Security Consultant and Leadership Expert, Jesus Eddie Campa, currently owns AB Strategic Security Group LLC and Leading Through Adversity LLC. He is an international public speaker and leadership expert with an interesting story about overcoming adversity in the world of leadership. His mission is to give others the insight and strength they need to keep moving forward in an effort to make their vision a reality. 

Jesus Eddie Campa authored his first book; Unmasking Leadership: What They Don’t Tell You, and will be graduating with a Ph.D. in Public Service Leadership in Criminal Justice in 2022. He is a retired law enforcement executive with twenty-seven years of experience, having served as a Chief Deputy, Chief of Police twice,and State Law Enforcement Director. He was named the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian of the Year in 2017, awarded the National Sheriffs’ Association Medal of Merit, and was named the Optimist International Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. 

It’s hard to imagine Jesus Eddie Campa growing up in a single-family home with very little direction and even lower expectations. He shares, “I am no stranger to adversity and I’ve been fighting an internal fight to prove that I can do everything that people have said I couldn’t do.” Now he is on a mission to share what he has learned through his many years in leadership. 

Do you find it strange that these two concepts go together? When we think of someone in leadership roles, we tend to think of someone that has always had the luxury of being stable or someone that had a strong mentor themselves. So, how is it that you came into a leadership role? Eddie explains, “Hard work and learning to get through adversity by never giving up on my dreams. I created my own opportunities.” 

That’s in part why Eddie wrote this book. He explains, “I feel that we live in a time where more than ever that people need to know the true meaning of leadership and the importance of a mentor. They need to understand that to be a great leader, the individual must first be okay and love themselves in order to lead at the level of greatness required.” 

We’ve all been in those situations where we feel we have to be very cautious around our boss. Is this because workers simply don’t understand the position of leadership and the responsibilities put upon them? Eddie responds, “I think it can go both ways. Workers can be judgemental of people in leadership roles, and the people in leadership roles are not always equipped to deal with this kind of judgment, especially from their bosses. They – the people at the top are the ones that should ultimately be striving to be the best leaders they can because it all trickles down.” 

The pressure that comes from the top eventually comes bearing down on everyone under them. Eddie emphasizes, “That’s why I created a leadership development site where leaders of today and tomorrow can come and gather thoughts and ideas from an independent party. This is a safe place for leaders to bounce ideas off each other or simply vent. A place where leaders know that they are not alone and where they come first.” 

He continues, “Even when companies claim they have a top-down approach to supporting their employees, there are often employees within the company that are not leading with honesty. There are people that should be pursuing other careers but are put in leadership positions because of their connections and experience. There are several reasons that this can happen and when it does, there’s a chance that this behavior can either be modified to create better leadership, or it can be detrimental to other employees.”

So what are your tips for modifying this behavior to create better leaders? Eddie responds, “Learn the difference between listening and hearing. This is a big struggle with leaders. They are hearing what is being said , but they aren’t able to listen to  what’s really being said. Leaders have a responsibility to interpret the needs of their team, but if they themselves have issues, they simply won’t be able to be the kind of leader that can do that.”

He continues, “Not everyone is a visionary and therefore sometimes a leader needs to move forward with the plan of action in order to accomplish the mission. Sometimes, the right people for an outdated plan are not the right people for a new plan and must be removed. Remember that the world of leadership is not about being liked, it’s about doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.”

Without a doubt, Jesus Eddie Campa was able to overcome his own adversities and become a successful leader. His book explains the dark side of leadership and how to prevail through this darkness and become the leader you ultimately want to be. His book will provide you with the support you need to not only feel validated in this difficult position but will enable you to understand what it is that leaders need to be successful. 

For more information on the book, Unmasking Leadership: What They Don’t Tell You and Leading Through Adversity’s leadership development program, visit: Leading Through Adversity – Jesus Campa, Leading Through Adversity