullura

What happens when a leader spends 22 years in the military, transitions into the private sector, and discovers that developing people can be just as important as completing the mission?

In this episode of On The Surface, Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Andrew Sapienza sit down with Nick Cullura, Learning & Development Manager for Reeves, to discuss his journey from the U.S. Army to the construction industry, the challenges of transitioning into civilian life, and why understanding your strengths can transform the way you lead.

Nick shares how 9/11 influenced his decision to enlist, lessons learned through deployments and leadership roles in Iraq, and how his definition of success evolved from accomplishing tasks to developing people. The conversation also takes a deep dive into the CliftonStrengths Assessment and how self-awareness, coaching, and intentional leadership can help individuals and teams perform at their best.

They explore:

• How 9/11 inspired Nick to join the U.S. Army and begin a 22-year military career
• Leadership lessons learned through deployments, command roles, and military service
• The challenges of transitioning from military life to a civilian career
• How success shifts from mission execution to people development
• Why intentional leadership is critical for building future leaders
• How Reeves approaches leadership development and employee growth
• The structure behind programs like the Frontline Supervisor Academy and Leadership Development Program
• What the CliftonStrengths Assessment is and how it helps people understand their natural talents
• Why great leaders focus on strengths instead of obsessing over weaknesses
• How self-awareness can improve communication, teamwork, and decision-making
• The role coaching plays in helping employees maximize their potential
• How strengths-based leadership can help build stronger, more effective teams
• Common misconceptions about CliftonStrengths and personality assessments
• Why understanding yourself is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your career
• How organizations can create development pathways that prepare future leaders for success

This conversation highlights an important leadership lesson: when you understand your strengths and invest in the development of others, you create opportunities for both individual and organizational growth.

If you're interested in leadership, career development, team building, military-to-civilian transitions, or becoming more self-aware as a professional, this episode offers practical insights you can apply right away.

Thanks for listening!

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