There’s a side of military leadership most people never see—one built on trust, delegation, and learning through failure. Dave Banyard brings those lessons straight into his position as CEO.
In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Dave Banyard, President and CEO of MasterBrand, the largest residential cabinet manufacturer in North America.
Before running a multi-billion-dollar company, Dave flew F/A-18 fighter jets for the U.S. Navy, and he brings a refreshingly candid take on leadership, decision-making, and culture from the cockpit to the factory floor.
Hear how Dave translates military lessons into business leadership, builds trust across thousands of employees, and empowers his employees to make bold decisions. You’ll get his thoughts on delegation, transparency, coaching, and why being a CEO is a lot like building a jigsaw puzzle while finding all of the pieces.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
- 00:50 Dave’s path from fighter pilot to CEO
- 03:00 Motivating 18-year-olds to clean toilets and why presence matters in leadership
- 07:50 “No ranks in the air”: Decentralized decision-making and trust under pressure
- 09:30 Translating military purpose into company culture at MasterBrand
- 11:00 Why every process can be examined and designed for a better outcome
- 13:40 How manufacturing and military environments are more similar than you’d think
- 15:30 Breaking the habit of “delegating up” and teaching decision ownership
- 20:00 Transparency, failure, and why dancing around problems kills progress
- 22:30 Why every CEO needs a coach (and how Dave uses his)
- 25:00 The Churchill-inspired communication strategy Dave uses with his team
- 29:30 Becoming a public company: Dave’s take on leadership through transition
- 33:00 Redefining career paths with experiences over titles
Episode Links:
- Visit MasterBrand
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Apple Music
- Watch on YouTube
